Melissa

Melissa offficinalis

🌿 conventional or organic available

Melissa, or Lemon Balm, is a perennial herb from the mint family. It grows to about 60 cm (2 feet) and likes soil with a high iron content and has small serrated slightly hairy leaves. During summer, small white flowers full of nectar appear that are very attractive to bees.

The oil is steam distilled from the leaves and flowers of the plant and has a sweet, fresh, citrus like fragrance.

One of the most powerful essential oils in all of aromatherapy, Melissa essential oil is most significantly known for being an effective mood lifter.

Because lemon balm uses are popular with the perfume and other industries and the plant has a very low oil yield, the distillation cost is extremely high making it a rare and expensive oil.

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  • Studied Properties
  • Common Uses

Studied Properties

Melissa has a wide range of health benefits.

It has a positive effect on mood, and also a calming affect making it a popular aid in initiating a restful sleep environment.

It is high in citral, a constituent known for its purifying and cleansing abilities.

The therapeutic properties of melissa oil are antidepressant, antispasmodic, bactericidal, carminative, cordial, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, hypotensive, nervine, sedative, stomachic, sudorific and tonic.

Trans Ocimene, Citronellal, Caryophyllene, Germacrene, Geranial, Geranyl Acetate, Cis Ocimene, Octanone, Linalool, Beta Bourbonene, Methyl Hepenone, Cis Hexenol, Octanol, Octenol, Copaene, Alpha Humulene, Neral, Delta Cadinene, Gamma Cadinene, Nerol and Geraniol are the chief components of the essential oil of Melissa.

Common Uses

A favourite in vaporisers and diffusers for its calming affects and helps create a sleep inducing environment - it also has a positive effect on mood, reducing anxiety.

It is also a favourite in massage blends and bath oils as it is strengthening and revitalising, yet soothing and calming.

This oil is extensively used in nearly all sorts of balms due to its soothing properties while having a sweet, pleasant aroma.

Great to use in diffusers and vapourisers, blended in massage oils or in bath oils.