Lemon balm is a member of the mint family, and not the balm you buy from. The plant can withstand unfavorable climatic conditions and are very easy to grow. It has a wonderful fragrance that is energizing and invigorating, resembling a scent between mint and lemon. Lemon balms are not only beautiful additions to the garden, but it is used in traditional forms of medicine, aromatherapy and cooking. The flowering herb is used to produce a rich and concentrated essential oil that has been highly-praised for ages. Plus, dropping a lemon balm tea into a cup of hot water can create a refreshing tea that is both fragrant and delicious.
Ideally, lemon balm leaves can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days. Dried leaves of the plant can also be preserved in airtight containers.
In the market, you can find lemon balm leaves in various forms. Dried leaves can be purchased in jars. You can also purchase lemon balm tea, capsule, tinctures and essential oil.
The good thing about lemon balm is that nearly all its parts can be used for healing various conditions and ailments in humans. The leaves, stems and flowers are all beneficial. Even in the ancient Roman civilization, it was used for medical treatments.
Owing to growing stress and incessant multi-tasking that people are subjected to nowadays, sleeping problems and anxiety have become common. Fortunately, lemon balm has been found useful for treating insomnia and anxiety. When the herb is used in conjunction with other herbs like chamomile and valerian, the effect is more pronounced and the mixture makes an impressive nаturаl rеmеdу fоr іnѕоmnіа. Despite also having thе аbіlіtу tо ѕtіmulаtе fосuѕ аnd optimize mеmоrу, thе ѕооthіng ԛuаlіtіеѕ of thіѕ hеrb аrе juѕt аѕ notable. This flexibility mаkеѕ lemon bаlm еxtrеmеlу important fоr those with interrupted sleep раttеrnѕ.
Unknowingly, you get exposed to harmful free radicals every day. These can be damaging for your health. To battle the effects of free radicals, you need antioxidants, and lemon balm contains oodles of them. Thе hіgh lеvеl оf antioxidants hаѕ also been shown to reduce bеtа-аmуlоіd рlаԛuе dероѕіtіоn іn nеurаl раthwауѕ, which can ѕlоw dоwn the progression оf nеurоdеgеnеrаtіvе diseases, ѕuсh аѕ Alzhеіmеr’ѕ аnd Pаrkіnѕоn’ѕ dіѕеаѕе.
For treating cancer and some other disorders, exposure to radiation becomes necessary. However, people subjected to radiation exposure have to cope with several side effects afterwards. Studies have indicated that using lemon balm can reduce the negative impact of exposure to radiation by reducing damage to the plasma DNA.
Drinking lemon balm tea and its infusion can help improve the condition of your digestive health. And this comes as no surprises as lemon balm has been used to reduce distress to the gut and also heal it from various stomach conditions, such as indigestion.
Having a flu and a muscle ache that comes with it? Fret not, because lemon balm leaves can help relieve that body ache, possibly due to eugenol which is a pain-reducing compound. It also contains wonderful properties that help to reduce antispasmodic actions, and thus effectively reduces muscle spasms. Using Lemon balm leads to sweating when you have a fever, helping to release toxins from the body and bring some relief. which brings some relief.
Using lemon balm can boost your immunity levels. It has components like caffeine and rosmarinic acids, which are antibacterial and antiviral properties to fortify the body, thus effectively alleviate any onset of infection in healthy cells.
Lemon balm is useful for keeping the skin in top condition, both for women and men. It has natural and strong astringents, making it a great herb for treating skin inflammation, as well as managing oily and acne prone skin. Want to up your cleanser game? Use lemon balm! It is great for getting the gunk from the pores, giving you a beautifully smooth complexion and also reducing acne and rashes.
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To treat instances of oral infections and results like bleeding gums and bad breath, you can try using lemon balm. A few drops of lemon balm essential oil are all you need. Mix it with a mouthwash or just a cup of water and start gurgling the bacteria away. You will definitely feel and smell a better mouth.
People get tensed due to many reasons, personal and professional. Using lemon balm tincture or infusion in such times works wonders in calming tensed nerves. You can use it to release stress after returning from work.
You can use lemon balm to as a natural room freshener. Fresh lemon balm leaves can be soaked in lightly boiled water to create a concoction that can be sprayed in your living space for a light minty aroma.
Avoid using lemon balm together medications and sedatives unless you have checked with your physician about the safety concerns. As lemon balm already contains some sedative properties, using it with other OTC sedative drugs can strengthen that sedative effects that may be undesirable. While it is not yet proven that lemon balm has any effect when taken with anti-retroviral agents, it is advisable that HIV patients undergoing such therapy should not use any forms of lemon balm.
