Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly in Europe and the Middle East. It has been valued for its calming, antispasmodic, and mild analgesic properties, and is often recommended in folk medicine for headaches, including migraines. Historical texts and traditional herbalists sometimes suggest lemon balm as a remedy for nervous tension and stress-related headaches, which may overlap with migraine symptoms.

However, there is very limited direct scientific evidence supporting lemon balm’s efficacy specifically for migraine treatment or prevention. Most modern research on lemon balm focuses on its anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), sedative, and mild cognitive-enhancing effects, rather than migraine-specific outcomes. While some of these properties (such as stress reduction and muscle relaxation) could theoretically benefit migraine sufferers, clinical trials directly examining lemon balm for migraine are lacking.

In summary, the use of lemon balm for migraines is primarily supported by traditional usage and anecdotal reports. The scientific evidence base is currently insufficient to make strong recommendations for its use in migraine management.

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