Lemon balm, also called Melissa is an herb similar to mint, but with a sweet, lemony smell. In Greek mythology, Melissa was a nymph who discovered honey, and she fed it to the god Zeus when he was a child to give him strength. “Mel” is the Latin name for honey, and Melissa is the Greek word for “honey-bee”. Although it is slightly sweet, the plant smells more like lemon than honey.

The Greeks and Romans used Lemon Balm for people with fevers. They also used it in poultices for wounds and to stop bleeding. In the Middle Ages, it was used for insomnia, toothaches, headaches, poor appetite, fevers, and anxiety. At one point Melissa was called “Cure-all” because it was believed to do just that.