Uses for Lemon Balm herb? (and mints)

[rhelynn]

I always have use for my mints - dried and kept over time. But the lemon balm has taken an especially lively turn and is bushed out all over. I am drying some of it as well - and wondered if anyone had any good uses for it besides flavoring tea?

~Maria in Tennessee

[Rosepath]

We hang up bunches of it in the chicken house during the current deadly-gnat season.
Along with any other herb that is odorific - some mint, tansy, etc. Seems to help.

[K.B.]

Lemon balm is reported to be a good companion plant in the garden and orchard. I tend to let mine self-sow and pop up where it wants to grow. If I have too many seedlings come up in an area, they are easy to transplant. I have a bunch that are coming up in my veggie bed near the main walkway to our front door. Once they get a bit bigger most will be transplanted near the fruit trees in my orchard.

I use lemon balm in combination with lemon verbena for my favorite tea. There are other suggested medicinal and culinary uses for lemon balm at the link below:
http://www.motherearthliving.com/in-...#axzz31VpvgO7W

[Rita]

As the name suggests it has a calming affect and I dry it, powder it in the food processor, put it in capsules and use it as a sleep aid. Of course the tea is great too!

[hiddensprings]

I make herbal jelly with it, use it in my soaps & salves and, like everyone else, tea.

[light rain]

I use it dried and mixed in with the woods chips in the nesting boxes. I wonder how it would be mixed with dried sage as a foot soak?

[Harry Chickpea]

shingles.

[chickenista]

Lemon Balm is great for shingles (or any of the herpes complex viruses)
and it is soothing as well.

Just know that it is not good for Hypothyroid sufferers at all, so drink, eat or take it in capsule form sparingly.

[ldc]

In Germany, there is a folk tea made of lemon balm and sage, to help our brains!

[Tabitha]

Originally Posted by ldc

In Germany, there is a folk tea made of lemon balm and sage, to help our brains!

So, does it work?

It works on fever blisters. I just love to have it around, rub a couple of leaves between my hands, it smells wonderful.

[anahatalotus]

Lemon balm is highly anti viral, not just for fever blisters and shingles. The essential oil is great to add to lip balms and soaps. Whenever I get a cold or hacking cough I make a tea out of lemon balm and horehound. Or at the absolute worst mail some to me...

[Just Little Me]

I add the leves to my pot for freshing the room. Add to anything you add lemon to when cooking or baking.

[Callieslamb]

I blend mint with water let it steep, then strain, add a drop of soap and spray it on my zucchini to deter squash bugs.

[Osiris]

Great ideas - thanks!! I've been trying to kill it off! I planted it about 5 years ago and it took over my bee balm! Now I know to keep it confined as with most mints!

[light rain]

Just a word about lemon balm.

Just like any mint, it can be invasive. I planted it 6 or 7 years ago and it has spread anywhere it wants to in a zone 4 climate. It is good that it has so many redeeming qualities.

[RedDirt Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by ldc

In Germany, there is a folk tea made of lemon balm and sage, to help our brains!

Just found Salvia lavendulafolia at a rock garden society plant sale, and read that it's herbal use is reputed to enhance memory - it has a pretty spray of blue flowers.

I put lemon balm leaves down before I drop a genoise style cookie from 1920 called "Butter Wafers" - amazingly good with lots of lemon zest and poppy seeds.

Butter Wafers (San Francisco Women's Institute 1920)

1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/8 tsp mace
1/2 tsp baking powder
grated orange or lemon rind

Drop batter size of dollar on buttered cookie sheet, bake 10 min at 350 degrees until set.

(Cream butter until white, add sugar gradually, add eggs one at a time & continue beating to maximum volume. A pinch of flour with each egg so batter doesn't separate. Fold in rind and dry ingredients.)

Lemon balm doesn't run as much as most mints, it will branch more like a little shrub, but if you let the flowers set it will come up in your pots and everywhere the wind blows!