Herbal Extract
Lemon Balm
Also known as: Melissa Officinalis
A calming herb used to reduce anxiety and support mood and cognitive function.
KÖGN Health grades Lemon Balm as B+ (Moderate evidence) and rates it 3.9 out of 5.
Last reviewed · June 2026
Primary effects
- Reduced anxiety
- Improved mood
- Cognitive relaxation
How it works
Modulates GABA activity and promotes relaxation and stress reduction.
Overview
Lemon Balm is commonly used for its calming and anxiolytic effects, often in evening or stress-relief formulations. It works through GABAergic pathways, helping to reduce nervous system excitability. While its direct cognitive enhancement is modest, it supports mental clarity indirectly by reducing stress-related cognitive interference.
The evidence
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a calming herb with binding activity at brain acetylcholine receptors. Small acute, placebo-controlled crossover trials report improved calmness and, at higher single doses, better memory and faster maths processing, plus reduced reactivity to laboratory stress. The trials are small and short, so treat it as a promising calm-focus herb rather than a proven enhancer.
How to dose it
Acute cognition studies used standardised single doses around 300–1,600 mg; calming effects appeared across the range, with the memory signal at the higher end.
When to take it
Acute — effects measured within a few hours; also used before sleep.
Safety & side effects
Well tolerated; mild drowsiness is the most common effect, so take care before driving.
Who should avoid it
Use care when combining with sedatives or alcohol, and theoretically with thyroid medication. Safety in pregnancy is not well established. Its sedative effect can compound that of other calming agents.
References
Related ingredients
Graded entries that target the same cognitive goals.
Categories
Draft — the dose, safety and evidence notes on this entry were prepared from the published literature and are pending editorial and clinical review.
Educational information, not medical advice. The evidence grade is KÖGN’s editorial assessment of published research, not a health claim. Speak to a qualified clinician before changing what you take.