Lemon balm is a plant that grows rather freely and for some is considered a nuisance. What some don’t realize is that lemon balm has many benefits from being good for sleep and relaxation to helping digestion and even easing headaches and other pains. Making a lemon balm tincture is a great way to utilize its amazing benefits while also using up the herbal bounty in your backyard!
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Benefits of Lemon Balm
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a highly medicinal plant with many benefits for our health and garden.
It is a mint family herb with a distinct and highly aromatic lemony scent that can easily be grown or foraged in many areas.
Due to its volatile oils and antispasmodic properties, lemon balm is calming for the nervous and digestive systems. It is also an effective herb for depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia.
Lemon balm is also a powerful antiviral that is commonly used to relieve cold sores! I have a recipe in my book Healing Herbal Infusions for a Lemon Balm Lip Balm that is excellent for use on cold sores.
Lemon balm is safe and highly regarded for children, and is often used to calm a sleepless or hyperactive child.
Lemon Balm Tincture Recipe
Making an herbal tincture is an easy process. I prefer to use the folk method for making tinctures which makes it even easier!
The folk method means that there is no precise measuring involved. Basically you put your herb of choice in a jar, lemon balm in this case, cover it with a neutral spirit like vodka, and let it sit for several weeks to infuse.
While I often use dried herbs when making a tincture, lemon balm is great to use fresh. It has a lot of volatile oils and aromatics, so a fresh lemon balm preparation will be more potent. This is true when making teas and other infusions with lemon balm as well.
Roughly chop up a few handfuls of fresh lemon balm then put the chopped herb into a pint jar, filling it almost all the way and mashing it down a bit with your hand or a wooden spoon.
Then pour in 80 proof vodka to cover the lemon balm. You might have to push down the leaves a bit and some still may float, but that’s ok.
If you want to make an alcohol free tincture (great for children) use vegetable glycerine instead of vodka to make a glycerite.
Cover the jar with a lid and put it in a cool and dark place (a pantry works well). For the first few days check on it and give it a gentle shake.
Since we are using fresh herbs you don’t need to worry about the herbal material soaking up all the vodka, which can sometimes happen when using dried herbs.
Let the tincture infuse for at least 4 to 6 weeks, but it can go even longer than that, several months or more.
When you’re ready to use the tincture, use a fine mesh sieve lined with a few layers of cheesecloth to strain out the lemon balm. Use the cheesecloth to squeeze as much of the tincture out as possible.
Store the tincture in dropper bottles for easy use. It will keep for many years!
If you prefer to buy tinctures rather than make your own, I highly recommend Herb Pharm! They carry Lemon Balm Extract (which is alcohol based like this recipe), Alcohol Free Lemon Balm Glycerite, and Kids Lemon Balm Calm. Use this code for 15% off your order: COLLEEN15
Herb Pharm products can also be found on Amazon here.
How to Use Lemon Balm Tincture
Lemon balm tincture is perfect to use when you want to enjoy the benefits of lemon balm without having to make a cup of tea.
This tincture is great to have on hand for when you need it to promote sleep or to help you relax and unwind at the end of the day. It is also beneficial for reducing stress and anxiety and can calm an upset stomach. It has even been known to reduce the pain from headaches.
Start with taking one dropper full at a time to see how that works for you, then take a bit more if you feel you need it. Lemon balm is a very safe herb so you don’t need to worry about taking too much.
Lemon balm is such an amazing herb, I love teaching people about all she has to offer us!
If you have loads of lemon balm growing in your herb garden I definitely recommend making this tincture. I also have over 30 more lemon balm recipes here!
Lemon Balm Tincture
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh lemon balm roughly chopped
- 1 1/2 cups 80 proof vodka approximately
Instructions
- Roughly chop up a few handfuls of fresh lemon balm then put the chopped herb into a pint jar, filling it almost all the way and mashing it down a bit with your hand or a wooden spoon.
- Pour in the 80 proof vodka to cover the lemon balm. You might have to push down the leaves a bit and some still may float, but that’s ok.
- Cover the jar with a lid and put it in a cool and dark place (a pantry works well). For the first few days check on it and give it a gentle shake.
