Melissa
Melissa officinalis is a perennial herbaceous essential oil plant of the Yasnotkov family, reaching a height of up to one meter. It belongs to the most popular aromatic and medicinal plants known to mankind for centuries. Two thousand years ago, it was grown in ancient Rome and added to food to whet the appetite.
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Melissa description
The rhizome of the plant is branched, and the stem is highly branched with a slightly pubescent top. Lemon balm has ovoid, rounded leaves of dark green color on the upper side and lighter on the bottom. Melissa blooms in June-August with small white or pink flowers collected in the axils of the upper leaves.
Melissa has a strong lemon scent, especially pleasant before flowering, which is given to it by essential oils. It is because of its scent that lemon balm is used as a culinary seasoning along with herbs such as sage, peppermint, marjoram and rosemary. The lemon scent attracts bees, which is why the plant got its Latin name - "Bee Star".
Lemon balm is considered the birthplace of the Eastern Mediterranean, but now it is cultivated in almost all countries of the world.
Lemon balm composition
Melissa has many useful properties, which are determined by its constituents:
- Essential oils (from 0.1 to 0.3%) from more than two hundred different compounds, the most characteristic of which are geraniol, citral, citronellol, nerol and citronellal;
- Flavonoids, including cosmosin, apigenin, cinaroside, isoquercitrin, rhamnocitrin and luteolin;
- Tannins;
- Phenylpropanoids;
- Monoterpenes;
- Macro- and microelements, including potassium, calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, selenium, chromium, vanadium, molybdenum, nickel;
- Phenol carboxylic acids.
Medicinal use and beneficial properties of lemon balm
Due to its medicinal properties, lemon balm has long been used in folk medicine in different countries.
In Arab countries, lemon balm was used in the treatment of mental illness, epilepsy, apathy, apoplexy and melancholy. She was also a part of various "elixirs of life".
One of the known beneficial properties of lemon balm is its soothing effect. It is used in case of complaints during pregnancy, menstrual irregularities and hysterical seizures, which are characteristic mainly of women.
As an analgesic, antispasmodic and calming agent for the nervous system, lemon balm is used in traditional medicine in Bulgaria. Traditional healers of this country, thanks to the medicinal properties of lemon balm, use it:
- In the treatment of migraine, nervous weakness, insomnia, skin rash;
- To stimulate appetite;
- As an antiemetic;
- To relieve colic caused by gas retention;
- For poultices and compresses in the treatment of boils.
French scientists who have investigated the beneficial properties of lemon balm have found that the plant has soothing, antispasmodic, cardiac muscle strengthening and central nervous system stimulating properties.
In Poland, lemon balm is usually used as an analogue of valerian root as a sedative.
In the countries of Central Asia, a decoction of the leaves is used as a diuretic, as well as for pain in the stomach, indigestion, gout and anemia.
Avicenna, describing the medicinal properties of lemon balm in the "Canon of Medicine", wrote that it "helps with brain blockages, invigorates and strengthens the heart and eliminates bad breath." Melissa is often prescribed as an additional therapy to strengthen the heart muscle and for tachycardia attacks.
An infusion of lemon balm leaves and flowers is taken for shortness of breath, poor digestion, asthma, insomnia, various neuralgias, painful menstruation, anemia, and also as a diaphoretic and laxative.
Melissa is one of the few plants that can be used by children in the treatment of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cholecystitis, pyelonephritis, childhood neuroses, obesity and rheumatism.
Traditional medicine also uses the medicinal properties of lemon balm. Many products are produced in the form of aromatic waters, medicinal teas and decoctions, as well as medicines containing lemon balm (for example, Persen, Novo-passit, Nervoflux).
The use of lemon balm in cooking
Due to its delicate refreshing taste and lemon aroma, lemon balm is widely used as a spice for preparing many dishes. Fresh lemon balm leaves are added, finely chopped, to salads. Dried lemon balm leaves can be added along with other herbs to meat, vegetable, mushroom and fish dishes. It goes well with dishes containing lemon juice.
As a spice, lemon balm is often used in home canning when pickling vegetables (tomatoes and cucumbers).
Melissa is an irreplaceable component of various drinks. Dried leaves are brewed like tea, they are used to flavor homemade kvass, and also added to compotes. Fresh leaves enhance the taste of homemade wine and beer.
When using lemon balm as a spice, it should be borne in mind that it quickly loses its aroma, therefore it is recommended to add it a few minutes before the end of cooking or sprinkle it on already prepared dishes.
Contraindications
Melissa, like preparations containing this plant, is not recommended for use in case of individual intolerance and in case of arterial hypotension.
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