Natural sleep aid lemon balm: the sleep-promoting and calming effect of the medicinal plant

Natural sleep aid lemon balm: the sleep-promoting and calming effect of the medicinal plant

Do you suffer from sleep problems or are you often plagued by fears? Then lemon balm can help you. Learn more about how the calming effects of the plant affect your body here.

The traditional uses of lemon balm are said to improve mood and cognitive functions.1 Scientists from the UK have found that lemon balm can improve your cognitive skills. This is due to the important messenger substance acetylcholine, which is increased in the brain. This improves your mental ability.

Lemon balm is also known for its calming and sleep-promoting effects. Due to its mild lemony taste, lemon balm is a very popular medicinal and aromatic plant and contains many essential oils that have a positive effect on inner restlessness and  sleep disorders can affect. Lemon balm can also help with stomach problems. The plant substance has a very long tradition as a home remedy, especially as a tea.

 

What is lemon balm?

The lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a species of the genus balm. Lemon balm and balm are the same, but the correct name is lemon balm, as there are other species of the genus balm.

Lemon balm comes from the same family of plants as mint and grows best in mild temperate climates between June and August. The plant is native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia, but is grown all over the world. Have you ever discovered the plant in your garden? In fact, it can be found in most gardens.

The leaves of lemon balm smell of mint and - as the name suggests - of course lemon. The smell becomes particularly intense when you rub the leaves between your fingers.

 

Ingredients of lemon balm

There is rosmarinic acid in the leaves of lemon balm, Chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid contain essential oils such as citral, citronellal and β-caryophyllene as well. The exact composition of the essential oil depends on the climatic conditions of the place of origin, the time of harvest and the age of the plant. In addition, the lemon balm leaves contain tannins and bitter substances.

Did you know that there is lemon balm in our DEEP SLEEP with melatonin is located? More information about our ingredients in DEEP SLEEP can be found here.

 deep sleep with melatonin for a shorter time to fall asleep

 

How does lemon balm work in the body?

Lemon balm is also often called Remedies for stress or anxiety designated. So has the rosmarinic acid contained in the lemon balm leaves strong antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Lemon balm is used today in traditional medicine mainly used as a sleep aid or for digestive problems. But there are many other body processes that can be positively influenced by lemon balm.

Lemon balm can help:

  • Trouble sleeping
  • Anxiety
  • indigestion

 

Lemon balm as a sleep-promoting agent

If you're struggling with sleep problems, you could use lemon balm as a natural remedy to get back sleep better to be able to.2

Symptoms such as insomnia, sleep apnea, depression and anxiety are not uncommon, especially during the menopause. The combination of herbs with lemon balm suggests that this combination supports sleep by acting directly on GABA receptors in the brain. This creates a inhibiting and calming effect achieved and at the same time boosted the production of the feel-good hormone serotonin.

Ultimately, this ensures that the processing centers of your brain receive small signals that are related to stress and anxiety. Those who are less stressed and can relax better because the body is not electrified can also fall asleep better.

 

 

 

Lemon balm for anxiety

A small study shows that lemon balm can be used to reduce anxiety.1 Researchers in Australia gave participants a sweetened water drink with 0,3 grams of lemon balm extract. In comparison, there was a significant difference between the test group and the placebo group in terms of stress reduction and mood.

They did another test by replacing the water with yogurt, which again supported the results. Participants felt the anxiety-relieving effects 1-3 hours after ingestion.

The positive effects on anxiety and other mood disorders are linked to the rosmarinic acid contained in lemon balm. This increases the availability of the neurotransmitter GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) in the brain and, conversely, prevents the breakdown of GABA. It is believed that low GABA levels are linked to anxiety and other mood disorders.3

 

Lemon balm for indigestion

If you suffer from an upset stomach or irritable bowel syndrome, lemon balm can help. There is evidence that the plant contains rosmarinic acid, citral, citronellal, linalool, geraniol and beta-caryophyllene through antispasmodic and gas inducing properties, positive effects on the body may have.

