Lemon Balm: A Favorite Herbal Remedy for Calm, Focus, & Wellness

Lemon balm is a lemon-scented herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae), native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean. It’s been traditionally used for calming the nervous system, soothing digestive discomfort, and supporting emotional balance. Herbalists have long used lemon balm for everything from mood and digestive issues to trouble sleeping (1).

Lemon balm has earned a special place in my toolkit because it does so much, so gently. It’s particularly helpful for children, parents, and anyone navigating the challenges of modern life.

Lemon balm is best known for its calming effects on the nervous system, supporting the body's natural response to stress without the heavy sedative effect that some herbs can bring. Research suggests that Lemon Balm helps modulate GABA activity in the brain (2). GABA is the calming neurotransmitter that helps regulate anxiety, sleep, and mood.

I often reach for it when kids (or adults!) are feeling:

• Emotionally dysregulated
• Easily overwhelmed
• Restless or anxious
• Tense and irritable
• Overstimulated after a long day

It’s why you’ll find lemon balm featured in some of our most popular calming formulas, like:

• Peace & Calm™ Kids
• Please Sleep!™ Kids
• Mother’s Peace & Calm™
• Take A Chill Pill™

These formulas use lemon balm synergistically with other supportive herbs like passionflower, chamomile, and more to help the body unwind and rebalance naturally.

One of the most unique things about lemon balm is its ability to calm the body without dulling the mind. In fact, studies have shown that lemon balm may help support cognitive performance, especially under stress (2).

That’s what makes it ideal for children with attention challenges or adults juggling many mental tasks. It’s part of why I include lemon balm in:

• Focus & Attention™ Kids 
• Mother’s Peace & Calm™ 
• Take A Chill Pill™ 

Whether it’s your child struggling with school transitions or a parent navigating a high-stress season at work or home, lemon balm may help promote calm clarity… Which is often exactly what we need.

To learn more about supporting brain health, read this article: Key Supplements For Infant & Child Brain Development

Sleep disturbances are incredibly common in both kids and adults. Lemon balm is one of my top go-to herbs for supporting healthy sleep cycles (3).

Lemon balm is especially useful for:

• Trouble falling asleep due to a busy mind

• Frequent wakings from stress or worry

• Sensory overstimulation before bed

That’s why it plays a key role in:

• Please Sleep!™ Kids 

To learn more, read this article: Sleep Essentials For Kids

Lemon balm has long been used to soothe occasional digestive upset, especially when it’s tied to emotions like nervousness or anxiety. As a mild carminative herb, it helps ease occasional tension in the gut, relieve gas, and support healthy motility (4).

I recommend it often for families dealing with:

• Tummy aches before school

• Digestive changes due to stress

• Fussiness or discomfort in infants and toddlers

You’ll find lemon balm in our Col-icky™ Infants formula to help calm little bellies.

To learn more, read this article: Natural Treatment of Infant Colic

Lemon balm is traditionally used to support the body during fevers (5), especially when restlessness, irritability, or trouble sleeping sets in. Its naturally calming and cooling properties make it a gentle ally when the body is working through immune stress.

You’ll find it in:

• Temperature Tamer™ Kids 

• Mother’s Temperature Tamer™ 

These formulas are designed to help the body stay calm and comfortable during fevers, supporting rest and recovery.

To learn more, read this article: Fever Management: Herbal Teas Safe in Childhood 

One of the reasons I reach for lemon balm so often is that it's safe for the whole family when used appropriately. It’s gentle enough for infants and young children and effective enough for grown-ups navigating big life stressors.

Lemon balm is one of the most versatile and gentle herbs I use as both a doctor and a mom. With centuries of traditional use and growing scientific support, it remains a trusted ally for calming the nervous system, improving focus, easing digestive upset, supporting sleep, and helping children and adults feel more comfortable during fevers.

It’s safe, effective, and family friendly, which is why you’ll find lemon balm in so many of our Dr. Green Life™ formulas!

1. Mathews IM, Eastwood J, Lamport DJ, Cozannet RL, Fanca-Berthon P, Williams CM. Clinical Efficacy and Tolerability of Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.) in Psychological Well-Being: A Review. Nutrients. 2024 Oct 18;16(20):3545. doi: 10.3390/nu16203545. PMID: 39458539; PMCID: PMC11510126.
2. Mathews IM, Eastwood J, Lamport DJ, Cozannet RL, Fanca-Berthon P, Williams CM. Clinical Efficacy and Tolerability of Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.) in Psychological Well-Being: A Review. Nutrients. 2024 Oct 18;16(20):3545. doi: 10.3390/nu16203545. PMID: 39458539; PMCID: PMC11510126.

3. Di Pierro F, Sisti D, Rocchi M, Belli A, Bertuccioli A, Cazzaniga M, Palazzi CM, Tanda ML, Zerbinati N. Effects of Melissa officinalis Phytosome on Sleep Quality: Results of a Prospective, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, and Cross-Over Study. Nutrients. 2024 Dec 4;16(23):4199. doi: 10.3390/nu16234199. PMID: 39683592; PMCID: PMC11644815.

4. Aubert P, Guinobert I, Blondeau C, Bardot V, Ripoche I, Chalard P, Neunlist M. Basal and Spasmolytic Effects of a Hydroethanolic Leaf Extract of Melissa officinalis L. on Intestinal Motility: An Ex Vivo Study. J Med Food. 2019 Jul;22(7):653-662. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2018.0154. Epub 2019 Apr 16. PMID: 30990736; PMCID: PMC6653806.

5. Behzadi A, Imani S, Deravi N, Mohammad Taheri Z, Mohammadian F, Moraveji Z, Shavysi S, Mostafaloo M, Soleimani Hadidi F, Nanbakhsh S, Olangian-Tehrani S, Marabi MH, Behshood P, Poudineh M, Kheirandish A, Keylani K, Behfarnia P. Antiviral Potential of Melissa officinalis L.: A Literature Review. Nutr Metab Insights. 2023 Jan 12;16:11786388221146683. doi: 10.1177/11786388221146683. PMID: 36655201; PMCID: PMC9841880.