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Botanical & herbal supplements

Lemon Balm

Melissa officinalis leaf extract

Lemon Balm is Melissa officinalis leaf extract. Small human studies of specified extracts report acute calm or stress-task signals, but the findings should not be generalized to tea, bulk powder, or every branded extract. Compare the labeled extract, serving size, and marker disclosure before comparing offers.

CalmRelaxationSleep SupportStress ResilienceWhole HerbStandardized ExtractFull Spectrum Extract
Updated August 2026/5 min read/11 citations
Reviewed by the NootropicsIndex editorial team.Method: prioritize cited human research and official safety or regulatory sources; compare retailer-listed prices without endorsing products.Affiliate disclosure
01

What is it?

What lemon balm is

1

Lemon Balm is Melissa officinalis leaf, usually sold as extract powder, tablets, or branded extract. The current rows are extract-focused rather than dried tea-leaf listings, so dose, extraction ratio, and brand standardization matter.

Evidence fit

2

The best fit is calm, relaxation and stress-task response. Small human studies also measured cognitive tasks, but the page should not imply a broad focus stimulant. Form, dose and setting are central to interpreting the evidence.

Bottom line2
Lemon Balm belongs in Supplements v2 as a calming botanical with small human studies and many extract-form caveats. It is most useful to compare by form, dose and sedation fit, not as a broad nootropic enhancer.
02

Names, aliases and forms

Common NamesLemon Balm; Melissa; Common balm; Sweet balm
Scientific NameMelissa officinalis
Plant PartLeaf
Brand NameCyracos
Standardized Extract10:1 water ethanol extract
Active ConstituentRosmarinic acid
03

Mechanisms of action

Rosmarinic acid is a marker, not proof of effect

8

Melissa officinalis extracts can contain rosmarinic acid and other constituents. Marker information can help compare products, but human outcomes should be interpreted from the specific preparation studied.

04

Potential effects and evidence map

Small human trials of specified Melissa officinalis extracts report acute changes in calmness or stress-task response. A systematic review found the clinical evidence mixed and heterogeneous. These findings do not establish an interchangeable effect across tea, bulk powder, food matrices, or branded extracts.

Effect domainMagnitudeGrade
Calm / relaxation2
AcuteConfidence: Medium

Lemon balm has small human studies supporting same-day calm or relaxation signals, especially in stress-task contexts.

Note This is the clearest Supplements v2 use case.

3/5
B
Stress resilience2
AcuteConfidence: Medium

Lemon-balm-containing products have limited human evidence for stress-task response, but effects are product and dose dependent.

Note Food-matrix and extract results should not be assumed identical.

2/5
B
Sleep quality3
CumulativeConfidence: Low

A pilot extract study supports cautious sleep-related interest, but the evidence base is not broad enough for a universal sleep claim.

Note Open-label 15-day Cyracos pilot in 20 symptomatic volunteers; not a general sleep finding.

2/5
C
Mood / wellbeing1
AcuteConfidence: Medium

Acute Melissa officinalis research found mood changes, but product-specific extract chemistry and dose matter.

Note Mood support should be framed as limited and calming, not energizing.

2/5
C
Focus / attention1
AcuteConfidence: Low

Small acute trials reported dose-specific cognitive-task findings, but results were mixed and should not be generalized across preparations.

Note Do not present lemon balm as a stimulant or a reliable focus supplement.

1/5
C
05

Typical dosages and timing

Typical
300-600 mg/dose
Not a recommendation
Lower bound
300 mg/dose
Profile value
Upper bound
600 mg/dose
Profile value
Single-dose research6300-600 mg/dose

Small acute trials evaluated 300 mg and 600 mg single doses of specified Melissa officinalis extracts; one study also included 900 mg. This is research context, not a conversion for tea, bulk powder, or unrelated standardized extracts.

06

Timing & effect horizon

Effect horizonAcute
Acute
07

Safety, side effects and risk profile

EMA preparation-specific cautions9
For medicinal leaf preparations covered by its monograph, EMA says use is not recommended below age 12 because data are insufficient and that driving or machinery capability may be impaired. This does not establish an identical effect for every marketplace extract.
Sedation / impairment6
Confidence: Medium

In one acute standardized-extract trial, 600 mg was associated with lower self-rated alertness than placebo; this may matter for alertness-sensitive tasks.

Note Evidence is from a specified acute extract trial, not every lemon balm product.

