Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a cultivated perennial lemon scented herb. Records concerning its medicinal use date back over 2000 years, including a recommendation by Paracelsus (1493–1541) that lemon balm would completely revivify a man and should be used for “all complaints supposed to proceed from a disordered state of the nervous system”. Several herbal apothecaries have attributed the plant with general beneficial effects upon the brain including specific improvements to memory*

* Kennedy D.O., Scholey A.B. The Psychopharmacology of European herbs with cognition-enhancing properties. Curr. Pharm. Des. 2006;12:4613–4623. doi: 10.2174/138161206779010387.

Women going through menopause frequently suffer sleep disruption with hot flushes. 

According to a study  by Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran Iran

"100 women aged 50-60 years who complained of sleep disorders were studied. Subjects were selected randomly in a sampling method utilizing two groups of 50 people (intervention group with valerian/lemon balm and placebo group). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was administered pre and post-intervention."

The results of the study showed a significant difference was observed with reduced levels of sleep disorders amongst the experimental group when compared to the placebo group.

CONCLUSION:

Valerian/lemon balm may assist in reducing symptoms of sleep disorder during the menopause.

Make a nighttime Tea 

Add to your teapot

• 2 teaspoons of Lemon Balm c/s  
• 2 teaspoons of Rooibos Tea    
• 1 teaspoon of Blue Vervain cs/      
• Steep with boiling water for 4-5 minutes