Studies have found that lemon balm essential oil can increase pressure in the eyes, and this can worsen glaucoma. Furthermore, the herb may affect patients by interacting with existing medications that can cause adverse results. Thus, it is recommended that glaucoma patients stave off the herb.
People prepping to undergo surgery, or recuperating should not use lemon balm in any form due to the herb’s sedative properties. It can induce a deeper and long sleep, which is undesirable for those who just underwent a surgery.
Like many things out there, lemon balm leaves can induce allergic reactions that can include nausea and vomiting. However, most times, these allergic reactions only arise when large quantities are taken, so be aware and careful of how much you consume.
While the sugary goodness of a doughnut seems to be the obvious choice for a quick breakfast or snack, the harms of a doughnut far outweigh the momentary sweet thrill that your brain craves. On the other hand, while herbal tea may not be everyone's number one choice, it will leave you feeling energetic, refreshed and optimised to do your best. Not only are herbal teas the healthier option, they come in a wide variety of flavours such that you would surely be able to find something that you like. Still thinking of herbal teas as weird concoctions of strange brown liquid that you might get from a TCM practitioner? Read on to open your mind to the natural sweetness of teas, especially floral ones, and the benefits they provide as opposed to the sweet deception of doughnuts.
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Teas such as lemon tea help to detoxify your blood helping to stave off fatigue and lethargy. If your tiredness is due to poor sleep, teas with ingredients such as chamomile, valerian or lavender help to relax, leading to a better night of rest and better productivity in the morning. The sugar in doughnuts gives you energy in the form of empty calories. Empty calories are calories that do not provide you with any kind of nutrition – they are just plain energy. While this sounds amazing at about 3pm when you are trying to continue working or studying through your lethargy, it really does not benefit you much. The sugar found in doughnuts will give you a quick pick-me-up but it also leads to an inevitable sugar crash a few hours later. Herbal teas on the other hand do not work as quickly as sugar does but they target your body’s deficiencies and impact your overall health.
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The truth is you won't stop at one doughnut, would you? Once you have had one, you definitely get the urge to polish off the others in the box. Poor self-control aside, there are scientific reasons for this craving. Consuming sugar releases the same chemical – dopamine – in the brain as taking drugs. Since your brain feels rewarded by the sugar, it is no surprise that you begin to crave more and more of it. With increased sugar intake comes a whole host of problems such obesity and insulin resistance. Replace sugary food with a flavourful cup of tea and not only will you be reaping a whole slew of benefits, your craving for sugar will drastically decrease. With teas, there is no danger of addiction especially if you are careful to choose teas made of organic ingredients and with no added caffeine or sugar.
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It has long been thought that saturated fat is the leading factor of clogged blood vessels but recent studies show that there is also a strong association between heart disease and added sugar consumption. The Havard Health Blog discusses a 15 year study on the effects of sugar on health and reports people who took more than 25% of their daily intake of calories as sugar are twice as likely to die from heart disease. While having a doughnut once in a while won’t kill you immediately, it is important to take note of your daily sugar consumption in order to stay in the pink of cardiovascular health. Teas such as green and white tea help to reduce the risks of such diseases.
Fortify your skin with specially selected teas made of ingredients such as rooibos, ginger and peppermint for clearing the skin and giving it a glow. Even though the chocolate-glazed-rainbow-sprinkled fried piece of heaven looks beautiful to you, once it passes through your mouth it is as not pretty and wrecks havoc on your skin. Sugary doughnuts cause a massive change in your blood sugar levels which leads to inflammation. This inflammation produces enzymes that break down collagen and elastin which means your skin is more likely to sag and wrinkle. The more sugar there is in your blood, the faster you age. Teas not only purify your blood, they can also help with your digestive system which in turn keeps your skin looking healthy.
For teas that can keep your youthful skin looking radiant, try the Ginger Rooibos Tea which contains a wealth of anti-inflammation properties!
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With all the dangers of sugar looming in the horizon, you might forget about the immediate harm done to yourself. With the consumption of sugar, you are providing the bacteria in your mouth easy access to energy which in turn does not bode well for your oral health. Some tea ingredients such as ginger, cinnamon and lemongrass are anti-bacterial or anti-inflammatory work to decrease such problems.
You may think that herbal tea will never achieve the sweet pleasure that doughnuts provide, but there are some herbal teas, such as Nilufer Tea, which actually have the natural sweetness graced by the high quality ingredients within the unassuming sachet. With the benefits that herbal teas provide, our quality of health and life can increase and it is definitely worth it to include it into your diet. They definitely taste as good as they look!
