Melissa

This essential oil has a couple of uses in aromatherapy and helps to bring calmness to the mind, while having a great sedating effect, calming the heartbeat and palpitations. It furthermore is used to correct menstrual problems, while having excellent results in fighting cold sores (herpes simplex), as well as fungal infections to a lesser degree.

This plant from the Mediterranean region grows to about 60 cm (2 feet) and likes soil with a high iron content and has small serrated slightly hairy leaves and small white-pink flowers. The flowers are very attractive to bees; the name 'Melissa' is the Greek word for honeybee and is also know as "lemon balm' or in Hebrew 'Bal-Smin" meaning 'Chief of oils.'

In the 14th century it was included in tonic water made by the French Carmelite nuns and Paracelsus (1493 - 1541) called this herb 'The Elixir of life' while John Evelyn (1620 -1706) described it as "sovereign for the brain, strengthening the memory, and powerfully chasing away melancholy".

The therapeutic properties of melissa oil are antidepressant, antispasmodic, bactericidal, carminative, cordial, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, hypotensive, nervine, sedative, stomachic, sudorific and tonic.

Melissa oil calms the nerves and has excellent qualities in fighting depression. Its sedative effect is well documented. It helps in cases of hysteria and panic and helps to slows the heartbeat, eases high blood pressure and is a tonic to the heart while regulating the menstrual cycle, also helping with period pains.

It can settle the digestive system, helps with nausea, flatulence, vomiting, dyspepsia and dysentery and has a cooling effect on fevers. It can help with headaches and migraines associated with colds.

When treatment is started in the early stages, it can also be used as a topical treatment for cold sores (herpes simplex). Melissa oil's great benefit lies in its ability to calm and soothe the nerves, the digestive system, the heart, painful menstrual cycles and fevers.

Blends well with: Basil, Chamomile, Rose, Geranium, Frankincense, Lavender and Ylang-ylang.

Emotional

Helps alleviate nervous tension, mood enhancer.

Medicinal

Aids digestions and circulation. Soothes aches and pains.

Precautions

A very expensive oil – comparable to rose. Do not be fooled by cheap immitations.

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