38 lines
2.1 KiB
Plaintext
38 lines
2.1 KiB
Plaintext
|
BALM : Melissa officinalis
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Other Names: Sweet balm, Lemon Balm, Garden Balm, Melissa.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Habitat: The name Melissa comes from the Greek meaning Bee, which
|
||
|
|
indicates this herb's long-recognized fine bee-attracting
|
||
|
|
capacity. For this reason it was an old favorite for
|
||
|
|
planting around hives. John Gerard mentions that in the
|
||
|
|
sixteenth century the leaves were even rubbed upon the
|
||
|
|
hives in an effort to keep the bees happy. The plant
|
||
|
|
posseses a short root and a squarish stem (when cut
|
||
|
|
sectionally) with joint pairs of toothed, heart-shaped,
|
||
|
|
or oval leaves sprouting on either side of it. Both the
|
||
|
|
leaves and the creamy yellow flowers give off a strong
|
||
|
|
lemony smell when crushed. Though the leaves and stems
|
||
|
|
die off each year, the root is perennial, which makes it
|
||
|
|
a good choice for your herb garden. It will thrive in any
|
||
|
|
type of soil, and can be grown from seed, seedling, root
|
||
|
|
division in spring or fall, or cutting (if you are
|
||
|
|
clever). Like most of the simples, it requires the
|
||
|
|
absolute minimum attention : just make sure it has enough
|
||
|
|
water, gets weeded from time to time, and has its
|
||
|
|
straggling dead wood cut back in the fall. (You might
|
||
|
|
also want to stir the earth between its roots once or
|
||
|
|
twice a year).
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Properties: Balm has been used from time immemorial as a wound
|
||
|
|
dressing, for it is rich in ozone and therefore strongly
|
||
|
|
antiputrescent It also makes a flavorful and mildly
|
||
|
|
sedative tea to aid in opening the pores to reduce fevers
|
||
|
|
produced by Flu or chest colds.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Balm tea: Infuse 2 teaspoons dried herb in 1 covered cup boiling
|
||
|
|
water for 15 minutes (Or 1 ounce herb to 1 pint boiling
|
||
|
|
water if a larger quantity is required). Strain, and
|
||
|
|
flavor with sugar or honey and a twist of lemon, if
|
||
|
|
desired, before drinking.
|