Healing Herpes and Cold Sores With Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm, also known as Melissa is gaining popularity in healing herpes, and herpes cold sores. It has been featured on television, and on numerous alternative medical sites.
While it seems to be a new magic herb for herpes, it has been used in herbal medicine for centuries. In fact, it has been used for treating many ailments for over 2000 years.

Melissa officinalis is the Latin name for Lemon Balm. The herb is a member of the mint family, and can grow easily in everyone's garden.
The leaves have a slight lemony scent when you brush against the plant. The leaves are what is used in lemon balm oil and is be picked before it goes to flower.

It can also used internally for stress and anxiety, To use it internally, you would use a tea, or a tincture. You never want to ingest the oil, as was once suggested on his television.

Because it is a member of the mint family, lemon balm can also be used for gastrointestinal problems, such as gas, colic and bloating. It can be useful when treating acid reflux, or GERD. It contains active natural herbal chemicals that act as an antispasmodic. This means that it helps to control spasms in the stomach and intestines.

To treat cold sores, simply apply the oil, or use ointment 3-5 times a day while symptoms are present. It is best to wash hands before using, and not to double dip into the container with the same finger.
This can contaminate the oil or ointment.
The herb contains eugenol, and other natural chemicals that help fight off the Herpes simplex family of viruses. By using it on a daily basis on herpes, it can actually reduce outbreaks.

Melissa is also used for healing shingles. Shingles is also cause by the herpes simplex virus. Using lemon balm oil, or ointment on shingles can help cut the pain and itch really quickly. Some doctors are now using it for their patients as a natural alternative to drugs formerly used to heal shingles.

Melissa is a wonderful healing herb that should be included in your natural first aid kid. It also can help heal bites, rashes, and other skin inflammations. Just apply 3-4 times a day until the symptoms have gone.

Cautions: People that are taking medication for thyroid problems should stay clear of lemon balm products. Studies have shown that lemon balm can inhibit the absorption of the medications such as Synthroid.

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Lemon Balm Herb Speeds the Healing of Wounds, Relieves Pain and More

Have you ever heard of Melissa officinalis? It is the official name for the herb lemon balm but is also called bee balm, Melissa, sweet balm, and cure-all. Lemon balm is a member of the popular mint family from the Mediterranean region.

Its leaves give off a strong lemon scent when rubbed. It's a hardy perennial that grows into a bush about 24 inches round and can be cut two or three times during a growing season. Lemon Balm looks very similar to mint, with light green, ridged leaves.

Though a native to southern Europe, lemon balm is now found growing throughout the world.
The lemony smell and pretty white flowers of the lemon balm plant have led to its widespread cultivation in gardens. Its leaves, stems, and flowers have all been used for centuries.
Quotes from literature as far back as the 1600's mention lemon balm by name, speaking of its power in exaggerated prose.

The tannins and polyphenols in lemon balm extracts are both antibacterial and antiviral. It has been used to help treat strep, mumps, and most notably, herpes.
Creams and ointments that include lemon balm have helped to heal cold sores or genital sores induced by the herpes simplex virus.

However, unlike prescription drugs, lemon balm doesn't cause unpleasant side effects like nausea, vomiting, and irregular menstruation. Its antiviral properties may be due to the caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid compounds it contains.

Lemon balm not only helps speed the healing of wounds, but also contains eugenol, a natural pain reliever. Studies have shown that the fragrance of the herb has a sedating effect, which lines up with its traditional use for treatment of nervous disorders such as chronic nervousness, anxiety, and slight insomnia.

Lemon balm can be compared with mint in the soothing effect it has on the stomach and the positive effect it has on the digestive system. Its sedative properties is found specifically in some of the chemicals it contains in volatile oils, including citronellal and citrals A and B.

Extract from lemon balm has been administered intravenously to help normalize overactive thyroid function, particularly in those who have a hyperactive condition called Graves' disease.
Phytochemicals in the herb are thought to keep the antibodies that cause Graves' disease and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from attaching to thyroid gland receptors.

 Lemon balm may also help to block some of the secretion of the thyroid gland and its ability to release hormones in the body. Note: If you are currently on thyroid medication, taking lemon balm may cause interaction problems with your prescribed medications.

Lemon balm has been shown to help relax spasms affecting the smooth muscles (such as those in the uterus and intestines) in the body. It is therefore sometimes recommended for treatment of painful cramping caused by conditions such as premenstrual syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome.

It may also improve memory and lengthen attention span in patients who suffer from Alzheimer's disease.
Yet another case study showed the use of lemon balm in aromatherapy, applying or inhaling fragrances to affect the mood.
One person shared they make floor cleaner by mixing three-parts water to one-part white vinegar, then add a few sprigs of crushed lemon balm.
The fragrance masks the vinegar smell and the lemon may add some antiseptic qualities.

You can enjoy the benefits of lemon balm through many means, including creams, tablets, capsules, teas, tinctures, and extracts.
The typical dosage is 1 teaspoon of the extract daily, or 1 1/2 teaspoons of tincture. You can also add 1 to 3 teaspoons of the dried lemon balm leaves to a cup of hot water to make a homemade tea. You can also add its dried leaves to the bath.

 Use it if you have difficulty sleeping or to reduce stomach problems such as flatulence, or bloating. For children, lemon balm may be used topically on cold sores.
The dosage would be the same as the recommendations for this use in adults. For internal use, adjust the recommended adult dose to account for the child's weight (above based on 150 lb. adult).

