LEMON BALM

This is one of a MUST for any new or old herb gardener! When starting out growing herbs, your first attempts at using your herbs is usually in the kitchen, right? And lemon balm tea is always something to make that will compliment your beggining tries! I usualy make my normal orange pekoe tea by infusing tea bags under HOT TAP WATER ONLY!! and then adding in this case, lemon balm sprigs, about 4-5 6" sprigs works well in a gallon of tea. (12 teabags used). You can also chop up the cleaned leaves and add to the next summer fruit salad you make, and the leaves are great to decorate the side of any serving plate. Why not try placing a few sprigs into a quart of 5% acidity vinegar for something wonderful! Or you may want to make a gift of jelly! And if you are not into cooking, but only labor, take the leaves and rub on your furniture as a polish! (A mother-in-law job for sure!)

There is a lot of history behind lemon balm and a lot of folklore. (Isn't the folklore of herbs fun?!) It is said that by soaking the leaves of the balm in vine for a few hours will influence love...(Maybe it is the vine, I mean wine.) It was also known to ensure success. The "LONDEN DISPENSARY" claims in 1696: "Balm, given every morning, will renew youth, strenghten the brain and releive languishing nature". It is said by drinking lemon balm tea with honey for 50 years for breakfast, John Hussey, of Sydenham, England, lived to be 116 years old. It is still used today as an essential oil by aromatherapists for depression. Lemon Balm is also a strewing herb.

It's 'real' name is Melissa Officinalis although, there again, is a variegated form called "variegata". This is another herb that does well in the shadier area for the sun scorches the leaves. It is not to picky on soil, but does prefer it to be damp. It is best to start with a root division, being the seeds are slow to start. It is also good to replant every third year because it looses it nice moundy shape by then. It grows to be about a foot tall, and you can pick the leaves anytime. It does not do well in the southern states being it is to warm of a climate.It is good to plant this herb closer to the path in your herb garden so it can be brushed against while passing thru.

Medicinally, lemon balm can be placed directly onto insect bites or sores, made into teas for broncial problems, colds, or drank just to uplift tension.


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