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| Melissa officinalis plant |
Lemon Balm
Bot. name Melissa officinalis
Family : Labiatea
Other names: Balm, Lemon Balm, Melissa Balm (USA), Balm
Mint
Distribution : Sonamarag, Ramban
(Kashmir Himalayas), Iran, USA, Pakistan. Egypt, Italy,
Ireland.
Ecological notes : Grows on rich soils
Status : Not so common
Details : The herb is commercially produced in Hungary and the oil in Ireland.
Melissa grows best in alluvial soil,
excess water is harmful, while yields diminish in light and dry soils
(Guenther).
Major producing countries : Hungary, Egypt,
Italy, for herb Ireland for
essential oil
Yield and description : Genuine Melissa
oil is a pale yellow sweet smelling oil with an odour of aromatic lemon. Yields
are as low as 0.014% for distillation of the fresh herb to 0.112% for dried
herb, increasing to 0.13% using cohobation. True oil is extremely expensive.
The oil is held in high esteem for its use in aromatherapy, it is reported to
have a sedative effect. There is little use for the oil in perfumery, where the
odour is readily suggested by blends of the very cheap oils of Lemon,
Lemongrass and fortified by Citronella oil. According to Arctander the plant is
known in Europe as "Hearts Delight"
since infusions of the herb were supposed to cure heart disease and melancholia
and this led to the late 1930's perfume "Cosur-Joie", which had a
melissa like top note.
Uses : Infusions are made from the
herb; the oil has several names (Oil of Balm, Oil of Lemon Balm, Oil of Melissa
Balam, Oil of Balm Mint, Oil of Melissa Officinalis) and is used as a sedative
in alternative medicine.
Cultivation details : Planting is usually 40,000 plants/Ha. with
propagation from seed. The plants have a life of 10 years but are usually
replaced every five years with crop rotation to rejuvenate the soil.
Propagation in the northern hemisphere is from April to July.
Harvesting period : In the first year
the crop is in August, thereafter two crops are experienced. The first in June
and the second in August.
Harvesting methods : Usually by hand on
a clear warm day as the leaves will turn black if harvested wet. For good
appearance leaves should not be left in the sun.
Post harvest treatment, preservation,
storage pre-treatment : Weed control is recommended (Pank). It has been
reported that, in Kashmir and Egypt,
irradiating seeds has an effect on growth, essential oil content and
composition. The quantity of herb was reduced but the oil content was
increased, with the irradiation dosage varying the proportion of the
constituents.
Preservation and storage : The oil
should be stored in filled sealed containers, out of light and kept cool. The
oil is subject to oxidation.
Processing method : Stainless Steel
steam distillation retorts equipped for cohobation should be used to increase
the yield.
Composition of oil : Many reports exist
regarding the composition. An analysis, from New
Zealand, given for Melissa officinalis L. subsp altissima
(Dawson) not
only gives a yield 0.33% but constituents totally different from those of
Melissa officinalis L. subsp officinalis.
A summary of the composition is given
by Lawrence as
follows:
Compounds Percentage range
Methyl Heptenone 2.2 - 8.6
Citronellal 1.0 - 8.4
Linalool 0.5 - 2.7
Neral 19.6 - 36.1
Geranial 25.3 - 47.5
Geranyl Acetate 1.2 - 6.2
1.9 - 9.7
Carophyllene oxide 0.5 - 9.0
EQUIPMENT
Forage Harvester
Stainless steel distillation equipment
Melissa officinalis - Lemon Balm
seedlings are available
For further information if you are interested in purchasing
Seeds/Plants from the Jammu
and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre, or to request more
information :
email us. jkmpic@gmail.com, jkmpic@yahoo.in
email us. jkmpic@gmail.com, jkmpic@yahoo.in
