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Herb of the Month Focus

Blogs by karen dragoo​

Bee Balm - Monarda

1/14/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
If you're looking for a plant that you can grow even if you have a 'black thumb' (like me), Bee Balm makes a great choice.  This hardy perennial will attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, yet may repel deer.  (Hmm, I wonder if it would keep critters from feasting on your vegetable garden if it  were planted around the perimeter.)  More importantly, Bee Balm features some great therapeutic benefits which can be accessed year round using the leaves and/or flowers.

Like Oregano and Thyme, Bee Balm has a significant amount of a chemical called Thymol.  This constituent gives it a spicy-hot taste.  (I picked a leaf off my plant last summer and chewed on it - my mouth was burning, then went a little bit numb.)  It's aroma is lemony-mint which is not a surprise since it's a member of the mint family.  The flowers come in different colors - red, purple, white, and pink.  In the pictures above and below, you can see my Bee Balm is purple.  My one mistake in planting was that I put it too close to my Lemon Balm.  (They started as such little plants!)  If you decide to plant Bee Balm, you need to leave about 2 - 4 feet of space on each side. The picture below shows my Bee Balm and Lemon Balm.  I planted them about 18 inches apart in 2019 with the Bee Balm on the left of the Lemon Balm.  The Bee Balm grew towards and behind the Lemon Balm, and the Lemon Balm just grew in every direction.  Both plants still look happy and healthy, but I'll try to move them this Spring.
Picture
Picture
     





​Left:  What my Bee Balm looked like a couple of weeks ago.  Zone 8b, North Central Texas.  The leaves have now dried up.  We have mild winters here, and I let the flowers go to seed in the hopes I'll get more plants.  Come Spring, I'll try my hand at dividing the roots and planting in other areas too. 

So, what's so great about this plant?
It's analgesic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anxiolytic, decongestant, digestive, hypotensive, a relaxing nervine, tonic, and vulnerary.  Energetically, it's warming, drying, and diffusive.  

If you have a minor infection on the skin, in the mouth or throat, or a yeast infection, The thymol and carvacrol in Bee Balm may help clear it up.  (Remember, more serious infections need a doctor's care.)  Both those constituents also provide relief from stings, skin conditions like eczema, burns, or wounds.  A spit poultice (made by chewing a leaf then applying it to the skin) is an easy way to soothe bites, scrapes, or minor wounds while stopping bleeding and keeping bacteria at bay - especially if you're out camping and forgot to bring a first-aid kit.  Infusing the dried herb in a fixed oil, then making a salve with that oil is an easy way to keep such relief on hand.  

Did you ever get a toothache on a weekend when you can't see a dentist?  Lightly chewing a Bee Balm Leaf then applying it to the gums around the irritated tooth is a natural way to minimize the pain until you can get in to see the dentist.  If you only have dried herb, you could  steep a teaspoon of leaves in boiling water for 5 - 15 minutes, allow to cool, then use it as a mouth rinse.  (You might also include oregano and cloves when making the tea/mouthwash.)

Colds, flu, stuffy sinuses?  Make a tea with the herb.  You can use it as a steam to inhale and drink the tea to open up your airways.  The tea can help dry out congested mucus membranes and reduce inflammation in your nasal passages.

Drinking Bee Balm tea before bed may help you relax, destress, and fall asleep naturally.  The tea is also good when you have an upset stomach because it calms gas, bloating, indigestion, and nausea.    

Finally, as a diffusive, Bee Balm will warm you up.  Those with chronically cold hands and feet can drink the tea or add the fresh herb to their food for flavor.  They will soon discover that it spreads the warmth from the core of the body outward to the extremities.  

The main caution with Bee Balm is for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding because it is an emmenagogue and can cause contractions, they should avoid this herb.  Do not use Bee Balm if you are allergic to it.

