Lemon Balm dosage - tea and capsules

Lemon Balm

David Tomen
Author:
David Tomen
10 minute read
Lemon Balm is known for its anti-anxiety and calming effects, improving focus, memory and cognition, and reducing irritability and depression.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is native to the Mediterranean region. And has been cultivated for well over 2,000 years. Melissa officinalis (Melissa is derived from the Greek for ‘honey bee’) was observed by Pliny the Elder as great for attracting bees.

Lemon balm’s appeal continued to grow. It was used as a tea to combat mental confusion, and as an elixir to extend lifespan. In the 17th century, French Carmelite nuns dispensed Carmelite Water. This lemon-balm infused ‘miracle water’ was said to improve memory, vision, and reduce fever, melancholy and congestion.

Melissa tea is used in France today to treat fatigue and headaches. Naturopaths recommend lemon balm to treat cold and flu, lower blood pressure, for insomnia and indigestion.

Lemon Balm Tea
Lemon Balm Tea

As a nootropic, lemon balm is used primarily to lower anxiety and boost memory.

Lemon Balm helps:

  • Neurotransmitters. Lemon Balm affects brain levels of acetylcholine (ACh). It plays an inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE). AChE is an enzyme that breaks down ACh. Improving memory and cognition.
  • Neuroprotectant. Lemon Balm is a potent antioxidant that protects your brain cells from free radical damage.
  • Anxiety and stress. Lemon Balm has a significant anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effect. It raises brain levels of the neurotransmitter GABA by inhibiting the enzyme GABA transaminase. This has an effect on mood regulation.

Overview

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is an herb that’s native to the Mediterranean region. And now found in gardens throughout Europe and North America.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Lemon balm has a long history as a treatment for stress, anxiety, thyroid issues, indigestion, infections, viruses and inflammation.

Related to the mint family of herbs, lemon balm has a subtle lemon scent. And its small white flowers attract bees. Hence the botanical name ‘Melissa’, which is Greek for honey bee.

The first recorded medical use of lemon balm dates back to Dioscorides, the ancient Greek physician, who used the herb for its anti-bacterial and soothing properties. The famous Swiss Renaissance physician, Paracelsus, called it the “elixir of life”.

In the 16th century, English botanist John Gerard, gave it to his students to “quicken the senses”. This appears to be the first recorded use of the herb for brain and cognitive health.

The most recent research shows lemon balm has remarkable healing and regenerative effects on your brain. It stimulates memory, and supports the health of your brain’s white matter.

Lemon balm’s two primary compounds that affect brain health are eugenol and rosmarinic acid.[i]

Eugenol is an antioxidant 5-times more potent than alpha-tocopherol found in Vitamin E. So lemon balm acts to boost your body’s natural healing processes by eliminating free radicals that damage brain cells.

And lemon balm helps increase levels of your body’s most powerful built-in antioxidants, dismutase and glutathione peroxidase.[ii]

Rosmarinic acid promotes an anti-depressant effect in your brain by downregulating mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (Mkp-1). And it upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), along with boosting dopamine synthesis.[iii]

Lemon Balm improves memory

How does Lemon Balm work in the Brain?

Lemon Balm boosts brain health and function in several ways. But two in particular stand out.

  1. Lemon Balm boosts memory. Lemon balm increases the activity of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) in your brain. When your brain sends signals, it uses acetylcholine to keep the signals moving. But once used, your brain removes acetylcholine with an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase (AChE).[iv]

But if you have too much AChE, as is the case with Alzheimer’s patients, it restricts brain signaling. One way to prevent this signal failure is to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine.

The compound rosmarinic acid in lemon balm encourages blood flow, which helps to keep brain cells from dying.[v] And it inhibits the formation of AChE.

The result is that your brain is stimulated, memories continue to form, and brain fog is eliminated.

  1. Lemon Balm reduces stress. One-way lemon balm does this is to promote GABA, a glutamate inhibitor in your brain. Glutamate excites brain cells to act. While this excitation is necessary, too much glutamate results in cell death.

