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Practical Tips for Healthy Living

Lemon Balm Uses You Need to Know!

Updated

There are so many wonderful uses for lemon balm! This beautiful and fragrant herb makes a soothing tea perfect for unwinding after a stressful day.

Lemon balm has been used to promote sleep, alleviate anxiety, soothe digestive issues, treat itchy insect bites, and much more. Plus it tastes delicious and its flowers are great for pollinators. Whether you grow it yourself or buy it dried, lemon balm is an herb worth getting to know!

lemon balm uses -- lemon balm leaves with text overlay

Lemon Balm Uses to Know

If you haven’t yet discovered lemon balm, let me introduce you to your new favorite herb.

Many people with problems sleeping have found this wonderful yet gentle herb immensely helpful. But there are plenty of other uses for lemon balm and reasons to love it besides its power as a sleepytime tea. Use lemon balm in the garden, for cleaning, and as a tasty addition to numerous recipes.

I love lemon balm so much that I’m letting it take over huge portions of my not-very-big yard. Seriously, you can never have enough of this terrific plant. Even if you don’t garden, consider getting dried lemon balm to add to your arsenal of herbal soothers. I’ve found it an incredibly effective and cheap means to better sleep.

But the wonderful uses for lemon balm go way beyond sleep-promoting tea!

close up of lemon balm leaves

Medicinal Uses for Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is a favorite among herbalists for its soothing properties. Here are some of the reasons to add lemon balm to your home remedy arsenal:

  • Lemon balm is prized for promoting relaxation and sleep. That’s my main use for it — after having kids waking me in the night for years, my sleep was really messed up, even after they stopped most of the nighttime noise. I tried everything I could to re-program my body to sleep more soundly, and lemon balm tea made a big difference. If you’re a restless sleeper, or you wake and have trouble falling back asleep, please try some lemon balm and see if it helps! Instructions on how to make lemon balm tea below.
  • Lemon balm has antiviral properties and is often recommended for treating cold sores. It may help with other viruses as well.
  • Lemon balm may relieve menstual cramps and headaches.
  • Lemon balm may help with indigestion and nausea.
  • Some people find it helps ease stress and anxiety.
  • One small study suggested lemon balm may improve cognitive function.
  • Lemon balm essential oil has many medicinal uses as well, and has been studied for alleviating dementia symptoms, skin conditions, and more.

Lemon Balm Uses in the Garden

  • Lemon balm attracts pollinators, which means more food for you! Its botanical name, Melissa officinalis comes from the Greek for “bee.” Pollinators need all the help they get these days, so adding lemon balm to your perennial bed is an eco-friendly move.
  • Lemon balm reportedly helps ward off insects, though I haven’t found it particularly effective.  Simply having plants in your landscape may help, though I wouldn’t count on it during peak mosquito time. I get bitten plenty while picking my lemon balm if the bugs have had good weather for reproduction. (Here’s a natural mosquito control solution that actually prevents them from living in your yard if you can get rid of all other water sources.)
  • Add some sprigs to your floral arrangement if you’re dining al fresco and they might discourage insects from crashing your party.
  • Some people report success crushing lemon balm leaves and rubbing them on the skin as a DIY bug repellant. Lemon balm is also supposed to help with the itch from bugbites, so if it fails as a repellent, use it on the bite!

photo of lemon balm sprig Lemon Balm Uses in the Home and Kitchen

  • Lemon balm adds a lovely lemony seasoning for all kinds of food and drinks. (See recipes below!)
  • Lemon balm can also be used as an easy scent for your home, whether in a bouquet, dried in potpourri, or thrown in your trash can to help with odor. You can even capitalize on its scent and antiviral properties and use it to infuse vinegar for your homemade cleaners. Scratch Mommy has some great suggestions for using lemon balm around your house and in DIY body products.

Note that lemon balm is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women. 

One recent report suggests caution about dosage and prolonged use to avoid withdrawal symptoms. If you’re a lemon balm tea lover, consider alternating with other effective sleep teas and mixing in other soothing herbs like chamomile.

Related: Benefits of Hibiscus Tea ~ A Delicious Herb to Brew!

Love learning about natural remedies? Check out this incredible deal on resources for herbal healing:
Where to Get & How to Grow Lemon Balm

Growing your own lemon balm is easy and the most cost-effective way to add this wonderful herb to your arsenal. (If you’re not a gardener yet, pick up my free quickstart guide to getting started gardening here.) I also find the flavor of fresh lemon balm preferable to dried, though they’re both very tasty.

