Lemon Balm (Herb/Suppl)

Brand and Other Names:balm, bee balm, more...cure-all, dropsy plant, honey plant, Melissa, Melissa folium, Melissa officinalis, sweet balm, sweet Mary

Suggested Dosing

Tea

1 cup PO PRN; 1.5-4.5 g leaf/150 mL water

Tincture

2-6 mL PO TID; 1:5 in 45% alcohol

Cream/ointment

Apply 1% of a 70:1 lyophilized aqueous extract topically BID-QID up to 14 d

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Suggested Uses

Abdominal distension, antispasmodic, appetite stimulant, digestive aid, flatulence, Graves disease, herpes labialis (topical), insomnia

Efficacy

Possibly effective for listed uses

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Adverse Effects

Frequency Not Defined

Hypersensitivity reactions

Sedation

Skin irritation (topical use)

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Warnings

Contraindications

Hypothyroidism

Cautions

Sedative agents

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Pregnancy & Lactation

Pregnancy Category: avoid use

Lactation: avoid use

Pregnancy Categories

A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.

B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.

C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.

X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.

NA: Information not available.

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Pharmacology

Metabolism: N/A

Excretion: N/A

Mechanism of Action

Tannins, polyphenols possess antiviral activity

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Medscape prescription drug monographs are based on FDA-approved labeling information, unless otherwise noted, combined with additional data derived from primary medical literature.