As I take a deep dive into herbs as a path that has been calling to me over the last few years, I am looking to see just how much it can help with addressing ways to support and care for my own womb and using it to help support my own clients as well.

My herbal mentor recommends studying an herb one at a time to really understand it. It could be very easy to have a blog that is eye-catching that states “the 5 best herbs to take to help your womb during the summer” and I was going to do that. TBH, there are a lot of herbs that can support the womb that are great to take during summertime and I hope to be able to cover all of them over time.

However, I would rather be educational, informative and honest about my experiences than have a post that lists some herbs to try but then you don’t have a deep desire to try and embody it fully.

An herb that I have been growing in my small garden by the side of my house for a few years has been lemon balm (Melissa officinalis).

Luckily it is a very hardy and easy to grow herb and one that tolerates not being watered regularly as I was not as attentive to it for a bit. One of the attributes that you will notice about this herb is how it looks, it resembles a mint plant and is actually in the same family! The aroma is also intoxicating, there is no way that you cannot smell this herb and be in a bad mood. It has a very bright scent, is refreshing, and invites a feeling of lightness with both its smell and touch.

So what can this herb do for you? As I mentioned in the title, this would be my number one herb for the summer because it grows well during the spring and flourishes in the summer which is at the height of its growth before it starts to go to seed. In the summer, it is also a time when some of our routines and habits go out the window. You may choose to indulge a bit more with alcohol or food especially if you are on vacation, cramp up more easily due to more activity or desire to stay hydrated but get easily bored with water. Here are three ways that lemon balm can help support your womb during the heat of summer:

The Benefits of Lemon Balm for Your Womb

1. Decrease inflammation:

   When you are consuming a diet that consists of more sugar, fats or processed food items, they take a toll on your digestive system creating more inflammation in the body. You may notice more of an upset stomach, diarrhea or constipation or indigestion. When the GI tract is unhappy, the womb will be too since they are in close proximity to each other and feel everything that the other organ experiences. Lemon balm is known to be an anti-inflammatory herb and can create calm in an otherwise upset gut. When I consume lemon balm as a tea, I have mixed this with chamomile. Chamomile, which many know has the healing property of being a very gentle sleep aid is also a great carminative (dispels gas) and also an anti-inflammatory, so they pair really well together.

2. Relieve cramps:

   Summer months may have you doing more with your body than you used to. You may also be doing some of those things dehydrated. If you are sweating a ton more you may also be losing some essential electrolytes and salt in your body and that can be a big cause for cramping, especially in skeletal muscles. So, not only do the muscles in your legs get crampy from all that hiking, but your uterus can be crampy too. The uterus is a skeletal muscle as well and when we are dehydrated and not drinking a ton of fluids, our muscles will clamp down and tighten, thus creating less blood flow and cramping. Lemon balm is a great aid for helping to soothe cramps when ingested as either a tincture or a tea. A compound called rosmarinic acid in the lemon balm, and found in other herbs like rosemary and mint, is known to help ease menstrual cramps and increase blood flow

3. Great source of hydration:

   One of the easiest ways to begin to learn herbs is to have an easy way to use them and teas are one of the best ways. If you are looking to add a little more to your water, consider this herb to help quench your thirst. Its lemony, refreshing aroma will help bring a feeling of calm to your body. With lemon balm’s ability to help ease anxiety, it can have helpful benefits to your womb. When you are tense, stressed or anxious, the pelvic floor muscles that surround the womb will respond by tightening and tensing up. Drinking lemon balm tea can be one way of helping to bring ease to your womb.
   

Precautions and Considerations:

As with all things, lemon balm may not be right for you. The main contraindications for this herb are for those taking thyroid medication or sedatives and it may have some impact, so talk with your doctor first before considering taking this herb.

I hope that you will consider this herb the next time you are either experiencing cramping, have an upset tummy or are looking to change up your water routine.