Synonyms: Faucibarba officinalis (L.) Dulac, Mutelia officinalis (L.) Gren., Thymus melissa E.H.L.Krause
English Name: Lemon Balm
Other Names in English: Balm
Family: Lamiaceae
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About Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm is a one-year plant whose height reaches forty centimeters. This plant has many species. The stems are relatively thin and fluffy and their cross section is square and have many branches. The leaves of this plant are triangular, heart-shaped and slightly hairy, and they grow reciprocally. The side of its leaves are serrated and these teeth are curved. The veins on the leaves appear as well-defined depressions.
The flowers of this plant are small, tabular, slightly elongated, white and sometimes pale purple and grow at the junction of leaves and stems. At the end of each flower, there is a cone-shaped and slightly elongated reservoir that contains its seeds. The seeds are small, slightly wide, pointed, drop-shaped and dark brown.
The whole plant has a pleasant aroma, similar to the smell of lemon and citron.
Chemical Constituents
The whole plant yields a volatile oil, flavonoids, and triterpenes. The volatile oil is about 0.1%, consisting of more than 50 compounds of which the major ones, citronellal, b-caryophyllene, neral, geranial, citronellol and geraniol amount to 70%. Also present in the leaves are caffeic, rosemarinic and ferulic acids.
Temperament: Hot and dry
Health Benefits
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