Lemon balm delivered in foodstuffs can have positive behavioural effects which may be used in applied health settings. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Anti-stress effects of lemon balm-containing foods.
Nutrients. 2014 Nov ;6(11):4805-21. Epub 2014 Oct 30. PMID: 25360512
Andrew Scholey
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has been used historically and contemporarily as a modulator of mood and cognitive function, with anxiolytic effects following administration of capsules, coated tablets and topical application. Following a pilot study with lemon balm extract administered as a water based drink, which confirmed absorption of rosmarinic acid effects on mood and cognitive function, we conducted two similar double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover studies. These evaluated the mood and cognitive effects of a standardised M. officinalis preparation administered in palatable forms in a beverage and in yoghurt. In each study a cohort of healthy young adults' self-rated aspects of mood were measured before and after a multi-tasking framework (MTF) administered one hour and three hours following one of four treatments. Both active lemon balm treatments were generally associated with improvements in mood and/or cognitive performance, though there were some behavioral"costs"at other doses and these effects depended to some degree on the delivery matrix.