Lemon Balm

Health Benefits of Lemon Balm

By heirloomteasnthings, Sep 24 2015 11:57AM

by Dr. David Jockers

(NaturalNews) Lemon balm is a member of the mint family and is considered a calming herb. This herb is also known as Melissa officinalis, and it has been used for centuries to reduce anxiety, promote sleep and improve symptoms of indigestion. Lemon balm has been researched by experts and found to offer many great health benefits

Lemon balm is native to Europe but is commonly grown all over the world. It is often grown in herb gardens to attract bees which help pollinate the rest of the garden. The plant grows up to two feet and has light yellow flowers that grow where the leaves meet the stem. The leaves are similar in shape to mint leaves and have a tart and sweet smell like lemons.

This herb has been used by the ancient Greeks and Romans to treat insect bites and stings. The leaves give off a strong tart smell that insects do not like. The insect-repellant essential oils it contains include citronella and monoterpenaldehydes citral A and B. The essential oils that are released from the leaves are also used to treat insomnia, nervousness and anxiety.

Lemon balm is rich in antioxidants:

Lemon balm is rich in caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid, which are powerful antioxidants that neutralize reactive oxygen species. It also contains eugenol, which acts like a natural anti-inflammatory that helps soothe painful conditions. These compounds offer profound antibacterial and antiviral properties and protect the lipid membrane of cells.

A 2010 study published in Toxicology and Industrial Health looked at lemon balm and its ability to reduce oxidative stress in radiology staff members who are constantly dealing with radiation-induced stress. The study showed that taking a lemon balm infusion of 1.5 grams in a 100 mL drink for 30 days had a positive effect on reducing lipid peroxidation and DNA damage. It was shown to improve intracellular antioxidant (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) status and reduce DNA damage in these radiology staff members.

Lemon balm and immune system:

The caffeic and rosmarinic acids in lemon balm offer profound antibacterial and antiviral properties when taken in both oral and topical forms. Topical lemon balm has been shown to reduce redness and itching from infections and eczema. These acids are particularly effective against strep throat, mumps and herpes among other things.

A 2008 study published in Phytomedicine showed that lemon balm was highly effective at reducing the herpes simplex virus on the skin. Another 2008 study showed that lemon balm was highly effective at reducing viruses, gram-positive bacteria and Candida albicans. It does not have a great effect with gram-negative bacteria.

This would indicate that viruses, yeasts, streptococcus and staphylococcus would be highly sensitive to lemon balm extract. This is thought to be one of the reasons why lemon balm is so effective at helping individuals improve from chronic digestive complaints. However, gram negative bacterial infections such as E. coli, Salmonella and Shigella would not be as sensitive to lemon balm.

A large German study showed that lemon balm was extremely effective at treating herpes simplex infections. In the study, which included three hospitals and one dermatology clinic, the lemon balm treated group did not have a single recurrence of the infection. Other studies have found that lemon balm reduces the healing time of both genital and oral herpes.

Proper dosages for lemon balm:

Lemon balm is most commonly used for digestive issues, insomnia, anxiety and immunity. It can be taken in the form of infused teas in the range of 1.5 to 4.5 grams of lemon balm taken two to four times daily. It can also be taken in a tincture of 2-3 mL (roughly 20 drops) three times daily. Many others choose to steep 2 to 4 tablespoons of the crushed leaf in a cup of boiling water.

You can also find lemon balm in a capsule-based formula, and the recommended dosage is 300-500 mg taken three times daily or as needed. When using a topical form, try applying it three to five times daily to maintain its powerful anti-microbial activity on the region.

Contraindications for lemon balm:

Lemon balm is not to be used in high amounts (trace amounts are ok) in pregnant women and individuals taking the thyroid medication thyroxine. Also, caution should be used when giving oral treatments to infants and children. Breastfeeding women should also avoid taking large clinical doses of lemon balm as well.

#HeirloomTeasNThings

Hornets - Needed But Mean Little Suckers

Yesterday morning, I had the wonderful experience of stepping on a hornet.  This poor defenseless thing had no choice but to launch its five foot stinger into the side of my foot and send burning flames hotter than a thousand suns into the offending foot and straight up my leg into my brain. After inventing a few new curse words that would make a sailor blush, I commenced with the healing.





