No serious negative side effects (“adverse events”) have been reported with lemon balm supplementation to date, and no side effects have been reported when it has been taken for less than 8 weeks.[1]
Allergic: Some hypersensitivity reactions, such as contact dermatitis, have been reported.[2][1]
Ophthalmological: There are some anecdotal reports of an increase in intraocular pressure.[2][1]
Cardiovascular: Although lemon balm is traditionally used to treat heart palpitations,[3] one randomized controlled trial reported that some participants experienced palpitations as an adverse event during the study.[2][1]
Neurological: In addition to lack of alertness, headaches, EEG changes, and sleep disturbances have been reported.[2][4][1]
Hormonal: There is a theoretical concern that lemon balm could have an effect on thyroid hormones, which is supported by in vitro evidence, animal studies, and one case report of lemon balm being used as a part of a successful combination treatment in a patient with treatment-resistant Graves’ disease.[5][6][7][8][9] For this reason, people with thyroid conditions might consider having their thyroid hormone levels checked when taking substantial doses of lemon balm.
References
- ^Draginic N, Jakovljevic V, Andjic M, Jeremic J, Srejovic I, Rankovic M, Tomovic M, Nikolic Turnic T, Svistunov A, Bolevich S, Milosavljevic IMelissa officinalis L. as a Nutritional Strategy for Cardioprotection.Front Physiol.(2021)
- ^Ulbricht C, Brendler T, Gruenwald J, Kligler B, Keifer D, Abrams TR, Woods J, Boon H, Kirkwood CD, Hackman DA, Basch E, Lafferty HJ, Natural Standard Research CollaborationLemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.): an evidence-based systematic review by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration.J Herb Pharmacother.(2005)
- ^Alijaniha F, Naseri M, Afsharypuor S, Fallahi F, Noorbala A, Mosaddegh M, Faghihzadeh S, Sadrai SHeart palpitation relief with Melissa officinalis leaf extract: double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial of efficacy and safety.J Ethnopharmacol.(2015 Apr 22)
- ^Javid Ghazizadeh, Saeed Sadigh-Eteghad, Wolfgang Marx, Ali Fakhari, Sanaz Hamedeyazdan, Mohammadali Torbati, Somaiyeh Taheri-Tarighi, Mostafa Araj-Khodaei, Mojgan MirghafourvandThe effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) on depression and anxiety in clinical trials: A systematic review and meta-analysisPhytother Res.(2021 Aug 27)
- ^Parvizi MM, Foolad S, Zeighami A, Namazi MR, Heydari MSuccessful Maintenance Treatment of a Patient with Resistant Hyperthyroidism with Traditional Persian Medicine Recommendations: A Case Report and Literature Review.Complement Med Res.(2024 Sep 5)
- ^Auf'mkolk M, Ingbar JC, Kubota K, Amir SM, Ingbar SHExtracts and auto-oxidized constituents of certain plants inhibit the receptor-binding and the biological activity of Graves' immunoglobulins.Endocrinology.(1985 May)
- ^Kawara RS, Moawed FS, Elsenosi Y, Elmaksoud HA, Ahmed ESA, Abo-Zaid OAMelissa officinalis extract palliates redox imbalance and inflammation associated with hyperthyroidism-induced liver damage by regulating Nrf-2/ Keap-1 gene expression in γ-irradiated rats.BMC Complement Med Ther.(2024 Feb 1)
- ^Herbs for Potential Adjunct Treatment of Thyroid Disease: A Review of Botanical Preparations for Hypo- and Hyperthyroidism, Thyroid Nodules, and Thyroid CancerHerbalGram.(2008)
- ^STUDY ON THE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF MELISSA OFFICINALIS (LEMON BALM) ON MALE WISTAR ALBINO RATS WITH INDUCED-HYPOTHYROIDISMAl-Azhar J Pharm Sci.(March 2018)