Antispasmodic, calmative, carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue,
stomachic, febrifuge, sedative, antidepressant, nervine
Volatile oil (including citronellal), polyphenols, tannins, bitter
principle, flavonoids, rosmarinic acid
Balm is a remedy for common female complaints and is useful for all sorts
of nervous problems, hysteria, melancholy, and insomnia. Use balm tea to
relieve cramps, dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, liver, spleen, bladder
troubles, chronic bronchial catarrh, and some forms of asthma. Try it also
for migraine and toothache, and, during pregnancy, for headaches, tension,
and dizziness. The warm infusion has diaphoretic effects. An infusion of the
leaves added to bath water is also said to promote the onset of
menstruation. It is a cooling drink for feverish colds fever, and flu. Use
the crushed leaves as a poultice for sores, tumors, swellings, milk-knots,
and insect bites. Balm promotes sweating, and is a valuable stand-by when
fever is present. Balm is also used in herb pillows because of its agreeable
odor. Experimentally, hot-water extracts have been shown strongly antiviral
for Newcastle disease, herpes, mumps; also antibacterial, antihistaminic,
antispasmodic, and anti-oxidant.
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Balm
