Smoking Lemon Balm | A Comprehensive Guide

Smoking Lemon Balm | A Comprehensive Guide - SPLIFF

Throughout the history of humanity, plants have served crucial purposes such as nutrition, tools, shelter, and medication. This hasn't changed even with today's developed and technologically advanced society. 

 

Whether it's a single herb or a blend of different herbs, many people now choose to smoke natural herbs, including lemon balm, over tobacco. However, before going any further, let's address the elephant in the room.  

Can I Smoke Lemon Balm?

It is important to note that much like other smokable herbs such as Mullein, Skullcap, Damiana and even Catnip, a lot of online shops are trying to push the narrative that smoking herbs provide various health benefits simply because they aren’t tobacco or cannabis, which is completely unfounded and definitely not supported by any scientific data or studies.  

With that being said, smoking lemon balm has other advantages pertaining to flavor, aroma and budget and effect control for many legal herbs when included in herbal blends.

Continue reading to learn about some of the other effects and advantages of this great herb for smoking! 

What Exactly is Lemon Balm?

Lemon Balm, of the scientific name Melissa officinalis, is a plant originating from the Eastern Mediterranean region and West Asia. But due to its popularity and reputation, it's currently cultivated all over the world. 

Lemon balm has been used for thousands of years to remedy different illnesses and enhance cognitive function and mood. The lemon-scented, perennial plant is also one of the best herbs to smoke as a natural alternative to tobacco, but it also presumably offers several other benefits according to various sources.

 

What are the benefits of Lemon Balm?

Might Help Ease Symptoms of Anxiety

Lemon Balm is popular for its effectiveness against symptoms of anxiety-like nervousness and hypersensitivity. Scientific investigation into this benefit came in a 2014 research paper that studied the cognitive and mood effects of foods mixed with lemon balm. 

In the research, they gave the mixture to two groups, and reports showed that participants noticed favorable effects on different aspects of their moods and lower anxiety levels.   

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich from Pexels

Likewise, herbal smoking blends containing lemon balm may be able to offer similar effects for those dealing with anxiety. However, further research is necessary to determine the full scope of efficacy. 

Might Fight Insomnia and Other Sleep Issues

Many people in today's society don't get enough sleep. Meanwhile, sleep deprivation has been linked to several health complications. But mixing lemon balm and valerian in a herbal tea would help you to improve your sleep quality by reducing restlessness and alleviating sleep disorders like insomnia. 

A study performed in 2006 revealed that children who ingested a combined dose of these two herbs improved their symptoms by 70 to 80 percent. The parents and the researchers who carried out these studies concluded that lemon balm helped reduce insomnia. 

Might Reduce Stress

This herb is also believed to combat symptoms of stress, improve mood and induce relaxation. Research carried out in 2004 discovered that taking lemon balm soothed the negative mood caused by lab-induced psychological stress. Those who participated in the study consumed lemon balm and later reported improved calmness and lower levels of agitation. 

Despite being a double-blind study, controlled with a placebo, it only examined a small size of 18 participants. Therefore, further studies are required to better investigate and validate the results. Until then, it shows the promise that lemon balm can help minimize stress.  

 
Photo from iStock   

 

Might Help Ease Nausea

Considering its possible effects on the alimentary canal, lemon balm could also effectively ease the feelings of nausea. In a review performed in 2015, the reports of different studies on lemon balm suggested that the herb can potentially help resolve gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea.  

Although this report is a promising one, it's vital to admit one crucial fact about this study. Most of the researchers examined the use of lemon balm in conjunction with other herbs. If anything, this answers safety to a certain extent, although further research is still required in this case. 

Might Relieve Menstrual Cramps

Apart from the previous benefits, other pieces of evidence indicated that lemon balm could be instrumental in relieving premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menstrual cramps. In a 2015 study, researchers looked into the impacts lemon balm has on the intensity of menstrual cramps in 100 girls in high school. 

Some of them took a placebo, while others took lemon balm for three continuous menstrual cycles. The reports showed that symptom intensity examined before the lemon balm and months one, two, and three reduced significantly, with the most significant improvement in the third month. However, these benefits were absent in the group that took the placebo. 

Might Help Resolve Indigestion

Still, on the digestive system, those who suffer from discomfort and abdominal pain caused by indigestion can also find lemon balm quite useful. The herb may positively impact the digestive process. A research performed in 2010 investigated the benefits of taking a cold dessert mixed with lemon balm for persons with functional dyspepsia.  

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Participants in the studies consumed a sorbet containing lemon balm, while those who took control with the herb. The two groups experienced some reduction in symptom intensity. However, the dessert mixed with lemon balm notices more intense effects and improved symptoms. 

How to smoke lemon balm

Given these benefits, you should want to smoke your mix in the most healthy way. There's more than one way to go about smoking herbal blends. In this case, you want to use natural rolling papers when possible instead of commercial papers usually packed with chemicals. 

