Lemon balm - a miracle cure for "all diseases"

Lemon balm is a familiar spice in every household, but it also has incredibly effective medicinal uses.

Lemon balm is a very familiar herb to the Vietnamese people, widely grown throughout the country. It is an herbaceous plant, about 30-50cm tall, with the stem near the ground becoming woody.

The leaves are opposite, succulent, with serrated edges; when crushed in the hand, they release a pleasant, refreshing aroma similar to lemon. Lemon balm leaves contain essential oil, the main component of which is cavaron, and its medicinal properties are due to this essential oil.

Lemon balm is a familiar spice that also has very effective medicinal uses.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, lemon balm has a pungent, slightly sour taste, a fragrant aroma, is warm in nature, non-toxic, and has the effect of benefiting the lungs, expelling phlegm, relieving colds, inducing sweating, clearing airways, and detoxifying. Colein in the leaves has a strong antibiotic effect against some bacteria, especially in the throat, nose, mouth, and even in the intestines.

Our people often finely chop lemon balm leaves to marinate meat and fish; it's a distinctive spice. The leaves and young shoots are commonly used to treat colds, coughs, asthma, coughing up blood, high fever, fever without sweating, vomiting blood, nosebleeds, and also to treat sore throats and hoarseness.

The recommended dosage is 10-15g, in the form of a decoction or crushed leaves to make a drink. It can also be used alone or in combination with other leaves to make a steam bath.

In Malaysia, the leaves are boiled to make a hot decoction for women after childbirth, and the juice extracted from crushed fresh leaves is given to children with runny noses. Externally, crushed leaves are applied as a poultice to treat chapped lips, stomach aches, headaches, and are rubbed on the body when experiencing fever.

In India, lemon balm leaves are used to treat urinary tract infections and vaginal discharge. The juice of the leaves mixed with sugar is a potent carminative, also used to treat coughs and indigestion.

Treats cough, sore throat, and hoarseness.

Crush 5-10g of young lemon balm leaves and squeeze out the hot juice. Alternatively, crush a handful of leaves (15-20g), add water, and squeeze out the juice to drink twice a day. For children, add a little sugar, steam it with rice, and give it to them to drink 2-3 times a day.

Treating stomach pain

Wash young lemon balm leaves thoroughly, chew 1-2 leaves with a little salt, and swallow gradually.

Treating the common cold

Wash 40-60g of fresh lemon balm leaves, chop them finely, put them in a bowl, pour in enough white wine to cover them, mix well, and cover tightly.

Boil a pot of water until it's very hot. After the water has been boiling for about two minutes, add the bowl of lemon balm, cover tightly, and bring to a boil again. Then, have the patient inhale the steam; while steaming, cover the patient with a blanket, then wipe away the sweat, change into different clothes, and rest in a sheltered place.

According to Health and Beauty