There are many types of herbs and teas that are said to help you with a variety of problems: upset stomach, anxiety, infections, and sleep problems. Lemon Balm tea has been shown to help with a wide range of problems from insomnia to sickness. The one I’ll be focusing on today will be how it helps you sleep.

But you may still be wondering: What is Lemon balm tea? Is it just like any other tea? I will answer – hopefully – all the questions about lemon balm throughout this article. To start it off:

What Is Lemon Balm Tea?

Lemon balm is a herb in the mint family that can be used for various reasons. While it can also be used for indigestion and to help ease your pain, it is best known for how well it relaxes you. It can be mixed with other herbs like chamomile to help create a very relaxing mixture that will allow you to sleep easily. You can take it through capsules, topical cream, or tea.

Why Does It Make You Sleep?

Lemon balm helps make you sleep because of what it is made up of. Whenever a lemon balm supplement or tea is made, it is made using the leaves of the plants. In the lemon balm’s leaves are essential oils with chemicals such as:

• Terpenes – interact with neural and cellular receptors to boost dopamine activity; main reason the balm helps you sleep
• Tannins – natural antioxidant; gives lemon balm antiviral effects
• Eugenol – calms muscle spasms, numbs tissue, and kills bacteria

What Studies Have Found

There was a 15-day study done in 2011 that was published in the Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism that measured how well Cyracos^©, which has lemon balm in it, treated anxiety and insomnia. Volunteers with both anxiety and sleep disturbances were given lemon balm extract. Researchers Julien Cases, Alvin Ibarra, Nicolas Feuillère, Marc Roller, and Samir G. Sukkar found the following information after the volunteers had taken the medicine:

• 19 out of 20 patients responded well to treatment
• 14 out of 20 experienced few to no anxiety symptoms
• 17 out of 20 suffered mild to no insomnia
• 14 out of 20 achieved full remission of both anxiety and insomnia

This demonstrates how well lemon balm works in reducing stress-related effects and assists in lowering your sleep disturbances. They do mention that there should be more studies done with a placebo as well to see what numbers occur afterwards.

How to Make Lemon Balm Tea?

Lemon balm tea is simple to make, especially if you have a plant of your own or a store near you that carries dried leaves! This recipe is for 1 cup of tea.

• Boil water (recommend 1-2 cups of water at first)
• Put 2 teaspoons fresh lemon balm or 1 teaspoon dried lemon balm in your cup
  • RINSE FRESH LEAVES BEFORE USE
  • You can dry your own lemon balm leaves by rinsing them, patting them dry, and leaving them in the sun until they are dark and dry
• Pour water over lemon balm
• Cover cup and steep for at least 5 minutes; steep longer for stronger flavor
• OPTIONAL: Add other herbs in equal amounts to lemon balm, like mint, or use something like lemon or honey to make it taste better for you
• Drink up!

Conclusion

Now you know a great and simple way to help yourself relax and sleep better at night. You can also feel healthy while doing it because tea is a pure and easy type of medicine to take. I would say having 1 to 2 cups within 2 hours of when you plan to sleep is the best time for you to enjoy a cup that will help you sleep. Or you can drink it during the day when you are getting too stressed out!

I hope you have now found a great way to not only help yourself sleep and relax, but a new type of drink to enjoy!

Scientific References:

• http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/lemon-balm
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3230760/