- Let the tincture infuse for at least 4 to 6 weeks, but it can go even longer than that, several months or more.
- When you’re ready to use the tincture, use a fine mesh sieve lined with a few layers of cheesecloth to strain out the lemon balm. Use the cheesecloth to squeeze as much of the tincture out as possible.
- Store the tincture in dropper bottles for easy use. It will keep for many years!
Hello,
My tincture has turned dark after 2 -1/2 yrs in the dropper bottle and the dropper inside is black also I really don’t smell alcohol now. Decided to pour it out thinking the alcohol evaporated and not safe to use now? Hoping to get your imput please.
It sounds like you made the right call by throwing it out! After 2½ years, especially if the color has darkened and the dropper has turned black, it’s likely that oxidation has occurred. And if it no longer smells like alcohol it may have evaporated, meaning the tincture may have lost its preservative properties and could potentially become full of bacteria. It’s always a good rule of thumb to toss out tinctures after a year or two, or when they change color and smell.
This is what happened to mine. I started it 4 weeks ago but it is very dark brown and doesn’t smell good. What did I do wrong?
It sounds like oxidation. Were the leaves completely submerged under the alcohol?
Would it be best to use a glass canning weight to make sure the lemon balm is constantly fully submerged?
I haven’t tried, but you could try it!
Hi! Can’t wait to try this with purple dead nettle ! First timer here! Is ever clear too strong? 190 proof? I saw the recipe called for only 80 proof. Do I need to adjust the amounts of creating tincture / dosage later?
You can use any proof above 80 for tinctures, but it’ll be more potent. I suggest starting with half a dose and see how you feel.
I only use organic vodkas. That’s because that’s how I’ve chosen to eat all my adult and parenting time.
Hi there , I have just started to infuse my lemonbalm with the vodka, the top layer part of the lemonbalm leaves have turned dark brown/black, while the lower leaves are still green. Its been 3 days and im wondering if I’ve buggered it up somehow or if it’s still good to continue steeping. Thanks
Hi Kelly. The leaves need to be completely submerged under the vodka otherwise they’ll become oxidized and will spoil your tincture.
Not sure if the question was asked or not. But wondering how late in the season can you harvest? I’m in zone 5. Its now September, And my balm has started to kind of purple on the leaves. Will they still work or do they need ti ve nice and green?
Hi Krista. The leaves are most potent when they fresh and young.
Are the roots also good to use?
Hi Judy. Good question. I just looked into it and couldn’t find any medicinal uses for the roots.
Just an FYI:
Thyroid disease: Don’t use lemon balm. There is a concern that lemon balm may change thyroid function, reduce thyroid hormone levels, and interfere with thyroid hormone-replacement therapy.
I appreciate your comment. I am hypothyroid and I wouldn’t have known without your comment. Thank you.
What if you were to use water instead of alcohol or veg glycerin? Would this infusion be good as well, I’m sure not as powerful, but to use for the same benefits…not to mention cheaper?
You can use vegetable glycerin, but water wouldn’t do extract any of the potent medicine from the plant.
Could you pulverize the lemon balm in a blender with everclear, let it sit. Then strain through a coffee filter? Would pulverize step speed up the process?
Hi Linda. No, that wouldn’t speed things up. You could try immersing the jar in a hot water bath for a few days, but even then, I don’t think it would be as potent as letting it sit for up to a month.
My lemon balm was infused with 80 proof vodka, and steeped for 4 weeks.I strained it and keep it in the cupboard. It’s been 3 weeks now and it’s black. Do I need to make a new one? What did Indo wrong?
Hi Kathleen. It sounds like your tincture oxidized, but usually that occurs when your plant material isn’t fully submerged below the alcohol during the infusion process. Is there any way the tincture was exposed to oxygen during storage?
Can you still use it? Will it be effective? This happened to mine as well.
It will likely be less potent. Be sure to store it out of direct sunlight and in a cool place.
Dehydrate lemon balm @100 or so degrees, first
air dry spread on a cookie cooling tray say, read it heard it on YouTube etc…
I live in the desert and there is no cool place in the house or garage in the summer. Is it ok to store the tincture in the refrigerator?
Yes, that’s fine!
