Last verified: 17 days ago
Lemon Balm Extract
Also known as: Melissa officinalis, Melissa extract, balm mint
Evidence under review. — Not yet rated
Herbal extract with early evidence for stress relief, mood support, and blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes.
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What it does
Lemon balm is an herb from the mint family (Melissa officinalis) traditionally used to ease stress and improve mood. Clinical trials suggest it may help restore calmness after mental strain,...
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Evidence quality
Evidence base hasn't been formally rated yet. See research below.
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Clinical dose
300-700 mg daily based on study doses
What the Science Says
Lemon balm is an herb from the mint family (Melissa officinalis) traditionally used to ease stress and improve mood. Clinical trials suggest it may help restore calmness after mental strain, support executive function under cognitive load, and modestly improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. Most human studies are small and short-term, so benefits are promising but not yet firmly established.
What It Doesn't Do
Not proven to cure anxiety or replace anxiety medication. No solid human evidence it burns fat or treats obesity — the one mouse study on weight loss was retracted. Won't fix delirium on its own — the ICU study combined it with a prescription drug. No proven benefit for healthy people's blood sugar. Animal studies on testicular protection and asthma don't translate directly to humans.
Evidence-Based Benefits
Helps restore feelings of calm after mentally demanding tasks in healthy stressed adults.
Weak EvidenceEffective at: 300 mg acute dose
Supporting studies (click to view on PubMed):
May improve fasting blood sugar and HbA1c in people with type 2 diabetes over 12 weeks.
Weak EvidenceEffective at: 700 mg/day (1400 mg total split into two doses)
Supporting studies (click to view on PubMed):
May improve performance on difficult attention and executive function tasks under cognitive load.
Weak EvidenceEffective at: 300 mg acute dose
Supporting studies (click to view on PubMed):
When added to standard care, may reduce agitation in critically ill patients with delirium.
Weak EvidenceEffective at: Combined with valerian in syrup form, 5 mL every 12 hours
Supporting studies (click to view on PubMed):
Absorption & Bioavailability
Unknown — rosmarinic acid (a key active compound) appears to be absorbed based on pilot data, but formal human pharmacokinetic studies for the extract itself are lacking in the provided papers.
Red Flags to Watch For
- One key obesity/insulin study (PMID 32549364) was RETRACTED — do not trust weight-loss claims based on it
- Most human trials are small (under 110 participants) and short-term; long-term safety in humans is not well established
- Many products combine lemon balm with other herbs (valerian, quetiapine), making it hard to isolate its effects
- Standardization varies widely between products — the active compound content may differ significantly from what was studied
Products Containing Lemon Balm Extract
See how Lemon Balm Extract is used in these analyzed products:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lemon Balm Extract do?
Herbal extract with early evidence for stress relief, mood support, and blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes.
What is the effective dose of Lemon Balm Extract?
300-700 mg daily based on study doses
Is Lemon Balm Extract safe?
One key obesity/insulin study (PMID 32549364) was RETRACTED — do not trust weight-loss claims based on it
What doesn't Lemon Balm Extract do?
Not proven to cure anxiety or replace anxiety medication.
Research Sources
- PubMed
- NIH DSLD
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen. Last updated: 2026-05-25