Melissa herb - medicinal properties and contraindications

Among a large number of medicinal herbs, it is worth highlighting lemon balm. Its beneficial properties have been used for 2000 thousand years. Theophrastus, the ancient Greek founder of botany and a number of other sciences, described this plant in his book "History of Plants", highlighting its medicinal qualities and distribution area. This knowledge was only supplemented over time, revealing to the world more and more interesting details of the magical properties of lemon balm.

What useful microelements does lemon balm consist of?

The great benefit of eating lemon balm depends on its chemical composition. Let the word "chemical" not frighten the reader's ear. The constituent particles of this plant are permeated with medicinal substances that are so necessary for a person.

The essential oil, which is extracted by pressing from the leaves of the plant, contains a number of useful substances:

geraniol. It is used in the cosmetic industry as a natural flavoring agent, has a diuretic effect, helps lower blood pressure, is used to treat colds and viral diseases, is used in the food industry, and restores the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract after disorders;
citronellal. Has found application in the food and perfume industries as a flavoring agent;
myrcene. Participates in the preparation of aromatic compositions in perfumery, is used as a flavoring agent in the food industry;
citral. It is used in the production of cosmetic preparations, has a moisturizing effect, which makes it one of the ingredients in creams and skin lotions.

An interesting fact is that the amount of these substances is determined by the place where the plant grows. In addition to the above components, lemon balm contains:

caffeic, ursolic and oleanolic acids;
tannins;
fixed oils;
ascorbic acid.

The list of macronutrients is represented by names such as:

calcium;
potassium;
iron;
magnesium.

These lists are supplemented by a set of the following trace elements:

copper;
manganese;
molybdenum;
zinc;
aluminum;
chromium;
tungsten;
master;
nickel;
sulfur;
silicon;
lead.

All these components of lemon balm make it a truly medicinal plant, the beneficial properties of which should not be doubted.

Medicinal properties

Melissa herb medicinal properties and contraindications are very diverse. In percentage terms, there are much more useful qualities in it than a negative effect on the body.

As it became known from the above, lemon balm is an excellent source of useful micro and macro elements. But its medicinal properties are not limited to this. In medicine, this plant is used as:

essential oil;
medicinal fees for the preparation of decoctions and tea;
one of the components in the manufacture of creams, disinfectants, etc.

Melissa-based preparations are used as a means of:

anticonvulsant;
sedative analgesic;
cardiac;
painkiller;
anti-influenza.

The use of this plant in your diet contributes to:

lowering blood pressure;
increased appetite;
elimination of vomiting;
decrease in heart palpitations;
reduction in heart rate;
restoration of breathing;
reduces the risk of tachycardia attacks;
treatment of nerves;
normalization of the menstrual cycle in women;
removal of dizziness;
stimulation of milk production during breastfeeding.

Of course, in addition to useful qualities, there are also negative aspects of eating this plant for food.

Melissa herb contraindications:

it is forbidden to use for people with constant low blood pressure;
cannot be used by those groups of people who work in a field where a clear reaction and concentration are needed (melissa lowers psychological reactions);
excessive consumption of this plant. Abuse of the allowed norm threatens with nausea, weakness, constipation and dizziness.

Melissa medicinal properties and contraindications always go together. The number of the first exceeds the number of the second. A number of factors that prohibit the use of this plant is extremely small. Therefore, do not be afraid to include tea or a decoction of lemon balm, essential oils based on it, and many other means in your life.

Decoctions based on lemon balm

Melissa is a unique plant. It will be an ideal nutritional supplement as a natural vitamin supplement. You can prepare a decoction of lemon balm, which will solve a number of problems:

eliminate insomnia;
counteracts anemia;
relieve pain during menstruation in women;
helps to remove various kinds of inflammatory processes;
normalizes and restores the pulse;
act as a sedative.

A decoction of lemon balm will also be useful for children. It will promote:

decreased activity in hyperactive babies;
memory improvement;
better assimilation of the information received (very important for preschool children);

In addition, the use of such a decoction will help relieve nervous tension, reduce weight by accelerating metabolism, increase skin turgor, improve overall well-being, and remove toxic and harmful substances from the body.

To maximize the benefits, the decoction should be prepared while maintaining all the recommended dosages of the ingredients. Proper preparation will provide the body with all the necessary beneficial properties of this plant.

Decoction Ingredients:

2 tbsp. l. dried lemon balm leaves;
500 ml of water;

Cooking:

Pour water into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let cool slightly (5 minutes). We take a glass container, put the leaves of the plant on its bottom and fill them with hot water. Cover with a lid and leave to infuse (approx. 30 minutes).

Use and course

Before use, the broth is filtered. Take it orally half an hour before meals three times a day. The norm of a single dose is 100 ml. The course, volume and dosage may vary. This is due to individual and other characteristics.

There are many recipes for decoctions based on this plant. It can also be combined with other herbs:

mint;
valerian;
thyme;
chamomile.

Melissa is also good in combination with lemon, green and black teas.

Melissa tea as an alternative to decoctions

In addition to decoctions, teas based on it are also very popular. They are very popular among most people. A warm and fragrant drink calms and facilitates falling asleep, restores the psycho-emotional state and helps to restore the body after a hard day.

This drink will be relevant in the presence of diseases or conditions such as:

stress;
neurosis;
hormonal disorders;
ovarian dysfunction;
menstrual irregularities;
toxicosis;
spasms;
during menopause.

Melissa can be combined with other ingredients. For example, it will organically complement green tea with a slice of lemon. If this is not to your liking, then you can use a recipe based on only one lemon balm.

The recipe is very simple. The dried leaves of this plant are brewed like any other tea extract. However, before using it as a drink, heed a little advice:

This tea is best taken at night. It will help you fall asleep and get a good night's sleep.
you should avoid drinking tea from lemon balm during working hours. It can decrease reaction time and concentration;
the drink is made at once. Ie - brewed and immediately drank. All useful properties will be active only in the initial period of brewing. In a cold and cooled form, it will be of little use;
leaves for tea should not be old and environmentally friendly.

During colds, this tea is recommended to be consumed in conjunction with bee honey. Such a duet contributes to a speedy recovery. In the autumn-winter period, when viruses are especially active, such tea can be used as a preventive measure. It increases the body's resistance to harmful microbes.

The benefits and harms of tea with lemon balm

The benefits and harms of lemon balm tea - these two circumstances are uneven . Medicinal properties are much more than harmful effects. If the benefits of its use are obvious, then the harm will be as follows:

abuse will threaten increased drowsiness and slow reaction;
blood pressure will decrease;
urine flow will increase.

These are the most dangerous consequences that can be after drinking a lot of tea. Allergy sufferers should also be noted separately. In some individuals, lemon balm causes severe allergic reactions:

rhinitis;
lacrimation;
redness of the eyes.

If a person is a potential allergic person, then the use of lemon balm in this case is prohibited.

Useful video about Melissa

Conclusion

Melissa is Mother Nature's gift to man. Possessing a large set of useful micro and macro elements, it becomes an unsurpassed assistant for the treatment of many diseases. Its unique ability to suppress pain makes lemon balm a natural pain reliever. Before you start taking it, remember one important rule: "Everything is good in moderation." After all, the abuse of even the most useful product can have sad consequences. Proper adherence to the dosage and recipe of preparation will ensure good digestibility of this plant by the body.

In contact with