Description
The plant grows well in the UK and Europe. Normally around 60cm in height it has a high iron content.
Characteristics
The word Melissa in Greek means "honeybee" and this is where it gets its name. Melissa is also known as Lemon Balm. Melissa has a very clean scent, slightly towards the high side which makes it excellent for blending.
Oils to Blend with
Melissa blends well with many oils though the most popular and obvious is Lavender. The two oils work together beautifully. Melissa also blends well with for both scent and therapeutic properties: Basil, Roman Chamomile, Rose, Geranium, Frankincense, Lavender, Ylang Ylang.

Latin Name
Melissa officinalis

Plant Family
Labiate

Extraction Method
The essential oil is steam distiled from the flowering tops and the leaves and stems. The yield is about 0.01 - 0.02%.

Country of Origin
United Kingdom

Chemical Constituents
Trans-ocimene, cis-ocimene, 3-octanone, methyl hepenone, cis-3-hexenol, 3-octanol, 1-octen-3-ol, copaene, citronellal, linalool, b-bourbonene, caryophyllene, a-humulene, neral, germacrene-D, geranial, geranyl acetate, d-cadinene, y-cadinene, nerol and geraniol.

Precautions
As with all essential oils we recommend you do not use essential oils during pregnancy. Prolonged use can cause drowsiness.

Melissa essential oil has a couple of uses in aromatherapy and helps to bring calmness to the mind, while having a great sedating effect, calming the heartbeat and palpitations. It furthermore is used to correct menstrual problems, while having excellent results in fighting cold sores (herpes simplex), as well as fungal infections to a lesser degree.

Melissa oil calms the nerves and has excellent qualities in fighting depression. Its sedative effect is well documented. It helps in cases of hysteria and panic and helps to slows the heartbeat, eases high blood pressure and is a tonic to the heart while regulating the menstrual cycle, also helping with period pains.

It can settle the digestive system, helps with nausea, flatulence, vomiting, dyspepsia and dysentery and has a cooling effect on fevers. It can help with headaches and migraines associated with colds.

When treatment is started in the early stages, it can also be used as a topical treatment for cold sores (herpes simplex).