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Benefits of Melissa Essential Oil
Melissa essential oil, also known as lemon balm oil, is used in traditional medicine to treat a number of health concerns, including insomnia, anxiety, migraines, hypertension, diabetes, herpes and dementia. This lemon-scented oil can be applied topically, taken internally or diffused at home.
One of the most well-known melissa essential oil benefits is its ability to treat cold sores, or herpes simplex virus 1 and 2, naturally and without the need for antibiotics that may add to the growth of resistant bacterial strains in the body. Its antiviral and antimicrobial properties are only some of the potent and therapeutic qualities of this valued essential oil.
1. May Improve Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
Melissa is probably the most studied of the essential oils for its ability to serve as a natural treatment for Alzheimer’s, and it’s very likely one of the most effective. Scientists at Newcastle General Hospital’s Institute for Aging and Health conducted a placebo-controlled trial to determine the value of melissa essential oil for agitation in people with severe dementia, which is a frequent and major management problem, especially for patients with severe cognitive impairment. Seventy-two patients with clinically significant agitation in the context of severe dementia were randomly assigned to the Melissa essential oil or placebo treatment group.
Researchers found that 60 percent of the melissa oil group and 14 percent of the placebo-treated group experienced a 30 percent reduction of agitation scores. There was an overall improvement in agitation in 35 percent of patients receiving melissa oil and 11 percent in those treated with placebo, suggesting that quality of life was improved significantly with essential oil treatment. (1)
However, in 2011, a follow-up study seems to have refuted the evidence and shows that it had no more impact on the patients than medication or placebo. The researchers specifically point out that they blinded more factors in the study and used a more “rigorous design.” (2) The research is conflicting, but it seems melissa oil does potentially do as well as medication can in some instances.
2. Possesses Anti-inflammatory Activity
Research has shown that melissa oil can be used to treat various diseases associated with inflammation and pain. A 2013 study published in Advances in Pharmacological Science investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of melissa essential oil by using experimental trauma-induced hind paw edema in rats. The anti-inflammatory properties of oral administration of melissa oil showed a significant reduction and inhibition of edema, which is swelling caused by excess fluid that is trapped in the body’s tissues. (3)
The results of this study and many like it suggest that melissa oil can be taken internally or applied topically to reduce swelling and relieve pain due to its anti-inflammatory activity.
3. Prevents and Treats Infections
As many of us already know, the widespread use of antimicrobial agents causes resistant bacterial strains, which can seriously compromise the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment thanks to this antibiotic resistance. Research suggests that the use of herbal medicines might be a precautionary measure to prevent the development of resistance to synthetic antibiotics that are associated with therapeutic failures.
Melissa oil has been evaluated by researchers for its ability to stop bacterial infections. The most important identified compounds in melissa oil that are well-known for their antimicrobial effects are citral, citronellal and trans-caryophyllene. A 2008 study showed that melissa oil exhibited a higher degree of antibacterial activity than did lavender oil against Gram-positive bacterial strains, including candida. (4)
4. Has Anti-diabetic Effects
Studies suggest that melissa oil is an efficient hypoglycemic and anti-diabetic agent, probably due to enhanced glucose uptake and metabolism in the liver, along with adipose tissue and the inhibition of gluconeogenesis in the liver.
A 2010 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that when mice were administered melissa essential oil for six weeks, they showed significantly reduced blood glucose levels, improved glucose tolerance and significantly higher serum insulin levels compared with the control group, all of which can reduce diabetes symptoms. (5)
5. Promotes Skin Health
Melissa oil is used for naturally treating eczema, acne and minor wounds, as it has antibacterial and antifungal properties. In studies that involve topical use of melissa oil, healing times were found to be statistically better in the groups treated with lemon balm oil. (6) It’s gentle enough to apply directly to the skin and helps clear up skin conditions that are caused by bacteria or fungus.
6. Treats Herpes and Other Viruses
Melissa is often the herb of choice for treating cold sores, as it’s effective at fighting viruses in the herpes virus family. It can be used to inhibit the spread of viral infections, which can be especially helpful for people who have developed a resistance to commonly used antiviral agents.
A 2008 study published in Phytomedicine found that higher concentrations of melissa essential oil nearly abolished herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 completely when it was tested on monkey kidney cells using a plaque reduction assay. Researchers suggest that melissa oil serves as a suitable topical treatment for getting rid of herpes because it has antiviral effects and is able to penetrate the skin due to its lipophilic nature. (7)
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