I Tried Lemon Balm For A Month To Improve My Sleep – I Never Expected This Result

What are the benefits of lemon balm?

After a few days of taking the supplement before bed, I found myself adjusting and soon the post-pill, pre-sleep wave of tiredness disappeared. Yet, despite the odd hiccup on weeks that were particularly stressful, I was surprised to find that it wasn’t a placebo effect and for the most part I was still sleeping uninterrupted until the next morning. Although I found myself often waking up before 7am (my alarm is set for 7:30am), it always felt like I was fresh and well-rested rather than being drowsy or sluggish.

“Lemon balm tends to sit somewhere in the middle when compared to other herbal options,” says Eda. “Valerian is typically more sedating, chamomile is milder and more soothing, while passionflower and lavender are often used when anxiety is more prominent.” If you’ve similarly experimented with sleep supplements before, you may find that lemon balm is a suitable alternative, but Eda says not everyone will be as lucky as me when it comes to noticing effects, so don’t be discouraged if it takes a little more time. “For more consistent improvements in sleep, it’s usually best to assess it over one to two weeks. It works well as short-term support during periods of stress, although it can be used for longer if needed,” she advises. “That said, it’s most effective when combined with good sleep habits rather than relied on as a long-term solution on its own.”

Who should not take lemon balm?

The good news is that almost everyone experiencing sleep issues can look at taking lemon balm supplements to help as “lemon balm is generally well tolerated,” according to Eda. “Occasionally, people may experience mild drowsiness, headaches, or digestive discomfort,” she continues, suggesting beginning with a lower dose and gradually increasing as the best way of introducing it into your nighttime routine.

Solo Tree Lemon Balm Drops

Results of taking lemon balm

So, after taking lemon balm for around six weeks – what are the takeaways? I don’t want to jinx it, but it seems pretty safe at this stage to say that it has been a resounding success when it comes to overhauling my long-term sleep issues. While a good night’s sleep used to be few and far between – I had lost faith in sleeping completely uninterrupted ever again – the opposite has happened since I began taking lemon balm. Now, I find myself surprised to be suddenly awake at 3am instead of it being a given.