Originating in the Mediterranean, Asia and Europe, Melissa is a lemon-scented perennial herb with serrated, heart-shaped leaves and small blue, yellow or white flowers in the Lamiaceae family. It is a widely cultivated plant in the temperate zone of the world. Melissa is a Greek word meaning “bee”. It is named because bees love this wonderful smelling plant.
Melissa has been used for centuries for its health benefits and is highly valued for its emotional and spiritual effects. It was often used to promote a sense of calm and was drunk as a tea, mixed with other herbal tea blends and used in body care recipes.
Long used to soothe the heart and body, the delicate lemony aroma of lemon balm lifts the mood and adds flavour to any culinary dish to which it is added. It is used to sweeten jams, jellies, as a garnish for salads and in drinks. Melissa is also used to make perfumes, cosmetics and ointments.
The use of Melissa dates back thousands of years to ancient Rome and Greece. As Nicholas Culpepper (English botanist, herbalist, physician) mentioned, the properties of melissa are spiritual, affect the emotions and are healthy for the heart.
Melissa is used in Ayurveda to calm the stomach and balance the mood. Also used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where Melissa is considered to be energetically cooling and drying.
