Uses for Lemon Balm and How to Cook with it

First, what is Lemon Balm? Lemon balm is a popular and common garden herb, that has a pleasant lemon scent, light green leaves, and has a bright, citrusy taste.

Second, what are its benefits? Lemon balm leaves are antiviral and very rich in antioxidants, which is why they are used in several natural health medications and even in beauty products. Lemon balm is safe to consume in regular culinary amounts or small medicinal doses.

The Uses for Lemon Balm are Quite Extensive! 

You might also be curious about the uses for lemon balm. Here they are:

Lemon balms can help relieve stress

According to healthline.com, lemon balm is said to soothe symptoms of stress, help you to relax, and boost your mood.

A 2004 study found that taking lemon balm eased the negative mood effects of laboratory-induced psychological stress. Participants who took lemon balm self-reported an increased sense of calmness and reduced feelings of alertness.

Alleviating anxiety with Lemon Balm

Did you know that lemon balms can also help relieve symptoms of anxiety, such as nervousness and excitability? According to some studies, it has shown positive effects on various aspects of mood, including alleviated levels of anxiety. 

Help boost cognitive function

Studies show that participants who ingested lemon balm performed better on mathematics, memory, and concentration than those who did not. According to mariongluckclinic.com, the reason behind this is lemon balm significantly reduces excitatory transmission in the brain by inhibiting an enzyme called GABA-T that breaks down GABA, thus increasing the amount of GABA available in the brain.

Did you know that lemon balm may help improve sleep and insomnia? 

As lemon balm helps alleviate anxiety, it can also help improve sleep disorders such as insomnia. Lemon balms have rosmarinic acid, which is believed to help improve sleep.

It leaves can also help to relieve indigestion

Lemon balm, which can be ingested as a tea or supplement, or used as a topical treatment can help relieve indigestion. This is because lemon balm contains citral, citronellal, linalool, geraniol, and beta-caryophyllene, which may aid in relieving indigestion and other digestive problems such as IBS or dyspepsia.

These are just a few of the most common benefits and uses of lemon balm, but lemon balm is also widely used in cooking and several recipes. A few of them are:

1. Desserts
2. Tea
3. Salads
4. Vinaigrettes
5. Seafood
6. Sauces and soups

Do you need recipe ideas to actually use your Lemon Balm leaves? Try Roasted Lemon Balm Chicken

Here’s one recipe for lemon balm for you, in case you would like to try its culinary use.

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredient Checklist

¼ cup lemon balm leaves, divided

¼ cup fresh sage leaves, divided

¼ cup softened butter

salt and pepper to taste

1 (3 1/2) pound whole chicken

1 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions for our Lemon Balm Chicken 

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Set aside 1/3 of the whole lemon balm leaves and 1/3 of the whole sage leaves. Chop the remaining lemon balm and sage. Place the chopped herbs into a mixing bowl with the butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir until evenly mixed. 
3. Loosen the skin of the chicken, and rub the butter mixture underneath the skin, over the breast and legs. Rub the skin of the chicken with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Place the reserved herbs into the cavity of the chicken, and place breast-side-down onto a roasting pan.
4. Roast in the preheated oven 30 minutes, then turn chicken breast-side-up, and continue baking until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 20 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). 
5. Remove the chicken from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area for 10 minutes before slicing.
6. Serve and enjoy! 😊

We hope that this article can be of help to you and your research about lemon balm, its uses, benefits, and recipes that you can cook with it. Check out our Bottle Garden Kit so you can start growing your own herb plants at home.