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The health benefits of Melissa Essential Oil can be attributed to its properties like anti depressant, cordial, nervine, emenagogue, sedative, anti spasmodic, stomachic, anti bacterial, carminative, diaphoretic, febrifuge, hypotensive, sudorific and tonic.
It is not in vein that this essential oil earned reputations by then names of Sweet Oil and Common Oil. It is because of the fact that this oil is extensively used in nearly all sorts of balms due to its soothing properties and has a sweet, pleasing aroma.
This oil is extracted by steam distillation of fresh buds, leaves and twigs of Melissa or Melissa Officinalis, as it is scientifically known. Trans Ocimene, Citronellal, Caryophyllene, Germacrene, Geranial, Geranyl Acetate, Cis Ocimene, Octanone, Linalool, Beta Bourbonene, Methyl Hepenone, Cis Hexenol, Octanol, Octenol, Copaene, Alpha Humulene, Neral, Delta Cadinene, Gamma Cadinene, Nerol and Geraniol are the chief components of Essential Oil of Melissa. Melissa Oil is also known as Lemon Balm.
It is a plant of the Mediterranean Region and has been popular as Bee Plant, the reason being obvious. But it is not the sole cause of popularity of this plant. It is famous particularly for its soothing, memory boosting and anti depressant powers, among others whose glimpses are given below.
- Anti Depressant: This property is one of the four aces of the medicinal properties of this oil. It is an effective mood lifter and anti depressant. It has been found to drive away sadness and bring joy and hope. That is why it was called “Elixir of Life” or “Nectar of Life”, way back in Fifteenth Century.
- Cordial: This means that it invokes warm feelings and gives warmth to the respiratory system and the cardio-vascular system. One can avoid frequent colds with the help of this property.
- Nervine: It is a Nervine. This means that it serves as a tonic for the nervous systems, keeping it healthy, functioning properly and strong and helps avoid nervous disorders. Problems like vertigo, nervousness, convulsions etc. can be treated using this property of Melissa Essential Oil.
- Emenagogue: Many problems related to menstruation and Post Menstrual Syndrome can be treated with the help of Melissa Oil. These include problem of obstructed menses, irregular menses, pain and extreme fatigue during periods and others such as untimely menopause, annoyance and depression after menopause etc.
- Sedative: This essential oil sedates and soothes. It is good on calming inflammations, anxiety, nervousness, trauma and shock. It also promotes sleep due to this property. It relaxes body, mind and soul and brings peace. Once upon a time, it was used to help soldiers relax and drive away tiredness.
- Anti Spasmodic: An unreasonable and excessive contraction in the body is called Spasm. Spasm can be of respiratory system, muscular system, nervous system and digestive system and may give severe coughs, muscular cramps, convulsions, breathlessness and severe abdominal pains respectively. Spasm should not be taken lightly since in extreme cases it may be lethal. The essential oil of Melissa, being an effective sedative and relaxant, can give fast relief from spasm.
- Stomachic: One that soothes stomach; tones it up and strengthens it; is called a stomachic. Melissa Oil, being a stomachic, helps in the smooth functioning of stomach. It helps heal the wounds, scratches or ulcers in the stomach, maintains proper flow of gastric juices and bile into the stomach and also protects it from infections.
- Anti Bacterial: Melissa Oil has anti bacterial properties and found effective in inhibiting bacterial infections in the colon, intestines, urinary tract and kidneys.
- Carminative: Gases, building up in the intestines, are forced out by this oil. It is very effective in expelling gases by reducing the tension in the abdominal muscles.
- Diaphoretic & Sudorific: Both the words Diaphoretic and Sudorific mean the same. That is, an agent that promotes sweating or perspiration. Melissa Oil has these properties. These properties are of great benefit to health since with the sweat, a lot of toxins are removed and the pores on skin are cleaned so that some harmful gases like Nitrogen (not all gases are formed in the stomach) may escape. This is called breathing of skin. Perspiration also cools you down.
- Febrifuge: Being an anti bacterial it fights the bacterial or microbial infections in the body, including those causing fever. Again, since it has sudorific properties, it helps reduce body temperature and removal of toxins produced during fever, through sweat.
- Hypotensive: This is something which may be of immense benefits for hypertensive people who run the risk of heart attack or brain haemorrhage whenever pressure goes up. Melissa Oil, being hypotensive, brings down the blood pressure.
- Tonic: A tonic is meant for all round benefits for the health. A tonic keeps everything in order, all the systems functioning properly, boosts immunity and gives strength. Melissa Oil has certain components in it which do exactly this.
- Other Benefits: This oil is also found effective in treatment of Herpes, sores, ulcers, fungal infections, headaches, fatigue etc. It also boosts memory.
Few Words of Caution: It is Non-toxic but may cause irritations or sensations to sensitive people. So, pregnant women and those who have sensitive skin should avoid using it.
Blending: This oil makes fine blends with Basil, Frankincense, Geranium, Camomile, Rose, Lavender and Ylang-Ylang
This article was contributed by Aparup Mukherjee
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