Lemon balm promotes a better balance in glutamate levels, and helps new cell growth.[vi] The result is a boost in memory and reduction in stress. Largely due to eugenol, one of the components of lemon balm.

Lemon Balm reduces anxiety and depression

How things go bad

Chronic stress, anxiety, poor blood flow and free radicals (oxidation) can damage your brain. And one of the ways this manifests is memory loss.

It comes as no surprise that people with memory loss experience higher rates of anxiety and depression. As verified in one Australian research study.[vii]

↓ Chronic stress reduces memory capacity

↓ Toxins kill brain cells from the inside

↓ Free radicals destroy neurons and synapses

↓ Acetylcholine (ACh) levels decline

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) declines

Under conditions of chronic stress your brain loses the capacity to transmit signals between neurons efficiently. Memory, cognition, and decision-making all suffer as a result.

Lemon Balm benefits

Lemon Balm undoes damage to the brain caused by chronic stress and oxidative damage. It boosts GABA levels and keeps toxic glutamate overload in check.

Lemon balm inhibits the enzyme AChE that breaks down acetylcholine (ACh) levels in your brain. Boosting ACh improves memory, recall and cognition.

Rosmarinic acid in lemon balm works as an antidepressant. And boosts brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which promotes the growth, maturation and maintenance of brain cells.

And the eugenol in lemon balm is a very powerful antioxidant. Eliminating oxidative damage in brain cells by neutralizing free radicals. And boosting your brain’s own antioxidants to provide even more protection.

How does Lemon Balm feel?

The effects of supplementing with Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) can provide an anti-anxiety effect within minutes of taking it. Some users say it works as well as popping a Xanax®.

You should experience an increase in focus along with a sense of calm. And even though lemon balm works well as a sleep aid, taking it during the day shouldn’t make you drowsy.Lemon Balm improves mood

Users report lemon balm effective in taming racing thoughts that come with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Some even use lemon balm as an effective way to control irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Lemon Balm Clinical Research

Research continues in medicinal plants and herbs that have been used for millennia to treat cognition and memory problems. One study conducted at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK, found Melissa officinalis to be one of the strongest in effects on acetylcholine receptors. And being an effective aid for memory.[viii]

Lemon Balm as a Nootropic

Lemon Balm has been shown to improve problem-solving and memory in both human and animal models. And age seems to make no difference. All groups using lemon balm showed boosts in recall and problem-solving.

Some recent studies with Alzheimer’s patients have shown improvement when using lemon balm. In one study done in China, researchers gave Sprague Dawley rats eugenol.

One of the active compounds found in lemon balm, eugenol is a potent antioxidant. In this case it helped test subjects get their memory back.[ix]

Another study noted that lemon balm inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE). This enzyme breaks down the critical neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). ACh is crucial to creating memories and cognition. Lemon balm was shown to boost and support mood and memory.[x]

Lemon Balm for Stress Reduction

A double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment was conducted in the UK with 18 healthy volunteers. The subjects received two separate single doses of standardized lemon balm extract (300 mg and 600 mg), or a placebo, on separate days. Followed by a 7-day washout period.

Mood was assessed before dosing, and 1-hour after dosing with lemon balm extract. The study subjects did a 20-minute version of the Defined Intensity Stressor Simulation (DISS) battery of tests.

The results showed that a 600 mg dose of lemon balm eliminated the negative mood effects of doing the DISS tests. They reported an increase in calmness and reduced alertness.

The researchers also reported a significant increase in mathematical processing, with no reduction in accuracy. This was after taking the lower 300 mg dose.

The nootropic benefits of lemon balm, according to this test, was a boost in cognition, and had a calming effect.[xi]

Lemon Balm Recommended Dosage

Lemon balm has a long history of use in treating a host of ailments. Including memory and cognition, gas, bloating, earache, vomiting, headache, toothache and insomnia.

Lemon Balm dosage - tea and capsulesFor nootropic use, Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) comes in tea and capsule form. For the most potent dosage find lemon balm extract capsules.

The suggested dose by most naturopaths and alternative health doctors is 300 mg of lemon balm extract 2-3 times per day.

