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Melissa (Lemon Balm) Essential Oil

Melissa is often adulterated. Purchase only from reputable sources that test their oils.

Vial depicting Melissa Essential Oil (Lemon Balm)

Botanical Name: Melissa officinalis Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled Color: Yellow Consistency: Thin Perfumery Note: Top/Middle Strength of Initial Aroma: Strong

Aromatic Description: Fresh, lemony, herbaceous.

	Melissa (Lemon Balm)

Possible Uses: Anxiety, depression, hypertension, insomnia, migraine, menstrual cramping, indigestion, nausea, asthma, bronchitis, coughing, insect repellent, eczema, fragrancing. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 173.]

Constituents: Geranial, neral, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, beta-caryophyllene, citronellal, geranyl acetate, aesculetine. [E. Joy Bowles, The Chemistry of Aromatherapeutic Oils (NSW, Australia: Allen & Unwin, 2003), 196.]

Safety Information: Lawless indicates that Melissa essential oil is non-toxic at low doeses, but that it can cause sensitization/irritation. She advises to use in very low dilution. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 173.]

Important Note: The information provided in the Oil Profiles area is for educational purposes only. This data is not considered complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

General Safety Information: Do not take any oils internally without consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and give children only the gentlest oils at extremely low doses. It is safest to consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children. A skin patch test should be conducted prior to using an oil that you've never used before. Instructions on conducting a skin patch test and more safety information can be found by visiting the Safety Information page. For very in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Tony Balacs. 

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