Melissa Essential Oil

Melissa Essential Oil

Botanical Name

Alternative Names

Source Location

Plant part used

Melissa officinalis

Lemon balm

Europe, Middle Asia, and North America

Leaves

Extraction Method

Color

Consistency

Aroma Strength

Steam distillation

Yellow

Thin

Strong

Fragrance

Fresh, lemony, herbaceous

Benefits

Use for migraines, anxiety, stress, insomnia and depression.  Treats bronchitis, asthma, cough, whooping cough, shallow breathing, and rapid breathing, as well as herpes outbreak, cold sores, shingles and muscle spasms. Benefits palpitations, circulation, hypertension, menstrual cramps, nausea, and indigestion, plus acts as an insect repellent .

Blends Well With

Bergamot, Chamomile, Citronella, Fennel, Geranium, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemongrass, Lime, Rosemary, Tuberose, Ylang Ylang

Constituents

Geranial, neral, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, beta-caryophyllene, citronellal, geranyl acetate, aesculetine.

Properties

Analgesic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, calmative, carminative, choleretic, hypotensive, litholytic, stimulant (digestive), vasodilator

Safety

Generally safe, but make cause skin irritation if not diluted correctly. Might want to avoid if hypothyroid.

Misc Info

Calms overactive thyroid (Graves' disease), so avoid if hypothyroid. Four-weeks of treatment decreased agitation in patients with severe dementia.