Dosages and Applications of Lemon Balm

HISTORICAL APPLICATIONS

For ease of reading the applications have been categorized with specific historical reference given after. As the information is of historical nature, no specific doses of lemon balm were found.

Poultice: Dioscorides recommended the use of lemon balm either alone or soaked in wine to be applied to mad dog bites, scorpion stings, and wounds to prevent infection. (1)

Wine Infusion: Recommended by Dioscorides to drink lemon balm infused in wine while poulticing the external wound site with the lemon balm. (2) Herbalist John Parkinson recommended lemon balm steeped in ale for “qualms or passions of the heart”. (1a)

Decoction: According to Culpepper, Dioscorides recommended…”the Decoction (of lemon balm) there of for Women to bath or set in to procure their courses…”. (3)

Juice of the herb: Gerad states “ the juice (of lemon balm) glueth together green wounds.” (4) Culpepper recommends feeding a woman in childbirth a caudle (custard) made with eggs, lemon balm juice, rose, and sugar to assist with the expulsion of the after birth. (5)

Electuary: Culpepper states in his book “The English Physitian”… that lemon balm “being made into and Electuary is good for them that cannot fetch their Breath.”

Tea: Was given for digestive upset or food overindulgences, especially mushrooms. (6)

MODERN DOSAGES AND APPLICATIONS OF LEMON BALM

As each material medica, dispensary, herbal, etc seems to have it’s own recommendations for application and dosing of lemon balm, it seemed the most logical way to give the information was by listing the resource, it’s author, and particulars the author might have for the said dose and application. This author feels this format is the easiest and of best benefit to the reader in choosing the information they are specifically interested in.

1. “Potter’s New Cyclopedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations”, 7^th Edition-1956, by R.C.Wren
Tea: To be drunk freely for treatment of fever and inducing mild perspiration.
Use 1 oz Lemon Balm herb to 1 pint boiling water. Let stand a quarter of an hour then drink.
Liquid Extract: Dose- ¼ to 1 dr (drachm)

2. “King’s American Dispensatory - 1898” by Harvey Wickes Felter, MD and John Uri Lloyd Phr. M. PhD
A warm infusion, drank freely, …as a diaphoretic in febrile diseases and painful menstruation… the infusion may be taken ad libitum.”

3. “Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs”, 2000, American Botanical Council

Recommended Dosage: 2 grams per day herb (powder, crushed, cut, or whole)
Infusion: 2 grams in 150 ml of water
Fluid Extract 1:1(g/ml): 2 ml dose Tincture 1:5(g/ml): 10 ml dose

Internal use for tenseness, restlessness, irritability, insomnia, symptomatic treatment of digestive disorder and to stimulate appetite. For external use for Herpes labialis (cold sores).

4. “ The Protocol Journal of Botanical Medicine Vol 1, No 1 Summer 1995” by Herbal Research Publications.
For anxiety associated with hyperthyroid (in conjunction with proper Therapeutic Botanical Protocol of Anxiety Disorders)
Dosage: Extract 20 drops t.i.d- q.i.d (3 to 4 times a day) for 4 to 6 months

5. “The Protocol Journal of Botanical Medicine Vol 2, No 1, 1996” by Herbal Research Publications.
Under “Eclectic Specific Condition Review: ADD/ADHD “ by David Winston
For: Sadness, mild depression, and anxiety; especially for children.
Fresh Plant Extract 1:2 Dosage- Adult 60 to 90 gtt (drops), q.i.d
Child 10 gtt (drops) every 2 - 3 hours

6. “Therapeutic Herbalism - a Correspondence Course in Phytotherapy” by David Hoffman, M.N.I.M.H.
Infusion: 2 - 3 tsp dried herb or 4 to 6 fresh leaves to 1 Cup boiled water. Infuse 10 - 15 minutes covered. Take 1 Cup am & pm or as needed.
Tincture: Take 2 - 6 ml 3 times a day

7. “Plant Medicine in Practice - Using the Teaching of John Bastyr” by William .A. Mitchell, Jr. 2003

For treatment of colds and flu: Combine 30 drops Lemon Balm tincture and 30 drops Yarrow tincture in 1 Cup hot water and drink twice daily.

For treatment of mouth herpes: Use a salve of Lemon Balm on the cold sore four times a day.
For use as a gentle herbal tranquilizer: 60 drops of Lemon Balm tincture in 1 Cup hot water twice daily.
For use as a sedative, anti-spasmodic, diaphoretic, and treatment of gastric dyspepsia: 60 drops Lemon Balm tincture three times daily (specific for sedative effects)

Author’s Note: The reader will notice, in comparison to historical application of lemon balm for medical treatment, that modern day herbalist are not utilizing lemon balm to its fullest potential. It seems the need for quick and convenient herbal treatments such as tinctures and extracts, have pushed teas, poultices and electuary to the sidelines even though the older applications may be more specific to the healing need. Hopefully modern day herbalist will be willing to re-introduce themselves to the older forms of herbal medicine usage as they have just as much viability as the convenient magic bullet herb approach used today.

1. pg 246, “Early American Gardens “for Meate or Medicine” by Ann Leighton
1a. pg 246, Ibid
2.Online, “The English Physitian” by Nicholas Culpepper
3.Ibid
4.pg 246, “Early American Gardens”for Meate or Medicine” by Ann Leighton
5.Online, “The English Physitian” by Nicholas Culpepper
6.Ibid