Native to Mediterranean countries, Melissa is a popular herb
cultivated in many cottage gardens and known under a variety of names,
including Lemon Balm, Sweet Balm and Common Balm. The plant gives off a
very sweet lemony fragrance and taste. The genius name "Melissa" is
derived from the Greek word for bee, indicating it is a plant much loved
by bees for the quality honey produced from it. Even though the plant is
strongly aromatic, it contains a high proportion of water in its
structure with only 0.1% oily essence. As with other high
price oils, such as Rose otto, it takes a very huge amount of plant
material to produce just an extremely small amount of essential oil.
Therefore, true Melissa essential oil is very rare and costly.
Melissa has a number of uses that beyond landscaping. The essential oil is
sedative; it has a calming, pseudo-narcotic effect on the central nervous
system, which is particularly useful in
the treatment of stress-related conditions, including depression, anxiety
and nervous tension. The ability to reduce alertness also makes it a powerful relaxant.
Melissa is a verified remedy for restlessness, insomnia and shock. It also helps to lower
high blood pressure by calming over-rapid breathing and heartbeat.
Melissa essential oil is soothing, both to the body and
mind. Besides Chamomile, it is another useful oil for allergies,
whether it is a skin problem or respiratory difficulty. It is
found that asthma and coughs are often relived by inhalations of
Melissa in low concentration. In fact, it sometimes produces more
dramatic improvement than Chamomile especially when an
individual has not responded to Chamomile.
Clinical investigations have also demonstrated Melissa essential oil
exerts a highly antimicrobial action against a variety of bacteria and
fungi. Its antiviral properties can suppress certain bacteria attacks.
It has been strongly documented that Melissa is highly toxic to Trypanosoma
bacteria, the bacteria responsible for Chagas
disease. Melissa essential oil also appears to be effective in the
management of herpes simplex inflections; even in 1% concentration, it is
strong enough to significantly reduce the healing time and prolong intervals between
outbreaks. Research also has suggested that Melissa essential oil is
extremely powerful in treating Candida yeast infection. It can be used
in baths or typical application to alleviate symptoms or avoid
recurrence.
Sweet, sharp and floral-herbaceous, Melissa essential oil emits a dry,
refreshing lemony fragrance close to that of Lemongrass and Citronella. The
smell is also mingled with a hint of mint.
The fragrance induces trust and courage. It chases away black thoughts,
strengthens the mind and replaces confusion and disorientation with
understanding and clarity. In case of overexcited or oversensitive,
Melissa essential oil can bring back a sense of balance.
Melissa essential oil can cause skin irritation and sensitization. It should
be used cautiously on sensitivities skin and in low concentration,
especially in patients with allergies.
Do not take essential oils internally or use without the guidance of a
qualified practitioner. The information provided here is for general use
only and is not intended to replace medical diagnosis or treatment.
Pregnant women should always consult their physician prior to using.
