Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has a long history of traditional use as a calming herb, often employed to ease anxiety, promote relaxation, and improve mood. These effects are connected to the broader concept of supporting the body's emotional balance, which is sometimes colloquially linked to the "serotonin system" due to serotonin's role as a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation. Traditional Western herbal medicine and folk remedies have used lemon balm to help with nervousness, restlessness, and mild insomnia, suggesting an indirect association with mood enhancement.

Scientific studies on lemon balm's direct effects on serotonin levels or the serotonin system are limited. Some preclinical research suggests that certain compounds in lemon balm, such as rosmarinic acid, may interact with neurotransmitter systems, including GABA and potentially serotonin receptors, but the evidence is preliminary and mostly based on animal or in vitro studies. Clinical trials in humans have mainly focused on lemon balm's anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) and sedative effects, not specifically its impact on serotonin. Therefore, while lemon balm is traditionally used for emotional and mood support, direct scientific validation for its use in targeting the serotonin system specifically is lacking. The evidence rating reflects the strong traditional basis but weak direct scientific support for effects on serotonin.

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