​​Sources:
Texts:
  1. Apelian, Nicole Ph.D, & Davis, Claude, The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies:  The Healing Power of Plant Medicine,  © 2020, page 161
  2. Chevallier, Andrew, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, Dorling Kindersley, (c) 2000, page 235
  3. de la Forêt, Rosalee, Taste of Herbs:  The Complete Exercise Collection, LearningHerbs LLC, Shelton, WA;  © 2018, pp. 30 - 32
  4. Hutchens, Alma R., Indian Herbology of North America: The Definitive Guide to Native Medicinal Plants and Their Uses, Shambhala Publications, Boulder, Colorado, (c) 1973, page 203
  5. Moerman, Daniel E, Native American Medicinal Plants: An Ethnobotanical Dictionary, Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, (c) 2009, pages 312 - 314
  6. Physician's Desk Reference, PDR for Herbal Medicines:  Third Edition, Thomson, (c) 2004, pages 448 - 449
  7. Upton, Roy et. al., Botanical Safety Handbook, Second Edition, CRC Press, (c) 2013, pages xxii - xxiii, 1035, 564 – 565
  8. Wood, Matthew, The Earthwise Herbal Volume II: A Complete Guide to New World Medicinal Plants, North Atalantic Books, Berkeley, California, © 2009, pp. 240 – 242
Online:
  1. Aromahead Institute Component Database, Thymol, Aromahead LLC, © 2021, https://components.aromahead.com/oil-components/view/51/, Accessed January 5, 2021
  2. Ayushology Healthy Life Sciences, Health Benefits of Bee Balm, Ayushology.com, © December 15, 2017, https://ayushology.com/health-benefits-of-herbs/health-benefits-of-bee-balm/, Accessed January 5, 2021
  3. Dalziel, Chris J., The DIY Herb of the Month Club: Bee Balm Monarda didyma, M. fistulosa, Thediyherbal.com, Bee_Balm_final-1.pdf (thediyherbal.com), Accessed January 5, 2021
  4. De La Chapa, Jorge J., Prajjal Kanti Singha, Debbie R. Lee, and Cara B. Gonzales. “Thymol Inhibits Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Growth via Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptosis.” Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine: Official Publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology 47, no. 7 (August 2018): 674–82. https://doi.org/10.1111/jop.12735. ↵
  5. Chauhan, Meenakshi, Dr., What are the Medicinal Properties of Bee Balm (Monarda)?, Planet Ayurveda Holistic Healing through Herbs, Last updated October 22, 2020, What are the Medicinal Properties of Bee Balm (Monarda)? (planetayurveda.com), Accessed January 5, 2021
  6. de la Forêt, Rosalee, Bee Balm Monograph; Herbmentor, 2019,   Bee Balm Monograph – HerbMentor (learningherbs.com), Accessed January 4, 2021
  7. Idajili, Anibe, Bee Balm:  Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects, Be Fantastico.com, March 20, 2019, © 2020, Bee Balm: Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects | BeFantastico, Accessed January 5, 2021
  8. Old Farmer’s Almanac, The, How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Bee Balm, Yankee Publishing Inc,  © 2021, https://www.almanac.com/plant/bee-balm, Accessed January 5, 2021
  9. White Rabbit Healing Academy, Bergamot/Bee Balm Fact Sheet,  White Rabbit Institute of Healing, 2017, WhiteRabbitInstituteOfHealing_Herb-Bergamot-Bee-Balm-FREE.pdf,  Accessed January 4, 2021
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  • Home & Store
  • About
    • The Owner
    • About Aromatherapy
  • Guidelines
  • Contact
  • Essential Oil Safety
  • Old Rooster Creek Flea Market
  • Herb of the Month Focus
  • Essential Oil of the Month Focus
  • Carrier Oil of the Month
  • Karen's BLog
  • Monthly Tidbit
  • Recommendations
  • Members Pages
    • Herbal Data Sheets >
      • Angelica
      • Arnica
      • Astragalus
      • Balm of Gilead
      • Bee Balm
      • Burdock
      • Butterfly Weed
      • Calendula
      • Cardamom
      • Chamomile
      • Chickweed
      • Cinnamon
      • Comfrey
      • Cranberry
      • Dandelion
      • Elder Berries & Flowers
      • Elecampane
      • Ginger Root
      • Goldenrod
      • Goldenseal
      • Hibiscus
      • Hops
      • Lavender
      • Lemon Balm
      • Licorice Root
      • Marshmallow Root
      • Mullein
      • Oregon Grape - Mahonia
      • Peppermint
      • Plantain
      • Red Clover
      • Rose
      • Sassafras
      • Sow Thistle
      • Turmeric
    • Essential Oil Datasheets >
      • Allspice
      • Angelica
      • Balsam Copaiba
      • Balsam Poplar/Balm of Gilead
      • Basil, Sweet
      • Basil, Tulsi
      • Cardamom
      • Chamomile, German
      • Chamomile, Roman
      • Elemi
      • Frankincense
      • Galangal
      • Geranium
      • Ginger
      • Helichrysum italicum
      • Hemp
      • Lavender
      • Lemon
      • Orange (Sweet)
      • Plai
      • Ravintsara
      • Rose Absolute
      • Sage (Salvia officinalis)
      • Thyme
      • Vetiver
      • Ylang Ylang
    • Carrier Oils & Butters Datasheets >
      • Andiroba Oil
      • Argan Oil
      • Black Currant Seed Oil
      • Black Seed (Nigella)
      • Borage Oil
      • Castor Oil
      • Cocoa Butter
      • Coconut Oil
      • Evening Primrose Oil
      • Grapeseed
      • Hemp Seed Oil
      • Jojoba
      • Macademia Nut
      • Mango Butter
      • Neem Oil
      • Pumpkin Seed Oil
      • Sacha Inchi
      • Safflower Oil
      • Sea Buckthorn Oil
      • Shea Butter
      • Tamanu
    • Component Datasheets >
      • EO Chemical Constituents >
        • (E)-Anethole
        • Caryophyllene (beta)
        • 1,8-Cineole
        • Humulene - alpha
        • Linalool
        • β-Myrcene
      • Herb Constituents >
        • L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
        • Carotene (Beta)
        • Retinol (Vitamin A)
        • Alpha-Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
        • Gamma-Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
        • Saponins
      • Fatty Acid Profiles >
        • Linoleic Acid
        • Alpha-Linolenic Acid
        • Oleic Acid
        • Palmitic Acid
        • Stearic Acid
    • Energetics Charts
    • Topical Recipes >
      • E3 TKO Alt with Beta-Caryophyllene
      • AASK Skin Serum & Soap
      • Comfeet
    • Edible Recipes
    • EO Safety in depth >
      • Children
      • Dilution Rates
      • Oils that may set off seizures
      • Phototoxicity
      • Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
  • Stitchhouse Powerpoints
    • Floriani Software Lessons