Dosage of lemon balm leaf as a tea is 1 – 2 grams per cup of tea.

You can use lemon balm in the morning to address daytime anxiety. And towards evening to support relaxation and sleep.

Lemon Balm Side Effects

Lemon balm is considered non-toxic and very safe for most users. Most neurohackers won’t experience any side effects.

Note: Lemon balm may have an “antithyrotropic effect“. So if you’re hypothyroid, and on thyroid medication, you may want to avoid using lemon balm.

And use caution when combining lemon balm with; anti-anxiety meds, anti-histamines, muscle relaxers, anti-seizure drugs or tranquilizers.

Type of Lemon Balm to buy

For nootropic use, lemon balm supplements are available as loose-leaf tea, tinctures, and capsules. Most neurohackers use lemon balm capsules which come as ground leaves, or an extract.

The lowest active dose is 300 mg of standard lemon balm. Supplementing above this dose seems to offer dose-dependent benefits. In other words, you’ll get more benefit by taking higher doses. (i.e. 300 mg lemon balm 2-times per day).

I use and recommend:  Zazzee Organic Lemon Balm (Amazon)

Nootropics Expert Recommendation

Lemon Balm extract 300 – 600 mg per day

Nootropics Expert Tested and ApprovedI recommend using Lemon Balm as a nootropic supplement.

Your body does not make Lemon Balm on its own. So you must take it as a supplement.

Lemon Balm is especially helpful for those suffering from anxiety and stress. Studies show it helps stop and reverse the devastating effects of anxiety and stress on your brain, and body. This nootropic helps repair damage to brain cells caused by chronic stress and anxiety.

Lemon balm is reported to work well for those dealing with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Taming racing thoughts, and helpful in dealing with stressful situations.

Lemon balm is also helpful for those suffering from Alzheimer’s. It has been shown to help reduce agitation and improve symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. It may also be of benefit in relieving some symptoms of ADHD.

You can safely take up to 900 mg of Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) extract daily if needed. One dose first thing in the morning. One dose early afternoon. And the last dose in the evening.

And for memory, lemon balm is great to stack with CDP Choline and Acetyl L-Carnitine.

I use and recommend:  Zazzee Organic Lemon Balm (Amazon)

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may also contain other affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

[i] “Melissa officinalis” TimTec Nature Inspired Research Productsnaturalcompounds.org Retrieved May 29, 2016 (source)

[ii] Zeraatpishe A., Oryan S., Bagheri M.H., Pilevarian A.A., Malekirad A.A., Baeeri M., Abdollahi M. “Effects of Melissa officinalis L. on oxidative status and DNA damage in subjects exposed to long-term low-dose ionizing radiation.” Toxicology and Industrial Health. 2011 Apr;27(3):205-12. (source)

[iii] Kondo S., Omri A.E., Han J., Isoda H. “Antidepressant-like effects of rosmarinic acid through mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor modulation”Journal of Functional Foods Volume 14, April 2015, Pages 758–766 (source)

[iv] Kennedy D.O., Wake G., Savelev S., Tildesley N.T., Perry E.K., Wesnes K.A., Scholey A.B. “Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of single doses of Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) with human CNS nicotinic and muscarinic receptor-binding properties.” Neuropsychopharmacology. 2003 Oct;28(10):1871-81. (source)

[v] Luan H., Kan Z., Xu Y., Lv C., Jiang W. “Rosmarinic acid protects against experimental diabetes with cerebral ischemia: relation to inflammation response.” Journal of Neuroinflammation. 2013 Feb 17;10:28. (source)

[vi] Yoo D.Y., Choi J.H., Kim W., Yoo K.Y., Lee C.H., Yoon Y.S., Won M.H., Hwang I.K. “Effects of Melissa officinalis L. (lemon balm) extract on neurogenesis associated with serum corticosterone and GABA in the mouse dentate gyrus.” Neurochemistry Research. 2011 Feb;36(2):250-7. (source)