Lemon balm is a member of the mint family, though not quite as aggressive as common mint. Rather than taking over your entire garden, you’ll likely find new lemon balm plants popping up here and there in your yard because it spreads using plentiful seeds rather than underground like its cousin mint.

If you don’t want the extra plants, you can dig them up (and give them to another gardener!). Cutting back the plant after it flowers can also help keep lemon balm under control. I’m happy to have them multiply and generally leave them be. More tea!


Lemon balm seeds are cheap, but they may take a little knack to get going if you’re newer to gardening. A $2 packet comes with far more than you’ll ever use, so plan to share the rest with other gardeners.

You can get your first lemon balm plant as a division from a fellow gardener or buy one at a nursery, and eventually you’ll have as much as you need. They’re pretty tough perennials, so once they’re established you’ll enjoy them for years.

(More growing information here. Note that though some sources say lemon balm is hardy to zone 5, it thrives here in chilly zone 4. If you live in a cool climate, it’s certainly worth a try. Those in climates zone 9 and warmer may have trouble growing lemon balm in the heat — consult your local nursery for suggestions.)

Lemon balm is a lovely addition to any garden, with vibrant green leaves, a delicious smell, and a pleasant clumping habit. And if you’re trying to get rid of grass, its ability to spread makes lemon balm a good base for a no-mow perennial yard. (More on why to consider grass alternatives here.)

Lemon balm is also one of the herbs and vegetables that grow in shade, good news if your garden is on the shady side like mine.

lemon balm tea brewing next to tea cup

How to Make Lemon Balm Tea

To make lemon balm tea with fresh lemon balm:

During the warmer months, every other day or so I gather a big bunch of lemon balm together with a little catnip and yarrow, sometimes with a little borage plant or wild violet. I fill a cereal bowl with the leaves, and when I squeeze it together and have a full handful I consider it done, but the amounts you use do not need to be precise.

I rinse the lot and brew my lemon balm and other herbs in boiled filtered water for several hours, and sometimes overnight. (Read why it’s wise to filter your water here if you don’t want a host of chemicals in your soothing tea.)

I use a large teapot I brought back from England 20 years ago. It brews enough for several big mugs of tea, so I don’t have to make it every day. You could also use a large pitcher and keep it in your fridge.

If you want to try preserving and have enough surplus, you could dry some lemon balm for use in the cooler months. You can also make a tincture, which will extract more of lemon balm’s active compounds.

To make tea from dried lemon balm:

If you lack growing space, time, or interest in growing your own lemon balm, buying dried lemon balm leaf in bulk is the cheapest way to get your lemon balm fix. A 1-pound bag of lemon balm will make dozens of large pots of tea, plus you get to skip all the packaging waste that comes with tea bags. A pound of dried lemon balm usually lasts me through two winters, or about a whole calendar year, as the growing season here is so short.

To brew lemon tea from dried herb, use 1 tablespoon per cup of water. I sometimes add a spoonful of nettle, oatstraw, or scullcap, for their additional soothing properties.

If you prefer bags, Traditional Medicinals makes a lemon balm tea. You’ll just pay a lot more for that good night’s sleep!

Another bagged alternative worth considering: On an extended trip in Europe recently I discovered a delicious and effective sleep tea to stand in for my nightly lemon balm, since traveling with loose tea for 2 months is a little cumbersome.

It’s called “Snore and Peace” by Clipper — and it’s organic and easy to get online! It has chamomile and lavender as well as lemon balm, and it’s become my new favorite for travel. Check it out here. (The 8-pack is the most economical option, just under $4 a box, but if you’re traveling in England you should stock up — just 2 pounds each.)

Drink a cup or two of lemon balm tea a few hours before bed to promote relaxation and a better night’s sleep. You can also enjoy a more diluted lemon balm tea iced as an alternative to lemonade. Just don’t overdo it. I save mine for nighttime, but a little during the day shouldn’t make you feel drowsy or anything. It’s not as powerful as valerian in my experience, and some people report finding it useful for soothing stress during the day.

Growing your own herbs and natural remedies is just one strategy for making the healthiest food affordable. Find out more savvy ways to eat healthy on a budget in my FREE guide by filling out the form below.

Other Cool Uses for Lemon Balm

♦ The Nerdy Farm Wife uses the antiviral properties of lemon balm and makes a cold sore relieving lip balm. She also has a lemon balm bug spray recipe she says has worked for her.

♦ Shalom Mama uses lemon balm in a DIY sleep balm.

♦ Culinary uses include fruit salads, smoothies, seasoning for poultry and fish dishes, and added to baked goods. Anywhere you want a light lemony flavor, try adding a handful of chopped lemon balm.