2/5
C
GI discomfort11
Confidence: Medium

An NLM LactMed summary reports occasional nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain in adults.

Note Reported effects are generally mild and preparation-specific; trial reporting is limited.

1/5
C
Headache / dizziness10
Confidence: Medium

Headache or dizziness has been reported occasionally in small trials and NLM summaries.

Note Reported effects were generally mild and may occur at similar frequency to placebo in small studies.

1/5
C
Pregnancy / lactation caution9
Confidence: Medium

Safety during pregnancy and lactation has not been established for the medicinal preparations assessed by EMA.

Note This is a special-population evidence gap, not evidence of a specific adverse effect or healthy-adult base risk.

2/5
E
Evidence uncertainty8
Confidence: High

Human evidence is preparation-specific, so results from specified extracts or food matrices do not establish the same result for bulk powders, tea, or other extracts.

Note Preparation heterogeneity is the main interpretation limitation for shoppers.

2/5
C
Legal / regulatory risk5
Confidence: High

In the United States, dietary supplements generally enter the market without FDA premarket approval for safety or effectiveness.

Note This U.S. regulatory context does not establish product quality or clinical effectiveness.

1/5
C
2004 extract trial6lower alertness at 600 mg

A small acute trial of a standardized extract reported lower self-rated alertness at 600 mg. This result is dose- and preparation-specific.

NLM summary10headache / dizziness / bloating

In small trials, NLM LiverTox reports that extracts were generally well tolerated, with occasional headache, dizziness, or bloating often reported at similar frequency to placebo.

08

Interactions and cautions

Evidence gap9

The EMA monograph reports that interaction data are unavailable for the assessed medicinal preparations. This page does not infer specific medicine or alcohol interactions from that gap.

09

Legal and regulatory status

Status5

United States context (as of 2026): FDA does not approve dietary supplements for safety or effectiveness before marketing. This is a regulatory framework statement, not a finding about the quality or effectiveness of a specific lemon balm product.

10

How it compares

Form comparison1

Compare product form, serving size, extraction ratio, and marker disclosure before comparing price. Cyracos, 10:1 tablets, and bulk extract powders are not automatically equivalent.

11

Practical buying and quality notes

  • Compare the labeled form, serving size, extraction ratio, marker disclosure, pack size, and current price. Do not treat mixed-form offer rows as a universal best-price ranking.
12

FAQ

What lemon balm dose has been studied?

6

Small acute trials used 300 mg and 600 mg single doses of specified extracts; another trial also included 900 mg. These study doses are not interchangeable with tea, bulk powder, or unrelated standardized extracts.

How long does lemon balm last or should it be cycled?

3

Current sources do not establish a general effect duration or cycling schedule. A 15-day open-label Cyracos study is a study window, not a recommended cycle or a general duration claim.

13

References

  1. Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Tildesley NT, Perry EK, Wesnes KA. Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of Melissa officinalis (lemon balm). Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2002;72:953-964.
  2. Scholey A, Gibbs A, Neale C, et al. Anti-stress effects of lemon balm-containing foods. Nutrients. 2014;6:4805-4821.
  3. Cases J, Ibarra A, Feuillere N, Roller M, Sukkar SG. Pilot trial of Melissa officinalis L. leaf extract in the treatment of volunteers suffering from mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders and sleep disturbances. Med J Nutrition Metab. 2011;4:211-218.
  4. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 5281792, Rosmarinic acid.
  5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA 101: Dietary Supplements. Accessed 2026.
  6. Kennedy DO, Little W, Scholey AB. Attenuation of laboratory-induced stress in humans after acute administration of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm). Psychosom Med. 2004;66:607-613.
  7. Noguchi-Shinohara M, Ono K, Hamaguchi T, et al. Pharmacokinetics, Safety and Tolerability of Melissa officinalis Extract which Contained Rosmarinic Acid in Healthy Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial. PLoS One. 2015;10:e0126422.
  8. Ghazizadeh J, Sadigh-Eteghad S, Marx W, et al. The effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) on depression and anxiety in clinical trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytother Res. 2021;35:6690-6705.
  9. European Medicines Agency. Melissae folium (Melissa officinalis L., folium): European Union herbal monograph and assessment materials.
  10. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Lemon Balm. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Updated 2024.
  11. National Library of Medicine. Lemon Balm. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). Updated 2026.
Note

This page is informational and summarizes available evidence. It is not medical advice, a recommendation, or a substitute for guidance from a qualified clinician.