Here are some tips.  I used ice, betonite clay and more ice.  That sucker swelled to the size of a golf ball.  It wasn't pretty but my nails were.  

Natural Ways to Treat Stings

Bee, Wasp, and Hornet Stings

If a stinger is left embedded in the body, then remove it as soon as possible. This should be the first step. Use whatever tools are immediately available to dig it out. You could use a knife, credit card, pliers, tweezers, or a needle. Sterilize the tool if possible, but do not waste time. For maximum absorption, clean the area with soap and water before applying remedies, otherwise the oils on the skin will repel them.

Wasp and Hornet Stings

Vinegar - Wasp and hornet venom are powerful alkalines. Use an acid such as vinegar to neutralize them. It can be applied via a piece of cloth or bandaging. Make sure to keep the stings soaked for at least 15 minutes. Some vinegar will absorb through the skin, and it should greatly help eliminate the discomfort.

Bee and Yellow Jacket Stings

Baking Soda - In the case of bee stings, baking soda will help to neutralize the acidic venom. Make a paste by combining baking soda with water. Leave this paste on the sting site for at least 15 minutes. Some of the dissolved baking soda will leach through the skin to neutralize the venom somewhat. After applying it, and cleaning the sting area of residue; a chamomile tincture may be repeatedly applied for any residual itching or swelling.

Emergency Allergic Reactions

If there is difficulty breathing, extreme dizziness, or nausea after a sting, then there is a high probability that it triggered a dangerous allergic reaction. In these cases, we recommend quickly consuming a large (i.e. quadruple) dose of chamomile. Chamomile is related to ragweed, so those with ragweed allergies should skip this step. A large amount of echinacea is also strongly recommended, if available. If pulse irregularities are experienced, then try to take some taurine, even if that means just holding the powder in the mouth. Then immediately get to the nearest hospital. The allergic reaction may stop by the time you arrive at the hospital, but you should definitely make the trip in case it does not. In these unfortunate latter cases, a steroid injection may be required to save your life.

Misinformation About Sting Remedies

Treating most bee, wasp, and hornet stings is easy, but that may be difficult to believe if you have spent any time researching this topic on the Internet. Researching natural treatments for bee, hornet, and wasp stings is revealing about how much misinformation there is on the Internet. Some of it is laughable.

The Incredibly Stupid Sting "Treatments" That We Discourage

• Meat tenderizer
• Onion
• Potato
• Mud (literally dirt and water)
• Garlic
• Ammonia
• Vinegar combined with baking soda (neutralize themselves)

The Best Way To Grow Garlic

It's an easy crop that yields results in less than a year.

