Welcome to Herb News.  
   
Herb Links  
 
Crop Cri Page 
Cert in Herbs 

Medicinal Herbs Rose Prunning Tips

Rose Resources

Magic Fairy Trees
 

 

 

Herb of the week

By Lynn Kirkland


Visit the herb
Farm

 

Herb of the Week for 24th August by Lynn Kirkland

Calming Lemon Balm

Melissa officinalis is the botanical name of this lemon scented member of the mint family.
Lemon balm does not disappear completely during its dormant phase and already the new growth is appearing inviting you to make it into a refreshing cup of tea. It is a balm to mind, body and spirit. When taken as a tea it it helps bring about a more positive feeling.
Of course you can use lemon balm tea bags however if you have the herb growing why not make it with fresh leaves.
Pick about three to five leaves per cup and pour a cup of boiling water over and cover the cup or pot they are in. Leave to infuse for five to ten minutes and add honey if you want to sweeten the tea. This delicious tea will make you feel refreshed and if drunk at night will encourage a deep and relaxing sleep.

Apiarists used to plant lemon balm around the hives and rubbed the inside of the hives with crushed leaves. This was to encourage the bees to return to the hive. In fact the Greek word for bee is Melissa so this seems to be the reason for the botanical name for lemon balm.
When you see officinalis as part of a herb name it means that it has been recognised as having medicinal properties.
It is a prolific grower however if it is getting out of hand in a small area it does pull out easily. We love its generous growth habit and make a tincture of lemon balm when it is at its most perfect. This is added with two other relaxing herb tinctures, lavender and hops to a bath blend we make. We add beautiful relaxing essential oils to make a blend which ensures total relaxation and encourages a deep and blissful sleep.

 

Thanks lynn another great read.

Visit The HerbFarm Website:

  
Eplants Weekly What to do Pages
 


The Herbfarm Contacts

Tel:     06 326 8633

Fax:    06 326 9650

Email:    

Website:




Eplants NZ's Plant Portal

New Events Calendar



i

Wally Richards Plant Guru

Touchwood Books for everything todo with plants

Weekly Herb Notes

Aug 4 Cowslips, primulas and primroses

Aug 12 Thyme's

Aug 25 Alexanders

Sept 1 Woodland Magic

Sept 8th Pretty Periwinkle

Sept 15th A bath of Herbs

Sept 22nd Florentine Iris

Oct 1th St Francis

Oct 6th The Witching Herb

Oct 20th Summer sunflowers

Oct 27th Fairy Magic

Take Time to Smell the Roses Nov4th

Elven Field Trip Nov 10th

Myrtle Nov 17

Feathered Friends of the Garden Nov24th

Hedges and Edges Dec1

Chamomile Calm Dec15th

A Herbal Posie For Mary Dec 22

New Life Dec 29th

Nz Tea Tree Jan 12 2007

Colour in the Garden Jan26th 2007

Excellent Echinacea Feb 9 2007

Salute To Robert Feb 16 2007

The Fallacy about Fennel Feb24 07

Herbalist Blooming In the Herb Garden March 2 2007

March 16 Garden of Tranquillity

March 23 Sunny Flower

March 30 Red Puppy Appeal

April 6 Lets hear it for Carob

April 12 Autumn Harvest

April 20 Back to Childhood

April 27 Plant Protection

May 4th 2007 Sensational Saffron

May11 2007 Floral Message of Love

May 18 2007 Lovely Lemon Verbena

June 8th Hello the Aloe

Saintly Gardener June 22

Blooming Lovely June 29

Frost, friend or Foes July6

Winter Tasks July13

July27 Hamilton gardens

Aug 3 Viola odorata

Aug 17 Eucalyptus

Aug 24 Lemon Balm

Aug 31 Fathers Day

Sep 7 Witch Hazel

Sept 14 Hearsease

Sept 21Springtime







Copyright Eplants Herbfarm