Lemon Balm Essay examples

Lemon Balm Report
History:
Lemon balm is a lemon scented herb of the mint family. Lemon Balm dates its history back to the Mediterranean region where it has been growing for more than 2,000 years. Its genus name of Melissa is derived from the Greek word for bee. This is appropriate because the ancient Greek author Pliny the Elder and botanist/herbalist John Gerard both observed that lemon balm is useful in attracting and keeping bees. The ancient beekeepers used the crushed leaves of the plant as a rub on beehives to encourage the domesticated bees to return to their hives and the belief was that these bees would bring other bees along with them when they returned. Throughout history, they also became well aware of the plant’s healing and restorative powers. It has been used to reduce fevers, induce sweating, calm the digestive tract, treat colds, and relieve spasms related to cramps and headaches. Ancient Greek physician, pharmacologist Dioscorides used the leaves steeped in wine to treat snake bites and scorpion stings. The use and popularity of lemon balm continued through the years. Its reputation for promoting longevity and dispersing melancholy was so widespread that by the 17th Century, French Carmelite nuns were dispensing Carmelite Water (lemon-balm infused “miracle water”) because it was thought to improve memory and vision and reduce rheumatic pain, fever, melancholy and congestion. it was later brought to Great Britain by the Romans. In medieval Europe, the tea was valued for disorders of the nervous system. It has long been a popular folk remedy for insomnia. Colonists later brought it North America because they came to rely on it for teas and flavoring. Thomas Jefferson even had a garden that was filled with lemon balm. By this point lemon balm was a well-known herb important to both culinary and herbal medicinal usage.

Growing & Harvesting:
The lemon balm is originally a native plant seen in the Mediterranean area, but due to transplantation for horticulture, the lemon balm is now found around the world and grows successfully in many places. The plant grows best in a soil with a pH range from 4.5 to 7.6 (slightly acidic or slightly alkaline), are humus rich, moist and well-drained. Plant lemon balm seeds either indoors about eight to ten weeks before the last spring frost date in that area and then once the danger of the frost has passed transplant the seedlings outside or another method is to plant the seeds outdoors in the late fall season, these will then lie dormant through the winter until they germinate in the spring. If using the second method be sure to mulch the soil well to ensure maximum protection from the cold during the winter months. Lemon Balm prefers full exposure to sunlight, but it can also grow fine in semi-shaded areas. If growing only indoors and they may require at least five hours of direct sunlight a day or fourteen to sixteen hours of artificial light depending on other conditions. To maximize growth of the plant, plant it eighteen to twenty-four inches apart and only plant a depth not exceeding a fourth of an inched into the soil. Once germinated, the seedlings generally appear in about eight to ten days. One must de-weed regularly the soil that which the lemon balm is planted and also take care when de-weeding because the roots are very shallow. Once established lemon balm self-sows freely and will spread if unchecked. Lemon balm is susceptible to be attacked by many pests and late in the growing season is it also rather susceptible to infection from the powdery mildew. Harvesting is best done by cutting the leaves early in the morning following the evaporation of the dew on the leaves. Due to the tender nature of the leaves, the fresh leaves must be handled carefully to avoid bruising and discoloration. The best lemon balm leaves are the ones that grow early in the season because the fragrance may deteriorate as the leaves age and they can often taste rather stale and

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