Melissa

Botanical name: Melissa Officinalis
Botanical family: Labiatae

Note: Middle

Part of plant used: Leaves

Origin: Melissa grows spontaneously in woods, fields, and shady areas. It loves sunshine but with a combination of shade. The majority of the Melissa oil is produced in France.

Description: Light, sweet, lemony aroma

History: Melissa was held in high esteem by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabs as a special remedy. It was known as “The Elixir of Life” by Paracelsus, Swiss physician and chemist from the 15th century. Melissa is also known as “Lemon Balm”. Beware of fakes as the true Melissa oil is very expensive to produce so it is often adulterated.

Properties and Indications:

Excellent for the female reproductive system, re balances hormones in the menstrual cycle and good for women who get weepy and angry during menstruation (due to an excess of estrogen)
Useful for all sorts of allergies including digestive, respiratory, and psychosomatic
Helpful for migraines
Anorexia
Mildly sedative
Car sickness (specifically Melissa water)
Antispasmodic on the cardiac system, calms down heart palpitations and warms the heart (internally)
For the over-anxious
Hypochondriacs

Personality

Melancholic, reminiscent of past things, strong imagination, quite impressionable
Eases the heart of its sorrows
A finer part of self – sensitivity and sensibility
Chases away black thoughts (good for bitter people)
Good for old people, convalescents, and children

Blending: