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Lemon balm is a plant that grows rather freely and for some is considered a nuisance. What some don’t realize is that lemon balm has many benefits from being good for sleep and relaxation to helping digestion and even easing headaches and other pains. Making a lemon balm tincture is a great way to utilize its amazing benefits while also using up the herbal bounty in your backyard!
Benefits of Lemon Balm
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a highly medicinal plant with many benefits for our health and garden.
It is a mint family herb with a distinct and highly aromatic lemony scent that can easily be grown or foraged in many areas.
Due to its volatile oils and antispasmodic properties, lemon balm is calming for the nervous and digestive systems. It is also an effective herb for depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia.
Lemon balm is also a powerful antiviral that is commonly used to relieve cold sores! I have a recipe in my book Healing Herbal Infusions for a Lemon Balm Lip Balm that is excellent for use on cold sores.
Lemon balm is safe and highly regarded for children, and is often used to calm a sleepless or hyperactive child.
Lemon Balm Tincture Recipe
Making an herbal tincture is an easy process. I prefer to use the folk method for making tinctures which makes it even easier!
The folk method means that there is no precise measuring involved. Basically you put your herb of choice in a jar, lemon balm in this case, cover it with a neutral spirit like vodka, and let it sit for several weeks to infuse.
While I often use dried herbs when making a tincture, lemon balm is great to use fresh. It has a lot of volatile oils and aromatics, so a fresh lemon balm preparation will be more potent. This is true when making teas and other infusions with lemon balm as well.
Roughly chop up a few handfuls of fresh lemon balm then put the chopped herb into a pint jar, filling it almost all the way and mashing it down a bit with your hand or a wooden spoon.
Then pour in 80 proof vodka to cover the lemon balm. You might have to push down the leaves a bit and some still may float, but that’s ok.
If you want to make an alcohol free tincture (great for children) use vegetable glycerine instead of vodka to make a glycerite.
Cover the jar with a lid and put it in a cool and dark place (a pantry works well). For the first few days check on it and give it a gentle shake.
Since we are using fresh herbs you don’t need to worry about the herbal material soaking up all the vodka, which can sometimes happen when using dried herbs.
Let the tincture infuse for at least 4 to 6 weeks, but it can go even longer than that, several months or more.
When you’re ready to use the tincture, use a fine mesh sieve lined with a few layers of cheesecloth to strain out the lemon balm. Use the cheesecloth to squeeze as much of the tincture out as possible.
Store the tincture in dropper bottles for easy use. It will keep for many years!
If you prefer to buy tinctures rather than make your own, I highly recommend Herb Pharm! They carry Lemon Balm Extract (which is alcohol based like this recipe), Alcohol Free Lemon Balm Glycerite, and Kids Lemon Balm Calm. Use this code for 15% off your order: COLLEEN15
Herb Pharm products can also be found on Amazon here.
How to Use Lemon Balm Tincture
Lemon balm tincture is perfect to use when you want to enjoy the benefits of lemon balm without having to make a cup of tea.
This tincture is great to have on hand for when you need it to promote sleep or to help you relax and unwind at the end of the day. It is also beneficial for reducing stress and anxiety and can calm an upset stomach. It has even been known to reduce the pain from headaches.
Start with taking one dropper full at a time to see how that works for you, then take a bit more if you feel you need it. Lemon balm is a very safe herb so you don’t need to worry about taking too much.
Lemon balm is such an amazing herb, I love teaching people about all she has to offer us!
If you have loads of lemon balm growing in your herb garden I definitely recommend making this tincture. I also have over 30 more lemon balm recipes here!
Lemon Balm Tincture
Lemon balm has many health benefits and one of the best ways to use it is in a tincture. Learn how to make this simple lemon balm tincture using fresh lemon balm from your garden!
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Active Time 10 minutes minutes
Infusing Time 42 days days
Total Time 42 days days 20 minutes minutes
Yield 150 doses
Cost $2.25
Author Colleen @ Grow Forage Cook Ferment
Ingredients
US Customary - Metric
- 2 cups fresh lemon balm roughly chopped
- 1 1/2 cups 80 proof vodka approximately
Instructions
Roughly chop up a few handfuls of fresh lemon balm then put the chopped herb into a pint jar, filling it almost all the way and mashing it down a bit with your hand or a wooden spoon.
Pour in the 80 proof vodka to cover the lemon balm. You might have to push down the leaves a bit and some still may float, but that’s ok.
Cover the jar with a lid and put it in a cool and dark place (a pantry works well). For the first few days check on it and give it a gentle shake.
Let the tincture infuse for at least 4 to 6 weeks, but it can go even longer than that, several months or more.
When you’re ready to use the tincture, use a fine mesh sieve lined with a few layers of cheesecloth to strain out the lemon balm. Use the cheesecloth to squeeze as much of the tincture out as possible.
Store the tincture in dropper bottles for easy use. It will keep for many years!
Notes
If you want to make an alcohol free tincture (great for children) use vegetable glycerine instead of vodka to make a glycerite.
