MELISSA

Melissa officinalis

IN GENERAL

Melissa ( Melissa officinalis – Melissa the pharmaceutical), famous and as Melissa Herb, is a perennial plant which belongs to the mint family. Its height is 70-150 centimeters, the leaves have a gentle lemon scent. During summer it makes small white flowers filled with nectar, that attract bees and for this, the genus that belongs to Melissa Herb took the name Melissa. Its smell is due to the essential oil containing citral, citronellal, geraniol and linalool.

PROPERTIES – USE

It has pharmaceutical action. Drink Mix from Melissa leaves is considered to have antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action and acts as a tonic for the circulatory system and heart. It has also been proved to have antimicrobial and insect repellent action. It has also been used to treat insomnia and various digestive disorders. Finally it has been shown to improve mental clarity and memory and has helped, in a small number of clinical trials, people who suffer from mild symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Melissa also has been shown to have sedative effects, as a survey showed that reduces stress, while the writer of it said that needs further investigation. In Vitro studies showed that acts against the transaminase GABA, which may explain its effect as a sedative. The responsible component seems to be the rosmarinic acid.