I read that ACV can be used in the place of the alcohol when making a child’s version of a tincture. Do you know this to be the case?
Hi Cheryl. Yes, you can use ACV if you prefer, but it won’t be very strong. Typically alcohol-free tinctures for kids are made with vegetable glycerin.
Is it okay to use a alcohol based tincture with children since they will likely only have a few drops?
Yes, as long as you’re comfortable with it. The alternative is making an alcohol-free tincture with vegetable glycerin.
CAn you use mandarin lemon balm the same way you use regular lemon balm for this? I’m growing both and am looking for ways to use the mandarin lemon balm as well.
Yes, that’s fine!
Are the leaves better to use than leaves and stems? Or do the stems carry more of the good stuff? I have plenty, so I’m wondering whether I should just take the leaves off of the stems before putting it into a mason jar. Would it be a good idea to weigh it down somehow so that the lemon balm is completely submerged? I don’t want it to turn into the black slime that can happen if not submerged. Any suggestions of what to use to do that? Thanks for taking the time to put all of this information out there for people like me to access. It is most appreciated!
Hi Barbara. You can use both the leaves and stems. Yes, you can weigh them down to keep them submerged under the alcohol.
What do you use to weigh it down that won’t hurt the tincture?
You can use a glass weight made for fermentation or a zip-top bag filled with more alcohol.
Do you use just the leaves or leaves and stems? Thanks.
Is there any danger of botulism using fresh lemon balm and glyercine if it is being steeped for weeks at room temp. Am finding mixed opinions about this. Am making some for a granddaughter and wondering about safety storage and shelf life.
Maybe I misunderstood but would like to know if the tincture was still safe to use or if it is to be discarded and a new batch created. Thank you. Oh, I have signed us for your herb classes as I need to learn how to make other tinctures as well.
What size of dropper bottle do you recommend?
Is it possible to use dried lemon balm ?
Hi there. Yes, dried lemon balm can be used.
How much do you take and how often.
Hi Debi. You can take one dropper full at a time whenever you feel like you need it.
What do you mean with take? Like a shot or make a tea of it?
I meant you could take a dropper full directly into your mouth. You could also add a dropper full of tincture to drinks or tea if you prefer.
Is it possible to use a different alcohol? Perhaps whiskey, which I already have on hand?
For sure, so long as your whiskey is 80 proof or higher.
I let mine soak for 3 months and it turned a pretty dark almost black. Not the light green as seen in your pic. Is that still ok?
I’ve had the herb tincturing for a few weeks now and am noticing quite a few dark flecks floating in the jars. Have you seen this before? I used 100-proof vodka and fresh, clean lemon balm leaves torn into smaller pieces.
Hi Sharon. If any of the plant matter isn’t completely covered by the vodka, it’s likely to oxidize and turn brown/black. Is this what you’re seeing?
I just made some and ran out of the 100 proof vodka and couldn’t get more until the next day then covered completely and half of the leaves are black…is it still safe to let go 4+ weeks and then use?
Hi Sarah. It sounds like your lemon balm has oxidized. Being oxidized means it will lose its healing powers more quickly, but it’s not harmful in any way and is still safe to infuse for the next few weeks.
Is there a benefit to using the alcohol? If I make a kid version with vegetable glycerin, could that be used for adult also? Or is it better to make 2 versions?
Alcohol will extract more nutrients from the lemon balm, but adults can use the alcohol-free version as well.
Sounds like mould spores 🌻🌵🌷
Can you cook it to make the tincture or does it need to naturally steep
Hi, Jennifer. It’s best to let the lemon balm naturally infuse the alcohol.
Can you use the flowers from lemon balm plant in tincture?
Yes, you can every part of lemon balm in a tincture.
i just made this and let it infuse. it doesnt smell the greatest but not terrible. was wondering how it should normally smell
Did you use 80 proof or higher vodka? It should just smell like alcohol.
If someone is taking an antidepressant, would this still be ok to use?
Probably, but I would consult a doctor beforehand.
It depends on the antidepressant. If you are on one that says not to drink alcohol while taking it, or your doctor has said not to drink alcohol, just make the vegetable glycerin version. It is safe to take on SSRIs