What is the medical use of Melissa officinalis?
Melissa officinalis has a long history of use in medicine, especially in Europe, where it has been used since the Middle Ages as treatment of stress, anxiety, insomnia, digestion, colic and depression. It is assumed that the Greek doctor Theophrastus referred to this plant when referring to the healing properties of the plant translated as a "honey leaf". Although a pleasant fragrance that is rarely used or examined is often combined with other sedative and anxiety herbs such as Valerian, Hops or Chamomile. Contemporary scientists focused their attention on nootropic - or cognitive increase - properties in exploring the treatment of senility as well as unusual antiviral activity of the plant against herpes simplex. The plant is rich in a wide range of phytochemicals, none of which is considered to be responsible for all its pharmacological effects.
Some research focused exclusively on the essential oils of the plant. Rich in volatile oils that provide the plant with a pleasant scent and a common name"Lemon balm", a lot of his pain, muscle relaxation and antiseptic activity were attributed to the presence of chemical eugenol. Its antiviral properties are considered to be a product of some of the many terpene and terpenoid compounds of plants, mostly produced in properties called glandular trichomes, found on leaves, flowers and stem.
Extraction of essential oil Melissa officinalis differs from the whole ethanol or aqueous extract, although they cannot capture many other active compounds. Most of the cognitive performance of the plant increases the properties that are produced on phenolic acid antioxidant rosmarin, which is located at higher levels throughout the extract. This chemical may also be responsible for the supposed anxiety and activity of herbs that with stressful stress, inhibition of the enzyme responsible for degradation-amino-butylic acid-natural inhibitory neurotransmitter brain.
Some research also indicated that Melissa officinalis may have antityrotropic activity. This may prove to be a certain use in the treatment of hyperthyroidism or grave disease by disruption of the excessive thyroid gland. Another research has shown that the plant can increase sera levels of strong antioxidants glutathion peroxidase and superoxiddismutase. Since 2011, however, more research has been needed to justify these findings.
Despite this wide range of medical applications, it is assumed that the action of this plant is quite mild. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Melissa officinalis as a generally safe food ingredient. However, the FDA does not do the net in the treatment of any health condition, do any judgment on the safety or efficiency of the plant or its extracts.