melissa / lemon balm essential oil

7/28/2019 Melissa / Lemon Balm Essential Oil

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MELISSA ESSENTIAL OIL 1

MELISSA

LATIN NAME Melissa officinalis

FAMILY NAME Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

SYNONYMS Lemon balm, or in Hebrew Bal-Smin meaning Chief of oils

COLOUR Pale yellow or olive

VISCOSITY Watery

AROMA Light, fresh, sweet / citrus like / scent of lemons

NOTE Middle

COUNTRIES OF PRODUCTIONNative to Mediterranean, but now cultivated all over the world. Essential oil production is

mostly from France & Ireland

PARTS USED Fresh flowering tops, leaves & stems

EXTRACTION METHOD Steam distillation for eo

Absolute by solvent extraction

YIELD 0.01 0.02%

BLENDS WELL WITH

Basil, Roman chamomile, rose, geranium, frankincense, lavender, petitgrain, Ylang ylang,

but is most often used alone

MAIN CHEMICAL COMPONENTS

Neral, citronellal, geraniol, linalol, citral, geranyl acetate, methyl heptenone, copaene,

germacrene, caryophyllene

WARNINGS & CONTRA INDICATIONS

Non-toxic but could cause sensitisation & irritation & should always be used in lowdilutions (below 1%)

Avoid in pregnancy for this reason due to increased skin sensitivity in pregnancy,and by people with a very sensitive skin

Large doses have been observed to cause headaches One reference says to avoid use with children under 2 years of age The citral found in Melissa is high in proportion & can cause problems with people

suffering prostatic hyperplasia

Although an emmenagogue, the action has never been shown to cause difficultywith pregnancy, although this would be cause for great caution during pregnancy

Skin problems & respiratory problems are often made worse if not treated with asuitably low concentration of Melissa oil a suitable amount is usually less than 1%

Pure Melissa is difficult to purchase with assurance of its purity. Many warnings pertainmore to the fragrant additives found in most affordably priced Melissa. If any

fragrance additives are present, the oil is unsuitable for use in aromatherapy


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THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES

Anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory, carminative, digestive, sedative, anti-viral, anti-

bacterial, anti-fungal, febrifuge, emmenagogue, nervine, vasodilator, hypotensive, tonic

THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS

EMOTIONAL

Grief, anxiety Depression Stress & distress Shock of unexpected loss Used by some to assist those in the process of dyingCIRCULATION

Helps slow the heartbeat Eases high blood pressure Tonic to the heartDIGESTIVE

Settles digestive system Nausea Flatulence Dyspepsia Vomiting DysenteryGENITO-URINARY

Regulates menstrual cycle Painful periodsNERVOUS SYSTEM

Calms nerves Eases hysteria Panic Depression Nervous headaches MigrainesRESPIRATORY

Allergies

Asthma Bronchitis Colds Coughs antispasmodic effect on the bronchi makes it useful for helping relieve

asthma & possibly bronchitis

Slows the respiration & pulse Lowers blood pressure & has an antispasmodic effect on the smooth muscle


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SKIN

Insect bites Insect repellent EczemaSTRUCTURAL

Aches & painsOTHER

Cooling effect on fevers, induces perspiration Could help with headaches & migraines associated with colds Herpes simplex When treatment is started in the early stages, it can also be used as

a topical treatment

Helpful with colds & flu

METHODS OF APPLICATION

AEROSOL

Vapour therapyo Respiratory problemso Fevero Headacheso Hysteriao Stress

BATH / FOOT BATH

Fever Headaches Depression Hysteria StressMASSAGE OIL

Aches & pains Fever Headaches Depression Hysteria

Stress

NOTES

Recent studies have shown melissa to be a powerful antiviral against virusesassociated with flu, herpes, smallpox & mumps smaller doses prove more effective

than larger doses

Yield is very low so price is very high takes +/- 10 000kg Melissa to yield 1kg eo Studies have shown that commercial samples of melissa have been adulterated if

melissa is tested & has citronellol, it is likely adulterated

Authentic melissa has no, or very little (trace) amounts of citronellol

melissa / lemon balm essential oil

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