♦ Lemon balm can be made into pesto. Check out this recipe from Vegalicious.

♦ Kathie at Homespun Seasonal Living puts lemon balm in her serviceberry jam. Yum!

♦ The Hungry Scribbler uses lemon balm in a roasted blueberry and lemon balm ice cream.

Related: There are probably some other useful plants growing in your  yard right now! Find out about 7 natural remedies you can forage in your garden. 

What are your favorite lemon balm uses? Do you use or grow it? If not, check out the links below to find sources to buy your own lemon balm and start enjoying these terrific lemon balm uses.



Pin to save these lemon balm uses for later!

Lemon balm uses: pin showing lemon balm leaves and lemon balm tea brewing

Disclaimer: I’m a health enthusiast, not a medical professional. Content on this website is intended for informational purposes only and is not meant to provide personalized medical advice. I draw on numerous health sources, some of which are linked above. Please consult them for more information and a licensed professional for personalized recommendations.

Updated September 2018

Photo credits: Andrea_44, Quinn Dombrowski, Monikapp, City Foodsters

lemon balm uses: pin showing lemon balm leaves

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Comments

    • I find a few stray plants, but I’m happy about that and let them alone. I think less severe climates make them more aggressive?

      Reply

      • Susannah, I think your reply about colder climates limiting Lemon Balm may be accurate. In our Northern Georgia climate I have to grow it in pots to keep the Lemon Balm from crowding out other plants. Even with our heavy clay soil-it grows invasively. And if it receives lots of water-it is worse!

        Reply

      • I saw a picture of lemon balm leaves and steam up side down in a glass pitcher. Do I put in cold water and let strap in the hot sun for how many hours to get sleep time tea ?
        From gardener Jeff

        Reply

        • Jeff, I haven’t tried it as a sun tea. I use freshly boiled water and steep it for several hours. If you make it as a sun tea, please let me know how it goes!

          Reply

  2. Last year I made lemon b alm tincture in the spring and fall. The spring tincture was delicious, the fall nasty tasting. I thought I did something wrong in the fall tincture, so I shelved it. I bought some at the health food store and it was tastey like my spring tincture. Later I bought another brand, and sure enough it tasted like fall. I will repeat what I did last year to find if that was it. Both work fine.

    Reply

    • Interesting! I wonder what’s different in fall. My tea tastes great right up through the frost. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

  3. You mentioned using it to help you sleep. How do you use it for sleep? If you said, I totally missed it.

    Thanks!

    Reply

    • Hi Norma,
      I drink a big cup of the tea I make from it: “During the warmer months, every other day I gather a big bunch of lemon balm together with a little catnip and yarrow. I brew them in boiled filtered water for several hours, and sometimes overnight. … I sometimes add a spoonful of nettle, oatstraw, or scullcap, for their additional soothing properties. But if you prefer bags, Traditional Medicinals makes a lemon balm tea. You’ll just pay a lot more for that good night’s sleep!”

      I’ll see about highlighting that info further. Thanks for the comment!

      Reply

    • I just measured my teapot, and it holds about 1 liter, or a bit over 4 cups. I pick enough leaves to loosely fill 2 cups, but rinsed and squeezed they’re a big handful. Hope you like it!

      Reply

          • Well, I was expecting a lemony taste, but it tasted pleasantly “green” instead. Since then I have experimented mixing it with peppermint, and will try mixing it with other herbs as they are available. Thanks again for sharing 🙂

          • Glad you liked it, Anna! I suspect it would be tasty with peppermint, but I tend to think of that as too energizing for bedtime. I’ve mixed the dry leaves with chamomile and liked that pretty well. Let me know what other combinations work for you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

    • It does fine here when temps hit the 90s. I found a mention in the Times-Picayune that it does well in New Orleans, but many other sites say zone 7 as the southernmost range. I suspect this tough plant could handle sustained heat, especially if you can grow other mints in your area. I would see if any gardeners you know have some to share or talk to a local nursery if you plan to get a plant, as there may be varieties suited to your climate. Talk to a seed company before buying seeds. Let me know if you have success!

      Reply

    • I was about to ask about this, too. zone 10 here. I’ve read that it does not thrive here, and often doesn’t make it through the summers. I am on my second try. I’m keeping it in a pot and taking it in and out of the house as the temperature etc change. It’s not doing well. Any hints would be welcome. I’m from up north where it took over the front garden. I miss my tea!

      Reply

      • Oh, Laura, I’m sorry to hear it! BUT as a northerner you must have pined to grow all those luscious tropical fruits we can’t grow up here? I can’t imagine how wonderful it is to walk out your door and pick citrus or peaches! So I’m saying, maybe it’s best to find the silver lining? I did see at least one site mentioning it growing in zone 10, and I would think shade would help. I’ve never had herbs stay happy in pots for long, but our house doesn’t get enough sun.

