Easy Lemon Balm Syrup Recipe
One of my favorite herbs is harvest-ready right now! It’s end of summer, and it’s time to go harvest and reap the rewards of LEMON BALM (Melissa officinalis)! I thought I’d share this super easy and simple lemon balm syrup recipe with you in case you still have lemon balm around, like I do. I’m gathering right after I write this!
Why harvest lemon balm?
Especially as we veer into cold and flu season, this is just an absolutely wonderful herb to have available.
If you're a gardener like I am, you likely have huge bunches of it right now, as the summer comes to a close. It's time to harvest it!
Here's why:
Lemon balm is incredible. A member of the mint (Lamiaceae) family, it contains chemicals, namely citral and citronellal. It's rich in phenols and has many anti-oxidant qualities, which we all need.
I love using lemon balm with children and adults. It's calming, soothing, and does a great job calming anxiety gently. It improves mood, relieves stress, and even promotes healthy sleep. It's flavor is pleasant too!
Here's a bullet list for ease of many of the way to work with lemon balm:
Emotional support (calms, soothes, helps sleep)
Anti-viral: Especially for viruses in the herpes family (chicken pox, the simplex types, shingles, etc.) it has a special affinity for lessening the intensity and duration of the outbreaks and the pain.
May protect the body against radiation. In one study, researchers found that X-ray technicians who drank lemon balm had significantly reduced DNA damage.
Improves cognitive function. Now this one is exciting! As we get older, this is an herb I'll be adding on the daily instead of just when I need it.
Relieves indigestion. Because it's a mild antispasmodic, it can support healthy digestion in smooth muscles.
Reduces menstrual cramping. Due to the same reason it's helpful with indigestion, it may also help with spasms in the uterus during menses.
Headaches! Lemon balm is helpful for headaches, and is one of my favorites in a wonderful migraine blend (equal parts lemon balm, spearmint, and feverfew).
It can lessen the pain from toothaches, wasp stings, and more. You can make a little spit poultice and apply the leaf directly to the area.
I get asked often if people who struggle with low thyroid should avoid lemon balm. This is due to an in vitro study that showed lemon balm may inhibit the function of the thyroid. However, this has never been shown in humans, to my knowledge. There's just not very much evidence. If you're on thyroid medications, be sure to consult with your medical doctor before using lemon balm.
You can prepare lemon balm in herbal teas, tinctures (see how to make lemon balm tincture here), glycerides, honeys, vinegars, and syrups. In fact, here's how to make a delicious lemon balm syrup:
Lemon Balm Syrup Recipe
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh lemon balm leaves (if you have some stems, it's ok--just chop them up)
5 cups of water (we'll be making a decoction, which will pull constituents out and allow the honey to absorb)
1 1/2 cups raw honey.
Directions:
Place the leaves into a pan. Add the water, making sure the leaves are covered. Bring the water to a boil, then turn the heat down to a slow simmer. Partially cover the pan to reduce the amount of evaporation (which carries off the volatile oils---you're going to lose some of these no matter what, so it is what it is).
Alternatively, you could steep your lemon balm in just simmered water overnight and proceed. Be sure to cover the jar if you do this, and use about 4 cups of water instead of 5.
Measure out about 3 cups of the lemon balm tea, and be sure the tea is cooled to about 100 degrees or less because you'll be adding your honey next, and you don't want it too hot or the invertase enzyme in the honey will be killed.
Add your honey to the tea. If you have 3 cups of tea, then 1 1/2 cups of honey should keep it shelf stable for a few weeks in the fridge.
Stir well and store.
Optional: You can add some ginger or lemon juice if you like for additional flavor. You can also add a cinnamon stick during the steeping or simmering process for more flavor too.
Take a daily spoonful, use as a sweetener in other herbal teas, enjoy wherever syrup is needed!
SAFETY: Do not give raw honey to infants under 12 months old due to the potential dangers of Clostridium botulinum.
Enjoy!
BONUS: How to Make Lemon Balm Tincture
Final Thoughts on Lemon Balm
I hope you enjoyed this sweet and simple herbal syrup recipe! It’s the perfect time to get some ready as we roll into the Fall months! Here are some other articles and videos you may enjoy:
Essential Oils and Hypertension—-How They Can Help
Burdock Root Benefits and Uses, Plus a Tincture
And don’t forget to visit my YouTube channel and subscribe!
Do you love diffusing essential oils? Be sure to pick up my FREE Fall Diffuser Guide!
Hugs, Health, and Herbs,
Heidi
P.S. Thank you so much for being here! It means the world to me!
