Updated 29 January 2024
Botanical Characteristics
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Lamiales
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Genus: Melissa
- Part used: Leaves and aerial parts (whole fresh plant without flowers)
- Country of origin: Europe, especially the Balkans and Asia Minor
Precautions for use
Caution! There are restrictions on the use of Lemon balm essential oil.
Inhalation is forbidden and any cutaneous application should only be made after dilution in vegetable oil due to its dermocausticity.
It can only be used by diffusion in pregnant women and babies.
For children under 6 years of age, diffusion is also authorised, to which is added a highly diluted topical application.
Finally, it is prohibited for people suffering from hypothyroidism or taking thyroid hormones.
Other precautions
Warning:
- If you have asthma, seek medical advice before use.
Cutaneous use:
- It is essential to dilute this essential oil 10% in vegetable oil before use (10% essential oil in 90% vegetable oil).
- For children over 3 years of age, it can be applied to the skin in a very diluted form.
Diffusion:
- Diffusion may be used by pregnant women and children over 3 months of age.
- For very sensitive people, lemon balm essential oil may irritate mucous membranes and cause tearing or coughing.
Contraindications:
- Lemon balm essential oil is contraindicated in the case of hypothyroidism or when taking thyroid hormones.
Allergenic components:
Lemon balm essential oil is high in biochemical allergenic components:
- citral (geranial + neral) (35-75%)
- geraniol (≤ 5%)
- citronellol (≤ 1,5%)
- linalool (≤ 1,5%)
- limonene (≤ 1%)
- eugenol (≤ 0,05%)
Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).
Authorised users
How to use
Risks of use
Properties
- Antispasmodic
- Digestive carminative
- Stimulating
- Stomachic
- Sudorific
- Hypotensive
- Antiviral
- Antifungal
Indications
- Mood disorders / Nervous tension
- Palpitations
- Hypertension
- Stress
- Sleep disorders
- Insomnia
- Stomach aches
- Difficult digestion
- Flatulence
- Intestinal spasms
- Infant colic
- Gastric reflux
- Muscle cramps
- Headache
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Melancholia
- Herpes labialis
Directions for use/usual dosage
- Internal use: gastric disorders, stomach cramps, acidity, insomnia, anxiety.
- External use: against viral infections, digestive spasms and muscle cramps.
External use
- As a body massage, diluted in a vegetable oil. To relieve digestive problems, massage the abdomen. It can also be rubbed into the skin to relieve muscle spasms.
- Aromatic bath: Add a few drops to a bath to promote relaxation, revitalisation and reduce emotional stress: 1 to 2 drops of lemon balm essential oil two to three times a day in honey or on a neutral tablet.