Lemon Balm by Liz

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Along with the mint, lemon balm is another easy to grow herb.

Here's some info

 

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), a member of the mint family, is considered a "calming" herb. It was used as far back as the Middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and ease pain and discomfort from indigestion (including gas and bloating as well as colic). Even before the Middle Ages, lemon balm was steeped in wine to lift the spirits, help heal wounds, and treat venomous insect bites and stings. Today, lemon balm is often combined with other calming, soothing herbs, such as valerian, chamomile, and hops, to help promote relaxation. It is also used in creams to treat cold sores (oral herpes).

 

Lemon balm is an herb belonging to the mint family It has a distinct lemon flavor that can be used in recipes as a substitute for lemon peel. Lemon balm also has a distinct lemon aroma that makes it an enjoyable addition to any herb garden.

 

Culinary Uses:

-try adding to fruit salads
-try adding lightly sautéed, shredded Lemon Balm leaves to freshly steamed veggies *garnish with some fresh Lemon Balm leaves
-tastes great with tarragon as a seasoning for lamb, poultry or fish
-great in homemade herb vinegars.
-freeze small leaves into ice cubes to serve in lemonade.
-combines well with allspice, bay leaves, mint, pepper, rosemary and thyme
-yummy in salads, herb butters, fruit drinks and sorbets, egg dishes, custards, soups and casseroles
-great in drinks….and in alcoholic drinks

Other Uses:

-supposedly the leaves are good for polishing wood
-leaves make for a lightly astringent facial steam
-great for potpourri
- toss a few sprigs on the fire to perfume the air and keep away the mosquitoes
-makes a great herbal rinse for oily hair

-crush the leaves, and rub them over exposed skin to deter mosquitoes

 

 

 

 

Magical Properties:

Gender: feminine
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Powers: Love, Success, Healing
Dieties: Venus, Jupiter, Diana
Other Correspondences: Chariot Card

Can be used in love spells and charms.  According to Beyerl, it can be used in rituals to the goddess Diana, as it was thought to have been sacred to her.  Lemon balm can also be used in as an ingredient or substitute for related to lunar matters.

Ritual Uses: Lemon Balm is primarily used in the pursuit of romance. It is an herb which attracts, and is sometimes made into a charm and worn to bring a lover into one's life. It may also be used as a bathing herb, some of the delightfully scented leaves scattered over the water, or an infusion poured to mix with the bath. This is also said to attract romance.

For magickal purposes, balm is ideally suited for healing those who suffer from mental or nervous disorders. It is also very useful for those of sound mind who need to keep their mental processes in superior condition. A tea made of the leaves brings calm, which is appropriate for magickal students while preparing for ritual work.

Considered sacred to Diana, it is believed that it was once used in her temples.

Balm may also be used as a bathing herbe toward a variety of goals. It may be used as part of the ritual process of invoking the Goddess; it may be used when sharing a ritual bath with one's partner; or it may be used to find the fulfillment of one's personal desires.

This usage of lemon balm opens one to the divine love of the Goddess, but is also believed to add energy to one's being which makes you more appealing in the world of love and romance.

 

 Lemon balm has long been known as an herb that balances the feelings and the emotions. It helps resolve moodiness and melancholia. It was sacred to alchemists, and the plant-based philosopher's stone is made from an alchemical preparation of this plant. In a metaphorical sense, Melissa guides us as we traverse the misty emotional state of the Moon and enables us to view our emotions and feelings without getting lost in them.