By Chester Aaron [3] April 1, 2015

Not only is it easy to grow, but it's also a beautiful addition to your garden. Here's our step-by-step guide.
Soil Preparation
Garlic [4] will tolerate some shade but prefers full sun. While I've seen cloves sprout in gravel pits, garlic responds best in well-drained, rich, loamy soil amended with lots oforganic matter [5]. Raised beds are ideal, except in very dry regions.
Planting
Fall is the time for planting. Each clove (the sections of the bulb) will produce a new bulb, and the largest cloves generally yield the biggest bulbs. To get the cloves off to a strong start and protect them from fungal diseases, soak them in a jar of water containing a heaping tablespoon of baking soda and a tablespoon of liquid seaweed for a few hours before planting. 
Spacing
Place cloves in a hole or furrow with the flat or root-end down and pointed-end up, with each tip 2 inches beneath the soil. Set the cloves about 6 to 8 inches apart. Top the soil with 6 inches of mulch, such as straw or dried grass clippings mixed with leaves. You'll see shoots start growing right through the mulch in 4 to 8 weeks, depending on your weather and the variety you've planted. They stop growing during winter, then start again in spring. Leave the mulch [6] in place into spring; it conserves moisture and suppresses weeds (garlic competes poorly with weeds).
Watering
Garlic needs about an inch of water each week during spring growth. If you have to augment rainfall with a garden hose, stop watering by June 1 or when the leaves begin to yellow in order to let the bulbs firm up.
Scape Sacrifice
By mid-June, your garlic will begin sprouting flowery tops that curl as they mature and ultimately straighten out into long spiky tendrils. These savory stalks, known as scapes, should be removed to encourage larger, more efficient bulb growth. However, before adding severed scapes to the compost pile, try incorporating their mild garlic flavor into a delicious scape pesto, scape dip, or scape soup.
Fertilizing
Start foliar-feeding your garlic every 2 weeks as soon as leaf growth begins in spring (typically in March) and continue until around May 15, at which point the bulbs begin to form, says Darrell Merrell, host of the "Garlic Is Life" festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Merrell uses 1 tablespoon liquid seaweed mix and 1 tablespoon fish emulsion mixed into a gallon of water.
Harvesting Hints
When half to three-quarters of the leaves turn yellow-brown, typically in late June or early July (depending on the variety and the weather), it's harvest time. Carefully dig up each bulb; do not pull, or you may break the stalk from the bulb, which can cause it to rot. Once it's harvested, get it out of the sun as soon as possible.
Tie the garlic together in bundles of 6 to 10 bulbs (label them if you've grown more than one variety) and hang them to cure for about 4 to 6 weeks in a shaded, dry, and preferably drafty area.
When your garlic is thoroughly dry, trim the roots, taking care not to knock off the outer skin. Cut off the stalks about 1½ inches above the bulb if you plan to keep the garlic in bags. Recycled mesh onion bags are perfect for storage.

Fall Medicine Cabinet

It's that time.  Sniffle.  Sniffle.  Cough.  Cough.  Here are the recipes we use over the cold months to help with those cold-weather illnesses.

Elderberry Syrup - cold / flu- The Wellness Mamma

Ingredients

• ⅔ cup black elderberries
• 3½ cups of water
• 2 Tablespoons fresh or dried ginger root
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
• ½ teaspoon cloves or clove powder
• 1 cup raw honey (we get from our farmer's market)

Instructions

1. Pour water into medium saucepan and add elderberries, ginger, cinnamon and cloves (do not add honey!)
2. Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour until the liquid has reduced by almost half. At that point, remove from heat and let cool enough to be handled. Pour through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl.
3. Discard the elderberries (or compost them!) and let the liquid cool to lukewarm. When it is no longer hot, add 1 cup of honey and stir well.
4. When honey is well mixed into the elderberry mixture, pour the syrup into a pint sized mason jar or 16 ounce glass bottle of some kind.
5. Ta Da! You just made homemade elderberry syrup! Store in the fridge and take daily for its immune boosting properties. Some sources recommend taking only during the week and not on the weekends to boost immunity.
6. Standard dose is ½ tsp to 1 tsp for kids and ½ Tbsp to 1 Tbsp for adults. If the flu does strike, take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until symptoms disappear.

Bronchitis / Penumonia

Ravintsara     20 drops
Eucalyptus     40 drops
Tea Tree     40 drops
Thyme     16 drops

Add oils to a dark colored glass bottle.  Shake and allow to sit for a day.  When needed, add 3-6 drops to 1 1/2 teaspoon of a carrier oil and massage into chest and throat.  Use 2-3 times per day.

Sore Throat / Strep
1 cup raw honey
1 cup apple cider vinegar

Mix together in a glass jar.  Take 2-3 tsps every 6 hours.  Store in the refrigerator.

Feel Better Tea 
to soothe a sore throat and stuffy nose

8 oz. apple cider
2 tsps. chai tea

Heat the cider and steep with chai tea.  That's it.  It feels amazing.

Vapor Rub
1/2 cup   Coconut oil
10 drops Eucalyptus Oil

I put about 1/2 c. coconut oil and 10 drops or so of eucalyptus oil in a half pint sized canning jar and mixed them together. I found that the coconut oil stayed solid enough to use as a rub, but if yours is too liquid, you can add a little melted beeswax to it and it will harden.