Melissa officinalis
(Lemon balm)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Antihistamine activity
• Antithyroid
• Antiviral, especially Herpes simplex
• Inhibits many of the effects of exogenous and endogenous thyroid stimulating hormone by interfering with binding of TSH to plasma membranes and by inhibiting the enzyme iodothyronine deiodinase
• Inhibits protein biosynthesis in cell-free systems of rat liver
• Inhibits receptor binding and biological activity of immunoglobulins in the blood of patients with Graves disease
• Inhibits tumor cells dividing
• Mild vasodilatory effect of peripheral vessels
• Promotes menstrual cycles
• Sedative

Clinical Indications:

• Amenorrhea
• Attention deficit disorder
• Depression
• Eczema
• Herpes simplex
• Hypertension
• Nervous headaches
• Dyspepsia
• Graves disease
• Insomnia
• Vegetative dystonia

Contraindications:

• Hypothyroidism due to the antithyropic effects
• Pregnancy due to the emmenagogue effects

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Extract increases pentobarbital hypnotic effects
• Volatile oil enhances hexobarbital narcosis

Chemical Constituents:

• Eugenl acetate
• Flavonoids:
  
  Luteolin-7-glucoside
  Rhamnazin
• Polyphenolics:
  
  Caffeic acid
  Protocatechuic acid
  Rosmarinic acid
• Tannins
• Terpenes:
  
  B-carophyllene
  Citronellal
  Geraniol
  Linalool
  Nerol
• Triterpenic acids:
  
  Pomolic acid
  Ursolic acid
• Volatile oil:
  
  Citral a and b with caryophyllene oxide

Toxicity:

• No known toxicity

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).