        Your best bet might be to talk to someone at a local nursery and see if they can get some from your area? Maybe there are varieties better suited to heat.

        In the meantime, dried lemon balm is cheap and tasty (see Amazon link above.) Let me know what you do!

        Reply

        • I am in Southern Mississippi (8 I think) and I have a ton of Lemon Balm growing here. It grows best here in partial shade, and usually grows taller than 5′.
          For insect repellent in the yard, mow it.

          Reply

          • Wow, sounds amazing! You’ve found when it’s mowed that it helps keep bugs away? I assume that’s because mowing will release a lot of its scent at once. How long does the effect last?

  6. As per one of the worlds leading authorities on herbs, James A Duke Ph.D. author of ( The Green Pharmacy ) He recommends Lemon Balm for as rapid cure for cold sours ( Herpes simplex ) My wife has used it several times with good success.

    Reply

    • Indeed! There’s a recipe for a DIY cold-sore relieving balm at the bottom of the post. Did your wife use a balm or just apply a leaf directly?

      Reply

  7. I have always had lemon balm in my garden for as long as I can remember. Although I haven’t brewed hot tea I do enjoy a sprig or two in my iced tea, lemonade or water. Most of all I love to just run my hands through the plant and inhale its wonderful fragrance for a pick me up while I’m gardening. 🙂

    Reply

  8. I discovered by accident that lemon balm tea helped my diabetes greatly, I told my doctor & he looked it up & was surprised to find that is true. I pick a handful, put it in a plastic pitcher & stick it in the microwave for 10 minutes, When it cools I keep it in the fridge & before I go to bed I warm a cup & put sweetener in it. It definitely makes a difference in my sugar count the next morning. I taught my doctor something. lol

    Reply

    • That’s great, Carol! Interesting that doesn’t come up in the U Maryland write up. Thanks for sharing this!

      Since I spend so much time writing about how to avoid unhealthy compounds, I can’t help but think your drink would be better still without the plastic, which you’re never supposed to put in a microwave. I tend to avoid the microwave for any herbal decoction, as I want to preserve their superpowers as much as possible. You could simply boil water then pour it over the leaves if you wanted to make your drink as healthy as possible 🙂

      Reply

    • Have you tried it? I tried the supplements and didn’t feel they worked as well. Haven’t tried a tincture yet.

      Reply

  11. I find all the above information great. I have a garden of many herbs with something that looks like the lemon balm that is pictured above. We call it mint and really I don’t know the difference. All I Know is that I wash it and boil it together with rosemary for anout five minutes and when it is cooled a bit, I add honey honey to it in a cup and drink it. It tastes very nice and I feel relaxed too.
    Please what is the difference between mint and lemon balm

    Reply

    • Regina, lemon balm is in the mint family but smells *very* lemony when you tear a leaf. If it smells minty, you’ve got one of many possible kinds of mint. Mint leaves generally look different as well. Hope that helps!

      Reply

  12. I have alot of lemon balm all over the yard, husband loves to mow over it a bit because it smells so nice. In the summer months I pick both lemon balm and spearmint leaves and boil them then sweeten with honey. The most refreshing drink for summer and healthy.

    Reply

  13. I really love the smell of lemon balms. But didn’t know more about it’s health benefits and uses, so thank you for writing this article.

    Reply

  15. I definitely have to get some lemon balm. I am intrigued by all its uses you listed here. And the benefits are wide-ranging. Thanks for the tips.

    Reply

  16. I definitely try this lemon balm! I prefer this at night, I used to drink teas before bed time, this is perfect!

    Reply

  19. I feed it to my two mini-rex rabbits … they love it! They are at least ten years old, so I think the lemon balm helps to keep them healthy …

    Reply

Trackbacks

  4. […] Trouble sleeping? Try lemon balm tea. I stumbled across a mention of this soothing brew at the beginning of the season, and am now encouraging new lemon balm volunteers all over my yard to keep me in tea. Lemon balm is thought to promote sleep by alleviating anxiety and encouraging relaxation. (It’s also an antiviral and may help headaches and other ailments. And rubbed on your skin, it’s supposed to help keep insects at bay, though I haven’t had much luck with this). Lots more on how to use lemon balm in this post. […]

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Susannah, a garden geek, energy nerd, and fan of healthy food and natural remedies. Need some simple, practical solutions for living healthier and greener? You've come to the right place! More about me and my green projects here.