Lemon balm herb has been prized by bee keepers since earliest time. It has the ability to attract and nurture swarms of bees, and provide a remedy for their stings.
Do not combine lemon balm herb with any other sedatives.
This may increase the effects of those drugs. For example, if you have a thyroid disorder and are on medication, consult a physician before taking this herbal supplement. As soon as you've been cleared, buy lemon balm and enjoy its benefits to your health!

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Lemon Balm Health Benefits

Lemon balm, also known as Melissa Officinalis, has been used for countless generations to preserve good heath and treat ill health, and with good reason. Although scientific research has only recently began to back up the numerous claims of the health giving properties of this herb, many uses have evolved and many can be testified to. Below are some of its commonly attributed health benefits.

Headache treatment
Anyone who has sniffed the aroma of Lemon Balm will understand why many people use it to alleviate headaches and nausea. It has a relaxing smell and is therefore very popular with headache sufferers.

Antiviral
Due to the polyphenol tannins contained in lemon balm, it is regarded as an effective antiviral treatment. Over the years, Melissa plants has been used to treat herpes. Usually a lotion/oil or lineament based version of Melissa Officinalis is used. The high selenium content in this herb assists with its ability to regulate thyroid function and helps raise antioxidant levels, promoting immune system health.

In autoimmune disease, oxidative stress is considered to be a major environmental trigger.
In Europe, preparations containing 700 mg lemon balm are used to treat the herpes disorder shingles.
Topical creams containing 1 percent L-701, a dried extract of lemon balm, are also widely used to treat oral and skin blisters in herpes infections.
Studies suggest that melissa reduces the development of resistance in the herpes virus and blocks the attachment of herpes virus to the receptor sites of host cells, preventing the spread of infection. In addition, the scientific testing of balm on certain animals has confirmed in antiviral properties.

Mosquito / Insect repellant
Lemon balm has been successfully used as an insect repellant. By crushing the leaves and rubbing directly onto the skin, the lemon smell has been known to provide a scented barrier to the insects which would otherwise be attracted to your skin.

Herbal Tea
Over the years, dried lemon balm leaves have been consumed as tea. Teas made with the herb, both hot and cold are common and like many green teas, proponents believe they have wondrous health properties. Lemon Balm tea is believed to contain antibacterial compounds and antiviral properties, as demonstrated by the herbs ability to combat viruses like the Herpes Simplex virus (cold sores).

Calming Agent
Lemon balm is known to be a calming agent for those suffering from anxiety or stress.
A drug relating to the treatment of anxiety is know as anxiolytic and most types of balm fall into this category.
 Scientific evidence shows that a control group, given Melissa Officinalis, in addition to valerian, chamomile and hops, reported reduced levels of stress and anxiety as opposed to a control group given a placebo.
 Scientists believe that the essential oil of lemon acts upon the part of the brain governing the autonomic nervous system and can protect the cerebrum from excessive external stimuli.
 It also has a tonic effect on the heart and circulatory system causing mild vasodilation of the peripheral vessels, thus lowering blood pressure.

Mood enhancer
In addition to reducing stress, it was actually found to improve mood and even mental performance for activities such as memory and tests. These properties have also created a stir in the scientific communities as it has tremendous relevance regarding the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Sufferers of depression may also benefit from melissa treatments.

Sleep Aid / Mild sedative
Lemon Balm has been traditionally been attributed with sleep enhancing properties and can act as a mild sedative. Many people put lemon herb extract close to where they are sleeping or take a lemon balm tincture prior to sleep. This has been known to help poor sleepers. People with fatigue are recommended lemon balm and can be beneficial to sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Alzheimers
Administration of Lemon Balm to sufferers of Alzheimers has been known to be effective in treating / providing temporary relief for mild to moderate symptoms of the disease.

Antioxidant
The entire Melissa genus is regarded as having 'exceptionally high antioxidant activity', which makes it extremely suitable for advocates of antioxidants.

Hyperthyroidism and Grave's disease
Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease where the thyroid is overactive, producing an excessive amount of thyroid hormones (a serious metabolic imbalance known as hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis). Lemon balm has been used to relieve symptoms of autoimmune disease and promote a healthy immune system in patients with autoimmune disease.

Used as an injection along with Lycopus virginicus or bugleweed, lemon balm is widely used in Europe for treating Graves' disease and is also used as a tonic or tea to reduce and manage symptoms in Graves' disease.
The Melissa herb slows pituitary function, lowering TSH levels, which, in turn, reduces thyroid hormone levels and it is rather paradoxically used to raise thyroid hormone levels in patients with hypothyroidism. Balm herbs strengthen rather than stimulate thyroid function, restoring normal levels to patients with autoimmune thyroid disease.
 However, its effects are mild and this herb is not considered an effective treatment for patients with moderate to severe hypothyroidism.

In addition the melissa herb inhibits the receptor binding site and biological activity of immunoglobulins in the blood of patients with Graves' disease. You should seek a medical professional's advice when considering any treatment.

Amenhorrea
Used as a tea, Melissa Officinalis is used to stimulate the menstrual period in women with amenorrhea (absent or scanty menstrual periods), and is particularly useful in women nearing menopause.

Indigestion
Lemon balm may help treat indigestion as it contains a muscle relaxant which may relax the intestinal tract. Muscle spasms, which can be the cause of discomfort, may be counteracted by the natural chemicals contained within the Melissa herb and improve the symptoms of indigestion.

Other uses
Allergic reactions, mumps, respiratory congestion, flu/influenza, palpitations, nervousness, palpitations and has even been known as a longevity drug! The fountain of youth?

In addition, you can find easy to use, helpful information about lemon balm at http://www.mylemonbalm.com. This is a site dedicated to to this wonderful herb and its many uses and benefits. Discover the magic of Lemon Balm today!

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