Lemon Balm for Anxiety Relief

Research suggests that lemon balm may offer modest benefits for anxiety relief, supported most directly by a small randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial from 2015 that found participants taking a freeze-dried lemon balm extract reported significantly fewer anxiety symptoms compared to a placebo group over a two-week period, though the trial's short duration and limited sample size temper how broadly those findings can be applied. A 2022 narrative literature review also identified lemon balm and related herbal remedies as showing promise for nervous system symptoms, though as a review rather than an original trial, its conclusions reflect the authors' interpretation of existing literature rather than new experimental data. Two additional studies in the linked evidence set examined unrelated plants and a mindfulness-based therapy, and do not contribute direct evidence regarding lemon balm for anxiety. Overall, the available evidence leans in a cautiously supportive direction, but the research base remains limited in scope, and readers should weigh these findings accordingly.