We use essential cookies (authentication, your saved goals/stack) by default. With your permission we’ll also enable privacy-respecting analytics (Vercel Web Analytics, anonymous load-time metrics) and error-replay diagnostics (Sentry — DOM snapshots only when an error fires) so we can fix bugs faster. Learn more about cookies
Lmb5.8
Lemon Balm Research
Probably helps
53 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Mostly mechanism / observational
Most Lemon Balm studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2002–2026 with a typical study size of 71 participants.
Based on 53 studies · 4 meta-analyses · 33 RCTs · 10,246 total participants
Confidence
High confidence
What the studies found
1helped1unclear· 51 more without graded effect data
Women's healthMay help manage menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood changes · 4-8 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Cold sores & HSV
Too few graded studies1 study
Skin health
Too few graded studies1 study
By the numbers
Pulled from 18 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
67%
across studies
People studied
10k
typical study: 71 people
Strongest designs
37
4 pooled, 33 randomised
Showed benefit
50%
1/2 studies
How long studies ran
1–4 weeks
2
Populations Studied
General population2
Patients with herpes labialis1
Type 2 diabetes patients1
Patients with dyslipidemia1
Active research area
27 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2024
200220142026
1Herpes labialis healing time and symptom reductionSystematic Reviewn=1,250 · large study2025
In plain English: Future well-designed, large-scale RCTs employing standardized methodologies are necessary to confirm these findings and to establish optimal treatment protocols for diverse patient populations (Inplasy protocol number: 202350038).
Anheyer M et al. · Journal of integrative and complementary medicine (2025)
Lemon balm preparations consistently reduced pain intensity and swelling, with some studies also reporting a significant decrease in lesion size compared with placebo or acyclovir.
Olive leaf extract demonstrated a statistically significant faster improvement in symptoms and a shorter healing time compared with acyclovir.
Discussion: The findings indicate that topical herbal therapies may provide effective and well-tolerated alternatives or adjuncts to conventional antiviral treatments for herpes labialis.
3Serum lipid profile improvementMeta-Analysisn=302 · medium study2024
In plain English: The findings of this meta-analysis provide evidence that lemon balm may be administered as a safe and beneficial herbal medicine for reducing TC, TG and LDL levels.
Shahsavari K et al. · BMC complementary medicine and therapies (2024)
No clear effect
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Could be chance
While it had no statistically significant effect on HDL level (SMD (95% CI): 0.336(-0.091, 0.767), p-value = 0.123).
The findings of this meta-analysis provide evidence that lemon balm may be administered as a safe and beneficial herbal medicine for reducing TC, TG and LDL levels.
According to the pooled results of 5 studies with a total of 302 patients, lemon balm intake had no significant effect on HDL level.
5GABA receptor interaction and sleep effectsSystematic Review2021
In plain English: Currently available evidence suggests that herbal extracts may exert some of their hypnotic and anxiolytic activity through interacting with GABA receptors and modulating GABAergic signaling in the brain, but their mechanism of action in the treatment of insomnia is not completely understood.
Bruni O et al. · Nutrients (2021)
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that plays a major role in controlling different vigilance states.
GABA receptors are the targets of many pharmacological treatments for insomnia, such as benzodiazepines.
Here, we perform a systematic analysis of studies assessing the mechanisms of action of various herbal medicines on different subtypes of GABA receptors in the context of sleep control.
In plain English: Further high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of the lemon balm.
Ghazizadeh J et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2021)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Based on meta-analysis results, lemon balm significantly improved mean anxiety and depression scores compared with the placebo (SMD: -0.98; 95% CI: -1.63 to -0.33; p = 0.003), (SMD: -0.47; 95% CI: -0.73 to -0.21; p = 0.0005) respectively, without serious side effects.
Current evidence suggests that lemon balm may be effective in improving anxiety and depressive symptoms, particularly in the acute setting.
Due to the high level of heterogeneity between studies, results should be interpreted with caution.
7Anxiolytic effects through GABA modulationSystematic Review2018
In plain English: Collectively, the literature reveals preclinical and clinical evidence for various phytomedicines modulating GABA-pathways, with comparative anxiolytic effect to the current array of pharmaceuticals, along with good safety and tolerability profiles.
Savage K et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2018)
An open-ended search to 5 July 2017 was conducted using MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, and Cochrane library online databases and performed in a stepped format from preclinical to clinical investigations.
Eligible studies must have had (a) in vitro evidence of GABA-modulating activity, (b) animal studies using anxiety models to test an anxiolytic effect, and (c) human clinical trials.
