The most amazing thing happened to me yesterday. I was admiring our beautiful Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) and I gently agitated the foliage. The scent that was released was so delicious and soft but with such a strong bite I just had to do it again.
As I leant my hand down to swish the foliage I saw about six European bees and a number of native bees swarming the foliage looking for nectar.
It was like the scent of just the foliage alone (no flowers) sent out a calling card to all the nearby bees.
Here’s where the story gets even cooler.
Melissa is the Greek word for "honey-bee." It was traditionally used by the ancient bee keepers. They used to rub the crushed leaves on the beehives to encourage the domesticated bees to return to their hives. They also believed that the lemon balm would also bring new bees to the hive.
How cool is that.
I love how random bits of information make sense.
Melissa naturally occurs throughout Europe to central Asia. It is widely cultivated today for its essential oil, practical herbal uses and as a great bedding plant.
Lemon Balm is a lemon-scented perennial with a 4-angled stem and ovate, toothed dark green leaves. It likes to grow in moist soil in the sun or partial shade. It provides a nice thick ground cover. It can grow well in a pot (we have ours growing in an old saucepan), hanging baskets or the garden.
After flowering it is recommended to prune back to produce a fresh crop of leaves.
There are so many uses for lemon balm and I think I am going to have to see if I can get this plant growing at home.
Dried leaves can be added to potpourri and herb pillows.
You can use it in cooking – soups, salads, flavoured oils, sauces.
You can use it to make a tea to help with nervous disorders, indigestion associated with nervous tension, depression, anxiety, gout.
It can also be rubbed fresh onto the skin as an insect repellent and to soothe insect bites.
Lemon Balm essential oil is one of my favourite oils and is also very precious and very expensive. So I have to be careful not to use it in every blend I make.
It has been said that it is the ruler of the brain, strengthening memory and removing melancholy. Fischer-Rizzi said it helps us find inner contentment and strengthens ‘wisdom of the heart’. It is one of the best essential oils to help with down in dumps can’t move depression.
I was in love with this herb just from its scent.
Now I know no garden should exist without it!
Go find some lemon balm and lift your spirits and give your heart some contentment.