Lemon Balm: Benefits & Ingredient Information

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a lemon-scented herb from the mint family long used in traditional Western herbal practice. This Ingredient glossary article explains what lemon balm is, where you’ll find it, and how it’s traditionally used for calming and digestive support, plus safety notes and commonly asked questions. Lemon balm is included in Relief as part of a plant-based, TGA-listed formulation featuring herbs traditionally used to calm the nerves, support sleep quality, and relieve mild digestive discomfort and abdominal bloating.

What is Lemon Balm?

Lemon balm is a perennial herb valued for its gentle citrus aroma and versatile culinary and herbal uses. You’ll see it as dried leaf, loose-leaf tea, fluid extracts and standardised ingredients in supplements. In traditional Western herbal medicine, lemon balm is used to calm mild nervous tension, support sleep quality and soothe the digestive tract. In Relief, lemon balm appears within a carefully designed blend in a vegan, allergen-free, Australian-made product.

Where Lemon Balm is Found in Food and Beverages

You can enjoy lemon balm as an infusion (herbal tea), in salads and desserts, or as a fresh garnish. It is naturally caffeine-free unless blended with caffeinated tea leaves. A varied diet rich in plant foods remains the foundation of wellbeing; supplements are designed to complement, not replace, balanced nutrition.

How Lemon Balm Works: Calming and Digestive Support

From a traditional perspective, lemon balm is:

• used in Western herbal medicine to calm the nerves and support sleep quality

• used as a carminative to relieve mild digestive discomfort, abdominal bloating and cramping

In plain terms, a “calming” herb may be chosen when someone experiences mild, everyday tension or finds it hard to switch off at the end of the day. As a carminative, lemon balm features in blends aimed at easing digestive comfort after meals. These uses reflect longstanding herbal practice. Individual experiences vary. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.

Lemon Balm in Relief: Why We Include It

Relief combines lemon balm with turmeric (Curcuma longa), ginger (Zingiber officinale), green tea (Camellia sinensis), Dong Quai (Angelica polymorpha), Panax notoginseng and quercetin within a once-daily capsule. In this context, lemon balm complements the formula by providing traditional calming and digestive support, while the broader blend is designed to support general wellbeing across the month. Explore Relief. 

What the Research Says

Calming and Sleep Context: Research has explored lemon balm extracts, often alone or with other calming herbs, in relation to subjective relaxation and sleep quality in adults. Findings vary by preparation, dose and design, but the literature aligns with traditional use for mild nervous tension and sleep support.

Digestive Comfort: Historical and modern herbal texts describe lemon balm’s carminative actions in relieving mild digestive discomfort and abdominal bloating. Human data are limited; current best practice is to present lemon balm’s digestive role as supportive of traditional practice rather than as a therapeutic claim.

Safety Profile: Lemon balm is generally well tolerated at customary intakes. Occasional digestive upset or drowsiness has been reported. Follow label directions and discontinue use if you experience unexpected symptoms. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medicines, seek personalised advice from a health professional before use.

We prioritise systematic reviews and randomised trials when available and avoid drawing conclusions beyond the data.

Lemon Balm FAQs

Is lemon balm natural?

Yes. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a culinary and herbal plant from the mint family, commonly used in teas, foods and supplements.

Does lemon balm help sleep?

Lemon balm is traditionally used in Western herbal medicine to calm the nerves and support sleep quality. Experiences vary between individuals and preparations.

Does lemon balm have caffeine?

No. Lemon balm itself is naturally caffeine-free. Caffeine would only be present if it’s blended with caffeinated tea leaves.

What are common lemon balm side effects?

Lemon balm is generally well tolerated. Occasionally, people report mild digestive upset or drowsiness. Stop use and talk to your health professional if you are concerned.

Does lemon balm help you lose weight or affect hormones (oestrogen)?

We do not make weight-loss or hormone claims for lemon balm. Its traditional uses relate to calming and digestive support.

Can I use lemon balm during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Please consult a health professional before use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

References and Further Reading

Below are reputable, up-to-date resources on lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), covering traditional use, safety, and contemporary research. 

• LiverTox (NIH/NCBI) safety overview for lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). 

• LactMed (NIH/NCBI): lemon balm and breastfeeding.

• Clinical efficacy and tolerability of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis): narrative review (2024). 

• Melissa officinalis L.: review with antioxidant and other properties (2016). 

• Melissa officinalis: composition, pharmacological effects and uses (2022). 

• Systematic review on lemon balm for anxiety and depressive symptoms (2021).

• Randomised, double-blind trial: subchronic lemon balm extract and calmness/sleep in healthy adults (2023). 

• Short-term lemon balm leaf powder and anxiety/sleep quality (2019). 

• Health Canada Natural Health Products Ingredient Monograph: Lemon Balm (2024).

General Advice and Cautions

Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medicines, seek professional advice before use. For product details and common questions, see Relief FAQs.