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How To Make A Lemon Balm Tincture

If you want to know how to make a Lemon Balm tincture, watch my video below where I show you how easy it is to make a lemon balm tincture at home, and I also share just a little info about Lemon Balm (also known as Melissa or Bee Balm); how easy it is to grow and how valuable it is to have in the garden. Or if you’d rather, read on below for written instructions.

How To Make Lemon Balm Tincture

Making your own lemon balm tincture at home is super simple. As you’ll see in the video above, it’s as easy as cutting some fresh lemon balm from the garden, popping it in a jar and covering it with (at least 80 proof or 40%) vodka.

You then just leave it in a dark place to sit for at least 5 or 6 weeks (longer is okay) to allow the alcohol to extract the properties from the lemon balm.

Once it’s sat for long enough, simply strain out the plant material and discard into the compost. Then bottle the tincture and label it so you know what it is and when it was bottled.

These home made alcohol tinctures will keep for years.

How Much Lemon Balm Tincture To Take

When taking mass produced lemon balm tincture, there will be a dosage on the bottle. However when making your tincture at home, unless you weigh everything out precisely and make it using a specific ratio, the dosage is a little less clear cut.

Luckily lemon balm is a very safe herb and so even if you take more than you need to, it’s not likely to do you any harm. The worst it might do, with an alcohol extract, is make you a little tipsy!

A basic recommendation seems to be 2-6ml, but I’d suggest experimenting to see what works for you. Start low, pay attention to your symptoms and increase the dosage if needed.

A good rule to remember is to use the smallest amount that you can to get the results you want. Less is often more.

How To Make A Lemon Balm Tincture Without Alcohol

Using an alcohol extract probably isn’t ideal for children, and some adults may prefer a lemon balm tincture without alcohol as they may be sensitive, or have other reasons for avoiding it.

Luckily there’s a simple answer.

You can make a lemon balm tincture without alcohol by replacing the vodka with a vegetable glycerine like this one from Iherb, using the exact same process as described above and in my video.

What Is Lemon Balm Tincture Good For?

Lemon balm is calming. It helps to calm the body and the mind.

Lemon balm tincture can be used for anxiety or agitated mental states, stress, and it will help with depression and melancholy as it lifts the spirits.

Lemon balm will also help to relax muscles. This means it will help with any muscles spasms including not only skeletal muscles and cramps, but also the bowel, uterus and digestive tract.

It is therefore beneficial for digestive issues, IBS, period pain, cramps and muscle pain.

Lemon balm is also anti viral and a longevity herb. It is a great herb to include in your day to day as it will benefit your overall health.

Lemon Balm And Thyroid

Lemon balm may help with overactive thyroid conditions. Because of this it is often avoided by those with an under-active thyroid, fearing that it may worsen their condition.

This was me years ago. I had Graves disease, and then when I got that under control, I went back to having symptoms of an under-active thyroid and so I was careful with Lemon Balm.

However, from the research I’ve done over the years, what I’ve found is non conclusive and some believe that this herb is actually a ‘thyroid balancer’.

My advice, as in the video above, would be to tread carefully if you have an under-active thyroid and monitor your body.

See how it affects you.

We are all different. Our bodies respond to different foods, herbs, drugs and supplements differently and so if we choose to take responsibility for our own health, then we gauge our results by our symptoms and how we feel.

Where To Buy Lemon Balm Tincture

Iherb have a great range of lemon balm tinctures and supplements such as this alcohol free lemon balm extract.

Amazon also have a great variety of Lemon Balm tinctures both with alcohol as well as alcohol free varieties.

In recent years we’ve been able to just jump online and buy a tincture (or anything else we’ve wanted really), however in our current uncertain world, there may be a period of time where this might not be an option, and so if we can grow these amazing herbs, and make our own tinctures and medicines, then at least we know we have them when needed.

It’s also so much more cost effective and you know exactly what you’re taking. Making your own tinctures is so easy. Why not give it a go?

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