Ten phytomedicines were identified as having preclinical investigations showing interaction with the GABA system, in addition to human clinical trials: kava, valerian, pennywort, hops, chamomile, Ginkgo biloba, passionflower, ashwagandha, skullcap, and lemon balm.
In plain English: It is concluded that lemon balm has the potential to improve cognition and sleep quality; however, robust evidence is needed, as more rigorous trials are required.
Oliveira MVB, Garguerra JA, Lamas CB, Laurindo LF, Rodrigues VD, Sloan KP, Sloan LA, Chagas EFB, Guiguer EL, Detregiachi CRP, Miglino MA, Pereira ESBM, Valenti VE, Silva LR, Barbalho SM. · International journal of molecular sciences (2025)
Regarding sleep, a combination of lemon balm and valerian significantly improved sleep quality in postmenopausal women.
Isolated lemon balm extracts also reduced sleep disorders in cardiac patients.
When compared to citalopram, lemon balm enhanced the quality of life, including sleep quality.
In plain English: This review presents a critical synthesis of existing knowledge and future directions for integrating M. officinalis into nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products.
Awlqadr FH, Altemimi AB, Qadir SA, Mohammed OA, Saeed MN, Hesarinejad MA, Lakhssassi N. · Food science & nutrition (2025)
Recent investigations have also shown its wide-ranging pharmacological potential, which includes antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antiviral, antidepressant, anxiolytic, anticancer, cardioprotective, and cognitive-enhancing properties.
Furthermore, the traditional medicinal use of M. officinalis in managing neurodegenerative conditions such as stroke, epilepsy, dementia, and paralysis is increasingly supported by contemporary evidence, highlighting its therapeutic relevance in brain-related disorders.
However, further studies are necessary to refine extraction methods, standardize levels of bioactive compounds, and validate clinical applications.
In plain English: Results/conclusions Although further robust randomised controlled trials using lemon balm are required, existing research indicates that lemon balm holds promise as a calming agent exhibiting both anxiolytic and anti-depressant properties and can elicit cognitive and sleep-quality enhancement.
Mathews IM, Eastwood J, Lamport DJ, Cozannet RL, Fanca-Berthon P, Williams CM. · Nutrients (2024)
One herb that is receiving growing attention is lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis L.) which has received considerable interest for its influence on the brain.
Lemon balm boasts an array of phytochemicals, including rosmarinic acid, citral, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid, which are believed to underpin these effects on psychological well-being.
Pharmacological evidence from animal and cellular work reveals that lemon balm and its components may modulate several brain signalling pathways, including GABAergic, cholinergic, and serotonergic systems.
12Evidence synthesis for Melissa officinalisSystematic Review2005
In plain English: An evidence-based systematic review including written and statistical analysis of scientific analysis of scientific literature, expert opinion, folkloric precedent, history, pharmacology, kinetic/dynamics, interactions, adverse effect, toxicology, and dosing.
Ulbricht C et al. · Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy (2005)
An evidence-based systematic review including written and statistical analysis of scientific analysis of scientific literature, expert opinion, folkloric precedent, history, pharmacology, kinetic/dynamics, interactions, adverse effect, toxicology, and dosing.
Further research warranted to confirm findings
13RCTn=44 · small study2023
In plain English: After 12-week the mean change of depression and anxiety scores were statistically significant between the two groups (p < 0.001 and p = 0.04, respectively), but no significant differences were observed in FBS, hs-CRP, anthropometric indices, sleep quality, and blood pressure.
Safari M et al. · BMC complementary medicine and therapies (2023)
M. officinalis extract 700 mg/day significantly reduced depression (p < 0.001) and anxiety (p = 0.04) scores versus placebo over 12 weeks in type 2 diabetes patients with depression
No significant between-group differences were seen for fasting blood sugar, hs-CRP, anthropometric indices, sleep quality, or blood pressure
14sleep quality and anxiety reductionMeta-Analysisn=918 · large study2024
In plain English: This meta-analysis consolidates recent RCT evidence on lemon balm for sleep and anxiety, the two primary categories for this supplement.
In plain English: The results revealed that M. Officinalis L. may be recommended for improving the quality of life of menopausal women with sleep disturbance.
Shirazi M et al. · Revista brasileira de ginecologia e obstetricia : revista da Federacao Brasileira das Sociedades de Ginecologia e Obstetricia (2021)
The mean for all MENQOL domain scores were significantly improved in the M. officinalis group compared with citalopram and placebo.
M. Officinalis L. (combined with fennel fruit extract) may be recommended for improving the quality of life of menopausal women with sleep disturbance.