[vii] Sohrabi H.R., Bates K.A., Rodrigues M., Taddei K., Martins G., Laws S.M., Lautenschlager N.T., Dhaliwal S.S., Foster J.K., Martins R.N. “The relationship between memory complaints, perceived quality of life and mental health in apolipoprotein Eepsilon4 carriers and non-carriers.” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 2009;17(1):69-79. (source)

[viii] Wake G., Court J., Pickering A., Lewis R., Wilkins R., Perry E. “CNS acetylcholine receptor activity in European medicinal plants traditionally used to improve failing memory.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2000 Feb;69(2):105-14. (source)

[ix] Liu Z., Niu W., Yang X., Wang Y. “Effects of combined acupuncture and eugenol on learning-memory ability and antioxidation system of hippocampus in Alzheimer disease rats via olfactory system stimulation.” Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2013 Jun;33(3):399-402. (source)

[x] Obulesu M., Rao D.M. “ Effect of plant extracts on Alzheimer’s disease: An insight into therapeutic avenues.” Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice. 2011 Jan;2(1):56-61. (source)

[xi] Kennedy D.O., Little W., Scholey A.B. “Attenuation of laboratory-induced stress in humans after acute administration of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm).” Psychosomatic Medicine. 2004 Jul-Aug;66(4):607-13. (source)

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Join The Discussion - 157 comments

Sarah Nuncio
February 26, 2024

Can this be taken nightly long term? Does the doses need to be split up or can it be taken just at night.

    David Tomen
    February 28, 2024

    Sarah, I have been using Lemon Balm extract every night for years. So, yes it is safe to use long-term.

Andrew Richardson
February 21, 2024

Would lemon balm be safe while on Lamotrigine?

    David Tomen
    February 22, 2024

    Andrew, they are not contraindicated but I would still be careful when combining them because Lemon Balm could potentiate the effects of Lamotrigine.

Reema
February 10, 2024

Hell david
Is lemon balm save with 25mg of Seroquel
Used just if needed,not every day?

    David Tomen
    February 12, 2024

    Reema, in general Lemon Balk extract is safe to use. It should not cause a problem with that combo but there is no way to tell until you try it.

Sarah
February 4, 2024

Can Lemon balm be taken nightly long term?

    David Tomen
    February 5, 2024

    Sarah, yes, I’ve been using it before bed every night for years and it still works great.

      Sarah Nuncio
      March 1, 2024

      Can it all be taken at night? Or does it need to be split up into 3 doses

        David Tomen
        March 9, 2024

        They can all be taken 60 – 90 minutes before bed and should help you sleep.

Sarah
January 26, 2024

Lithium orotate, magnesium glycinate, L theanine, and lemon balm a good stack?

    David Tomen
    January 27, 2024

    If it works for you.

Blaine
July 23, 2023

David, have you researched the herb Kanna? It seems to be in a lot of premade formulas and now lift mode is selling it in powder form, so it must be popular

    David Tomen
    July 25, 2023

    Blaine, on my “to do” list but have not had the time to do it yet. But it will get done. Just not sure when. Thank you for the reminder.

T
June 26, 2023

Thanks David for the wonderful, down-to-earth site.

Dealing with long-term anxiety and rumination. I have had positive responses to benzos and temporary positives to SSRIs. I have a ton of supplements researched on here to try but fear negative reactions. Which would be the safest in terms of sides to start with that will lower the fear of trying the rest?

1. Taurine
2. L-Theanine
3. GABA
4. B6
5. Lemon Balm
6. Ashwagandha
7. Magnesium (kept me awake before)

Thanks!

    David Tomen
    June 29, 2023

    Travis, as long as your not currently using any benzos or SSRIs then you should not have a problem with any of the supplements you list. But do NOT use B6 on its own because if you exclude B9 & B12 you will increase homocysteine which long-term could result in a heart attack.

    Make sure you are using a chelated form of magnesium so it gets into your brain. Like magnesium L-Threonate, or magnesium glycinate. And if you responded well to SSRIs you are missing out on increasing serotonin with those supplements. For that the best thing is L-Tryptophan.

      T
      July 4, 2023

      Thanks so much for your time and detailed response!

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