 | |  |
![Melissa Hydrolat]() | Melissa Hydrolat | Melissa is a perennial plant about 60cms high with a hairy stem, dark green leaves and small white flowers. The plant is highly aromatic and the oil is distilled from the flowering tops. The essential oil is notoriously difficult to distil except by cohobation, and even then only a small amount of oil is yielded. It is quite normal for the leaves and flowers to be distilled just for the aromatic water (called a 'distillate' in France).
One of the earliest known medicinal herbs, Paracelsus called Melissa the 'elixir of life'. It was associated then to help with nervous disorders, the heart and the emotions and was also used for anxiety and melancholy. Today, the hydrolat can help to promote a regular menstrual cycle and increase fertility. In France the leaves are still used in pharmaceutical and herbal products and it is in the British Pharmacopoeia for depressive illness. Interestingly, the oil is most dense in the plant at around tea-time and the leaves, if picked and made into tea at this time are most beneficial for therapeutic use. Distillates and hydrolats are made from Melissa in the late afternoon.
Melissa hydrolat is used today as an anti-depressant, an antihistaminic, an antispasmodic, a hypertensive and a nerve tonic. It is a wonderful sedative and general tonic.
Melissa can be used to treat allergic conditions such as eczema, asthma and hay fever. It is also helpful for menstrual problems and the menopausal symptoms.
Melissa is calming and relaxing, particularly for the mind. It is used as a sedative for anxiety and psychoses and also helps with debility, anguish, nervous depression and agitation. The taste of the hydrolat is lemony and very pleasant. It is not too strong and can be used for children as well as adults.
Anti-depressive beverage
Put 30mls of Melissa hydrolat in a large glass and add 100mls hot water. Add a slice of fresh lemon, and if needed for taste, half a teaspoon of honey. Mix well and drink leisurely. Taken several times a day and at night before sleeping, Melissa can help to calm the nervous system and improve stress responses in the body
Eczema-type skin cream
Add 10mls of Melissa hydrolat to 90mls of natural base cream. Put in 2 drops of lavender and two of chamomile and apply to the face at least twice a day to improve redness and scaling of the skin. | | |
|
|
