Love Lemon Balm

"Lemon Balm causeth the mind and the Heart to be Merry” stated Avicenna, the great Arabic physician

 Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis, is one of Grow to Glow's favourite plants. Lemon Balm contains volatile oils which are at once calming and uplifting. The tea is delicious which is great for lifting the mood and calming nerves and stress.

To make lemon balm tea simply add a good handful of the tops to a teapot and cover with boiling water as with any tea, leave the lid on for about 6 mins at least, preventing volatile oils from evaporating. For 1 cup, add a sprig to a cup, cover with boiling water and place a saucer or small plate on top of it before leaving to steep for 5 minutes, YUM. The tea can sooth digestive issues and ease flu.


It seems that lemon balm has a similar effect on your skin as the rest of the body and the mind. Lemon Balm is said to perk up tired skin, sooth stressed out skin and calm irritated and sensitive skin. What's more research suggests lemon balm can prevent damage from free radicals which can cause premature ageing! So lemon balm will be making an appearance in our coming   range in the shape of a Grow your own body butter Kit!

We're making some beautiful lip balm for this Christmas using lemon balm and high quality beeswax. Not only does melissa sooth dry, chapped lips but it is proven to aid recovery from cold sores and helps prevent them recurring. This action  is due to the polyphenols present which are anti viral.

Lemon Balm is also known as Bee Balm as it is loved by bees. In Ancient Greece and Ephesus the great goddess was queen bee and took the form of half bee half woman. The priestesses which served the goddess were called the melissai, which is from where the Latin name is derived which makes sense as it really does serve the bees well. The beekeepers of ancient Greece would rub the hives with bunches of lemon balm and grow it surrounding the hives. Lemon balm is a good remedy for bee stings so your lip balm has another use!

 
GROW IT!

Lemon Balm is the ideal plant to grow in the garden or in a pot outside or on a sunny windowsill. Fast growing, undemanding and abundant, takes approx 21 days to germinate, sowing March-May in a warm place. Sow the seeds in moist soil just under the surface in a well drained plant pot and keep damp. You can put a transparent yogurt pot lid  or half of a 1l water bottle to act as a mini greenhouse. Your lemon balm plant will look and smell amazing and when you cut it it will grow again.

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