Other ways to smoke lemon balm are with:

  • Pipes
  • Bongs
  • One-Hitters
  • Vaping

Can Lemon Balm Be Smoked With Cannabis?

Cannabis and lemon balm share a lot of therapeutic benefits, which is why it's not surprising that people are interested in taking the two together. Unfortunately, there aren't any strong pieces of evidence to support this claim as well. However, the people who smoke a combination of both will always tell you it makes them feel more relaxed. So the feedbacks have been positive. It is very important to know the CBD and THC content in the cannabis before you bring out your vaporizer to enjoy a puff.

What Are Some Other Ways To Consume Lemon Balm:

Lemon Balm Infused Chamomile Tea:

Explain this: Chamomile is a well-known herbal tea that can be found in most grocery stores. It's usually consumed for its calming effects, but it also has other benefits like improving digestion and reducing inflammation. Chamomile tea can be enhanced by adding lemon balm to it. It not only tastes better but it can also amplify the effects of the tea.

How to make your own Herbal smoking blend DIY at home:

Lemon Balm and Mugwort Smoke Blend:

Explain this: Mugwort is a common herb that's often used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It has a long history of being used for its medicinal properties. Some people believe that smoking mugwort can induce lucid dreaming. When combined with lemon balm, it can produce a calming effect.

In addition to the herbal mixtures mentioned above you can also find many other combinations and mixture of herbal smoking blend. A herbalist will be able to better guide your about these smoking herb mixes. You can find similar smokable herbs on Amazon however they always have a disclaimer that these should only be used after consultation from your doctor.

What are some other effects of Lemon Balm?

Lemon balm is a good source of antioxidants. Antioxidants are important because they help protect your cells from damage. They can also help improve your overall health.

Some research suggests that lemon balm may help protect against some types of cancer. It's also been shown to help improve liver function.

Lemon balm also contains compounds that can help improve your mood and mental function.

  • Some research suggests that lemon balm may help:

  • reduce stress

  • improve sleep quality

  • relieve anxiety

  • enhance cognitive function and helps your nervous system work better.

This is why there are many FDA approved health care products based on Lemon Balm and other herbs like peppermint. eucalyptus, raspberry leaf, passionflower and other medicinal plants. The native Americans have a rich history of using herbs for medicinal purposes.

Conclusion

If you were just looking to know if lemon balm is smokable, the simple answer is yes, but if you were looking at a therapeutic herb then you should know by now that no study suggests that lemon balm can provide any benefit to your body or mind when smoked. 


You can mix lemon balm with your herbal blends and smoke it for enjoyment. Other ways to get the valuable benefits of lemon balm are chewing, extracting the juice, and using it for tea. You can also burn or simmer the herbs as incense. Just ensure to get your herbal blends from credible sources. You want the healing properties hidden in such herbs as lemon balm while protecting your body from the adverse side effects of tobacco. It's recommended to keep a journal to document your experience to keep track of the results and other details.  

 

*This article is not to be interpreted as a statement of any form by Spliff but merely a compendium of information compiled from other sources. These statements have not been evaluated by Health Canada, FDA or any other regulatory body. Consult your doctor before ingesting or smoking any herbal product.*

 
If you have any valuable information to add or a correction to address, please reach out to a member of our team at info@spliffherbals.com

 

 

Wanna learn more about Lemon Balm? Browse our sources below! 

Scholey, A., Gibbs, A., Neale, C., Perry, N., Ossoukhova, A., Bilog, V., Kras, M., Scholz, C., Sass, M., & Buchwald-Werner, S. (2014). Anti-Stress Effects of Lemon Balm-Containing Foods. Nutrients, 6(11), 4805–4821. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu6114805 

Müller, S. F., & Klement, S. (2006). A combination of valerian and lemon balm is effective in the treatment of restlessness and dyssomnia in children. Phytomedicine, 13(6), 383–387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2006.01.013  

Kennedy, D. O., Little, W., & Scholey, A. B. (2004). Attenuation of Laboratory-Induced Stress in Humans After Acute Administration of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm). Psychosomatic Medicine, 66(4), 607–613. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000132877.72833.71 

‌(PDF) Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.): an evidence-based systematic review by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration. (n.d.). ResearchGate. Retrieved March 31, 2022, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7144806_Lemon_balm_Melissa_officinalis_L_an_evidence-based_systematic_review_by_the_Natural_Standard_Research_Collaboration 

Akbarzadeh, M., Dehghani, M., Moshfeghy, Z., Emamghoreishi, M., Tavakoli, P., & Zare, N. (2015). Effect of Melissa officinalis Capsule on the Intensity of Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms in High School Girl Students. Nursing and Midwifery Studies, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.17795/nmsjournal27001 

‌Gasbarrini, G., Zaccone, V., Covino, M., & Gallo, A. (2010). Effectiveness of a “cold dessert”, with or without the addition of a mixture of digestive herbs, in subjects with “functional dyspepsia.” Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents, 24(1), 93–98. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20385075/

 

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