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Lmb5.8
Lemon Balm Research
Probably helps
69 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 2002–2026 with a typical study size of 70 participants.
Based on 69 studies · 7 meta-analyses · 46 RCTs · 10,423 total participants
Confidence
High confidence
What the studies found
2helped1unclear· 66 more without graded effect data
Women's healthMay help manage menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood changes · 4-8 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Cold sores & HSV
Too few graded studies1 study
Skin health
Too few graded studies1 study
By the numbers
Pulled from 20 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
75%
across studies
People studied
10k
typical study: 70 people
Strongest designs
53
7 pooled, 46 randomised
Showed benefit
67%
2/3 studies
How long studies ran
1–4 weeks
2
1–3 months
1
Populations Studied
General population2
Patients with herpes labialis1
Type 2 diabetes patients1
Patients with dyslipidemia1
Active research area
34 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2024
200220142026
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.
7Herbal 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.
8Anxiety 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.
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.
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.
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.
15Evidence 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
16RCTCited 24×n=44 · small study2023
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