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Lmb8.5
Lemon Balm Research
Probably helpsHigh safety
27 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Probably helps
Lemon Balm helped in about half (2/3) of the studies that measured an effect — promising, but not unanimous.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2004–2025 with a typical study size of 64 participants.
Based on 27 studies · 4 meta-analyses · 16 RCTs · 9,938 total participants
Confidence
High
What the studies found
2helped1unclear· 24 more without graded effect data
Women's healthMay help manage menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood changes · 4-8 weeks
Too few graded studies2 studies
Cold sores & HSV
Too few graded studies1 study
By the numbers
Pulled from 16 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
75%
across studies
People studied
9,938
typical study: 64 people
Strongest designs
20
4 pooled, 16 randomised
Showed benefit
67%
2/3 studies
How long studies ran
1–4 weeks
2
1–3 months
1
Populations Studied
Patients with herpes labialis1
Type 2 diabetes patients1
Patients with dyslipidemia1
Patients with insomnia1
Active research area
12 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2024
200420142025
1Herpes labialis healing time and symptom reductionSystematic ReviewCited 2×n=1,250 · large study2025
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-AnalysisCited 3×n=302 · medium study2024
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.
4Herbal remedies effect on GABAergic system and sleepSystematic ReviewCited 66×2021
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.
5Anxiety and depression scoresMeta-AnalysisCited 28×2021
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.
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.
High-quality RCTs are needed for firm conclusions concerning the effects of MO on cardiometabolic outcomes.
Heshmati J et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2020)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Random-effects meta-analyses estimated the pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) between intervention and control groups.
MO intake was associated with a reduced total cholesterol (TC) (SMD: -0.26; 95% CI: -0.52, -0.01; I2 = 13.7%; k = 6) and a reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) (SMD: -0.56; 95% CI: -0.85, -0.27; I2 = 00.0%; k = 3).
MO intake was not associated with statistically significant changes in triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, diastolic blood pressure, high sensitivity c-reactive protein levels, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, insulin or high-density lipoprotein levels.
8Evidence synthesis for Melissa officinalisSystematic ReviewCited 22×2005
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.
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
9RCTCited 24×n=44 · small study2023
The study was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT201709239472N16); Registration date: 09/10/2017.
Safari M et al. · BMC complementary medicine and therapies (2023)
According to the results, M. officinalis can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the patients with essential hypertension.
Shekarriz Z et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2021)
Moreover, it was found that systolic and diastolic blood pressures significantly decreased after the consumption of M. officinalis, compared to placebo.
Also, no significant side effects were observed during the study.
According to the results, M. officinalis can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the patients with essential hypertension.
Gutiérrez-Romero SA et al. · Scientific reports (2024)
Mean sleep efficiency remained unmodified in the active group, and increased by 3% in the placebo group, the between-group difference in the change was not statistically significant (p = 0.49).
Time wake after sleep onset (WASO) decreased more in the active group (4.6% vs. 2.4%), but the difference was not significant (p = 0.33).
Mean PSQI decreased by 3.11 points (32.3%) in the active group, and by 3.86 points (39.5%) in the placebo group (p = 0.41).
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.
The results revealed that M.
Officinalis L. may be recommended for improving the quality of life of menopausal women with sleep disturbance.
16Heart palpitation episodesRCTCited 33×n=71 · small study2015
Lyophilized aqueous extract of M. officinalis leaves may be a proper and safe herbal drug for the treatment of benign palpitations.
Alijaniha F et al. · Journal of ethnopharmacology (2015)
Likely real
Results showed that 14-day of treatment with lyophilized aqueous extract of M. officinalis leaves reduced frequency of palpitation episodes and significantly reduced the number of anxious patients in comparison to the placebo (P=0.0001, P=0.004 resp.).
Lyophilized aqueous extract of M. officinalis leaves may be a proper and safe herbal drug for the treatment of benign palpitations.
M. officinalis is safe and effective in improvement of Apo A-I, Apo B/Apo A-I, and lipids ratios as key factors promoting cardiovascular disease (CVD) in type II diabetic patients.
Asadi A et al. · Complementary therapies in medicine (2018)
Although both groups showed a significant reduction in ICAM-1, AST and, ALP (p < 0.05), no significant differences in ICAM-1, AST and, ALP were observed.
M. officinalis is safe and effective in improvement of Apo A-I, Apo B/Apo A-I, and lipids ratios as key factors promoting cardiovascular disease (CVD) in type II diabetic patients.
18LDL cholesterol levelsRCTCited 32×n=58 · small study2016
Our findings demonstrated that M. officinalis supplementation as a rich source of antioxidants and bioactive compounds can be effective in remission of LDL and AST levels in patients with borderline hyperlipidemia.
Jandaghi P et al. · Complementary therapies in medicine (2016)
Likely real
The mean of LDL in MO group significantly decreased compared with P group after the supplementation (P=0.02).
Although the level of Cholesterol, FBG, HDL, Triglyceride, Creatinine and ALT did not show significant difference between two groups after 2 months (P≥0.05), the level of AST exhibited a significant difference between two groups (P=0.009).
Our findings demonstrated that M. officinalis supplementation as a rich source of antioxidants and bioactive compounds can be effective in remission of LDL and AST levels in patients with borderline hyperlipidemia.