Lemon balm

Also known as melissa officinalis, lemonbalm.

Last reviewed October 9, 2026 · Jump to references

What is Lemon balm?

In plain words

Lemon balm is a lemon-scented herb in the mint family. The body breaks down its plant compounds and absorbs some of them and their breakdown products. Researchers study it for stress, sleep, and memory. Human studies are generally small, so its benefits and long-term safety remain uncertain.

Technical definition

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is an aromatic plant in the mint family whose leaves contain polyphenols, including rosmarinic acid, and volatile terpenes. Extracts inhibit GABA transaminase, an enzyme that breaks down the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, in laboratory studies, but this has not been established as a clinically relevant mechanism in humans. In the United States, lemon balm is marketed in dietary supplements, which are not FDA-approved treatments for anxiety or insomnia.

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Evidence by use

Each use is rated on its own. There is no single overall effectiveness score.