A review of studies from Germany in 2013 showed that the over-the-counter product Iberogast, which contains lemon balm and other herbs, was more effective than a placebo for upset stomach and irritable bowel syndrome.

 

 

Side effects of lemon balm

Lemon balm can also trigger some side effects. The risk can be minimized by taking lemon balm with a meal. You can also start with a small dose and then slowly increase the amount. The Side effects can be related to a dose that is too high or taken for too long. To be on the safe side, speak to your doctor before taking.

Lemon balm can cause these side effects:

  • Anxiety
  • bloating
  • Vomit
  • headache
  • stomach pain
  • painful urination
  • Nausea
  • dizziness
  • unrest
  • Indigestion

Make sure you have lemon balm only take for a short time. It is best to take a week break after taking it for three weeks. In general, you should want lemon balm do not use for longer than 4-6 weeks.

A high dose is not recommended as it can impair thyroid function and slow down the production of thyroid hormones.3

 

 

 

How can you use lemon balm?

There are different ways to use lemon balm. There are corresponding capsules that only contain lemon balm or also in Combination with other active ingredients, such as in DEEP SLEEP with melatonin. In addition to lemon balm, there are also other ingredients such as Passionflower included. As a sleep-promoting agent, lemon balm is best recommended in capsule form because it unfolds its full effect. A combination preparation with other plant substances such as DEEP SLEEP outstanding.

Lemon balm is also available as tablets, in powder form or as a tincture. When it comes to the dose, you should always stick to the amount indicated on the packaging or discuss this with your doctor. There is also lemon balm in balm or creams that you can rub into your skin, as well as essential oil, which is supposed to have a calming effect.

Or how about a lemon balm tea?

Lemon balm tea with mint

  • 2 handfuls of fresh lemon balm
  • 1 handful of fresh peppermint
  • 1 liters of water
  • Lemon (to taste)

Of course, you can also leave out the mint, you can try that according to your taste. Lemon balm and mint are first cut into small pieces, do not chop under any circumstances! Then you put the cut leaves in 1 L of hot (but not boiling!) Water and let the tea steep for 10 minutes. If you like, you can also add lemon after the steeping time.

 

 

Where can you buy lemon balm?

If you want to try lemon balm as a sleep-inducing or calming remedy, you can buy a plant and grow it in your own garden. You should make sure that the plant has already grown vigorously and has stems that are upright and stable. Another good indication is when you can smell the typical scent of lemon balm. Otherwise, you can buy dried lemon balm leaves from a herb shop.

You can find lemon balm in the form of powder, tablets, tinctures, balms or capsules in the usual stores or online.

We recommend you for a restful sleep with a shorter time to fall asleep DEEP SLEEP with melatonin. It contains a combination of lemon balm, passion flower, magnesium and hops and cone extract. more on the subject Buy melatoninyou read here.

 

 

Summary

Lemon balm is a medicinal plant that has been around for more than 2000 years. There are various ways in which you can use the plant, for example in the form of tea, where the lemony taste unfolds, or as a dietary supplement, ointment and essential oil.

Lemon balm can Can be used as a calming remedy for stress and anxiety and is a natural product, which can also help you to improve your sleep so that you can start the next day relaxed and fit. In DEEP SLEEP In addition to lemon balm, it also contains melatonin, the sleep hormone that regulates the day-night rhythm and supports a shorter time to fall asleep.

The The effect of lemon balm lies in the essential oils the lemon balm leaves and the rosmarinic acid they containthat influences your GABA receptor and is important for your behavior with regard to stress and sleep, among other things. In addition, lemon balm can also promote your cognitive skills. It is worth trying out!

 

1Melatonin helps reduce the time it takes to fall asleep.

 

[1] https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/6/11/4805/

[2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1744388113000601

[3] https://www.bibliomed.org/?mno=180727

 

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