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12+ Things to Do With Lemon Balm: Make a sleepy time herbal syrup: Make a lemon balm bug spray: Chop fresh leaves and sprinkle on salads or in baked goods: Make a lip balm for cold sores: Make a glycerite: Make a relaxing, tummy soothing tea: Make lemon balm soap: Make a simple remedy for bug bites & acne:.
What can lemon balm plant be used for?
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), a member of the mint family, is considered a calming herb. It was used as far back as the Middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and ease pain and discomfort from indigestion (including gas and bloating, as well as colic).
Can you eat lemon balm leaves Raw?
Lemon Balm can be used both in hot and iced teas and in combination with other herbs such as spearmint. The plant is also often used as a flavoring in ice cream and its also suitable for spicing up chicken and fish dishes. Early fresh leaves can be chopped and added to salads.
Is the plant lemon balm edible?
Edibility – 5/5 – Strongly aromatic, reminiscent of sweet lemon, with menthol qualities (without actually being “minty”). The whole plant is edible, though its the tender leaves you are after. A sprig makes a brilliant garnish in a G&T, instead of lemon from half way around the world.
What can you make from lemon balm?
It is also a common ingredient in herbal teas. A handful of fresh lemon balm and mint makes an excellent hot or iced tea, especially with honey. You can also use the herb to bake a batch of lemon balm cookies or lemon balm bread, whisk up a quick lemon balm vinaigrette, or top your pasta with lemon balm pesto.
How do you harvest lemon balm?
The easiest way to harvest lemon balm is to snap leaves off stems with your fingers as often as needed for cooking or other purposes. The collected leaves can be used fresh or hung upside down to air-dry for later use. The dried herbs lose a lot of flavor, so if you’re using it for food, fresh is usually best.
Can I smoke lemon balm?
The other herbs you can smoke are: Lemon Balm, Wormwood Herb, Greater Celandine Herb, Hemp Buds, Stinging Nettle, Marshmallow Leaf, Licorice Root.
How do you make bee balm tea?
Bee balm tea can be made from both fresh and dried leaves. I find the flavor of tea made from Monarda didyma to be rather strong. To make tea, start with about 1-teaspoon of crushed, dried bee balm leaves per 8-ounce cup of boiling water. Steep for at least 5 minutes and drink like regular tea.
Can you harvest lemon balm after it flowers?
You can harvest handfuls of lemon balm leaves for fresh use almost any time during the growing season. For a large harvest of leaves that will be dried for tea or medicinal use, it is preferable to wait until the plant begins to put on flower buds or just as the flowers begin to open.
Does lemon balm repel mosquitoes?
Lemon Balm contains high levels of a compound called citronellal, which gives it its lemony aroma and flavor that bugs find so unpleasant. Lemon balm repels mosquitoes and gnats.
Is lemon balm a wild plant?
You have probably seen lemon balm growing whether you knew it or not. In the mint family, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a perennial herb that spreads rapidly and has become a fairly common “wild” plant.
How do you use lemon balm leaves?
How to Use Lemon Balm. As a general rule of thumb, treat lemon balm as you would any other herb. It works especially well in place of mint, offering bright, fragrant notes. Add whole lemon balm leaves to green salads, or chiffonade the leaves and scatter them over a fruit salad for added zesty flavor.
Will lemon balm take over my garden?
If not carefully controlled, lemon balm can quickly become invasive in the garden. Often, people mistakenly think that lemon balm is invasive due to its roots, like its cousins peppermint and spearmint, but in fact it’s the seeds of the lemon balm plant that cause this herb to suddenly take over a garden.
How do you preserve lemon balm leaves?
Storing Lemon Balm To store your lemon balm, keep the leaves and stems in big pieces to retain as much flavor as possible. Store your herbs in paper bags or glass jars (avoid plastic bags as they may lead to condensation).
Can you plant lemon balm and mint together?
Mints like spearmint, catmint, peppermint, orange mint, and lemon balm can be grown together as long as they have adequate space to spread out.
How fast does lemon balm spread?
The versatile herb is a rapid grower outdoors—after planting in early spring, it’s not unusual to see a lemon balm plant grow to over a foot tall (sometimes, even two!) in just a single season.
Should you trim lemon balm?
To keep plants vigorous, thin plants out in mid-summer by cutting out stems to open up the plant to better air circulation. Lemon balm can also be cut back to about one-half its height to encourage fresh, vigorous new growth. Watering after this heavy pruning helps the plant recover quicker.
Can you smoke holy basil?
Holy Basil Smoke: Adds a sweet taste to all smoking blends & is excellent for lifting a tired spirit. Helps to shake off worries & fears without inducing lethargy or the need to sleep. Mixes well with other herbs including: Mugwort, Damiana & Calamus.
What happens when you drink mugwort tea?
It is a supportive herb for menstruation, digestion and bloating. Mugwort tea is wonderful for people experiencing insomnia, stress, digestive issues, weak immunity, or cramping, but it should be avoided by people who are in early stages of pregnancy.
What happens if you smoke Ashwagandha?
It is said that ashwagandha can ground an intense THC high. And because it’s an adaptogen, it is reported to help with anxiety by having an impact on adrenals, which manage physical response to stress and, therefore, grounding the intensity.
How do you harvest lemon bee balm for tea?
You can harvest small amounts of lemon balm for use throughout its growing season by snapping off a few leaves at a time. For a bigger harvest, use shears to snip leaves from the center stem, in between side shoots, to continue encouraging bushy, full growth.
