Tincture Tuesday! Week 2: Lemon Balm Tincture
Happy Tincture Tuesday's, and most importantly, Happy Canada Day! After an exciting morning full of parades, music, and excitement, I'm happy to be back in my garden, writing about the calming affects of Lemon Balm.
You may have mistaken lemon balm in the past as lemon-y smelling mint, or even a weed, but it's certainly neither, and holds it's own unique identity. I'm confident that either you, your neighbor (thanks, Jen!), or someone you know has some growing in their yard. It's a fragrant and edible herb, and aside from using it medicinally, it's a great addition to fruit salads, desserts, and veggie dishes, and makes a delicious tea.Lemon balm has proven to have an incredible effect on the nervous system, and even before the Middle Ages, lemon balm has been taken internally to treat anxiety and depression. Lemon balm is also helpful for any stress-related indigestion issues; it can also calm the heart, and relax relieve symptoms of PMS. It's also said, that if taken prior to childbirth, lemon balm will ease the birth and lessen the pain--I haven't tested this theory out, but hey, I'd try just about anything (that's natural) to tame that nightmare.
The Benefits of a Lemon Balm Tincture
Take one adult dose, about 2 droppersful, to ease any of the following:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Sleep problems (insomnia)
- Restlessness
- Nervousness (for an exam, interview etc.)
- Nervous indigestion or diarrhea
- Symptoms of PMS
- Congestion
I don't know about you, but I can think of a few boxes of pills, sitting in my bathroom, that can now get the boot.Did you miss last weeks post, Tinctures 101? If so, read it first to find out how to make tinctures, and why I've decided to incorporate them in to my medicine cabinet.I used about a cup of lemon balm leaves (the smaller leaves at the top of the plant), and didn't bother to chop or mash them before I soaked them in alcohol because the leaves are quite delicate and the vodka will be able to pull out the constituents regardless. I left the lemon balm to soak in the alcohol for 4 weeks before straining it.