The Benefits of Lemon Balm – a Must in Any Garden

By  Trinity Bourne

Contributing Writer for Wake Up World

Lemon Balm, also known as  Melissa officinalis  is totally and utterly the herb of the month for me at the moment, springing up all over my garden. It seems to really want to grow here, scattering out the most bountiful harvest at a time when other greens are just starting to unfurl their leaves.

Lemon Balm’s botanical name,  Melissa,  is Greek for bees, so it comes as no surprise that bees adore this perennial wonder. It is often affectionately referred as Bee Balm. This versatile herb thrives in most places, taking care of itself rather well, spreading vigorously with its roots and seeds. In temperate climates the leaves die down in the winter, shooting back through once the season begins to move towards spring again.

Most natural gardeners find that they have ample of the stuff and would be more than happy to dig you up a clump, otherwise you should be able to buy seeds or a small plant at your local garden centre. It’s an all round winner and an absolute must in any happy garden.

Medicinal uses for Lemon Balm

This zingy herb has an abundance of well-known, tried and tested health benefits and medical properties. Whilst one of it’s most famous properties is as a mild sedative, calming the nervous system, it is also commonly used to help:

— digestive problems

— flatulence

—  colic

—  bloating

—  upset stomachs

—  menstrual cramps

—  headaches

—  to calm nerves

—  relieve anxiety

—  anti-viral

—  irritability

—  depression

Fresh Lemon Balm Tea

It’s so easy to make a cup of fresh lemon balm tea. Simply add a few fresh leaves into your mug, pour in some boiling water and allow the leaves to infuse for at least a few minutes before drinking. No strainer is required if you use fresh leaves. If you don’t have fresh plants you can probably buy some dried leaves from a really good healthy food store, herbal shop or traditional apothecary. Infuse dried leaves as you would the fresh leaves and strain before drinking.

Culinary Uses for Lemon Balm

Lemon balm exudes a gentle lemon fragrance and flavour that blends wonderfully as an addition to many different dishes. It infuses a lively subtle zingy-ness to salads when used raw, reducing the need for lemon or vinegar in your dish. It’s also refreshing added to desserts and can be tossed into just about any dish, with different effects.

Lemon Balm, Ginger & Pumpkin Seed Pate

I use lemon balm frequently in salads when it’s in season. I’ve also created a delicious recipe for Lemon Balm, Ginger & Pumpkin Seed Pate  which I posted on Trinity’s Conscious Kitchen. This recipe is another excellent way to enjoy the raw health benefits of this versatile herb.

I do hope that you are as inspired by lemon balm as I am. It feels that times are changing and we need, now, more than ever to become more self sufficient and start growing herbs and plant-foods that are happy to thrive.

With love and happy herbs,

Trinity

Further articles by Trinity:

• Top Twenty Tips for Conscious Eating
• The Spirit of the Dolphin
• Chocolate Paradise Coconut Bar Recipe – Vegan, Raw, Absolutely Delicious
• The Spirituality of Space Clearing: Five Effective Ways to Clear Stagnant Energy
• Being an Empath

• Trinity’s Super Cleansing Green Kale & Coriander Drink Recipe

• What is Success? A Spiritual Perspective
• Make Your Own ‘Loved Up’ Raw Chocolate Brownies (Vegan & Gluten Free!)
• You Are Enough, Exactly As You Are

• Vegan Gluten-Free Lentil Lasagne with Cashew Cream Sauce (Yummy Recipe)

• 4th Dimensional Entities & What You Can Do About Them (Includes Audio Meditation)
• Embracing Spiritual Abundance
• Ethical Conscious Clothing — Ending Modern Day Slavery

About the author:

Trinity is an experienced, empathic energy worker and the author of ‘Trinity’s Conscious Kitchen’, a recipe book designed to inspire the soul through conscious vegan, wheat-free cuisine.

Around 18 years ago, during a profound spiritual awakening, the world around her shattered. She became engulfed in a white, universal, timeless, formless light until nothing else existed – other than the nameless truth at the core of all sentient beings. During this life-changing experience Trinity experienced the soul of all other sentient beings, trees, creatures, people as one pulsating energy. Transcending her into a higher realm of unity and oneness, this experience imparted a divine energy that she has been sharing through spiritual work ever since.  She has integrated a wide variety of multidimensional gifts, and works hand in hand with the Angelic Realms, guided by a deep compassion for the Earth and environment.

Understanding that the energy of our food directly impacts sentient life on all levels, Trinity founded  Trinity’s Conscious Kitchen, a website devoted to inspiring the soul through conscious vegan cuisine.  She is the co-founder of the  Openhand Foundation, an organisation dedicated to the evolution of humankind. She works as the divine complement to her soul mate  Open (Chris)  to help facilitate the global Ascension process and feels incredibly blessed to be of divine service.

Check out Trinity’s new book  Trinity’s Conscious Kitchen  on  Amazon.com  or visit  Openhandweb.org  for a huge archive of deep insights for the spiritual journey.

 

Necessary disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.