10 replies to this topic

[nootropi]

Full text: unavailable for public access
Abstract: http://www.nature.co...s/1300230a.html

Thanks, cosmos! [thumb]

[lynx]

Wow Cosmos. It is truly remarkable that such a common herb can have such dramatic effects.

[nootropi]

Wow Cosmos. It is truly remarkable that such a common herb can have such dramatic effects.

Where can be purchase a standardized extract of this herb?

[Jacovis]

I have had a nice mood boost (with anxiety relief) for the last few days with Lemon Balm 1 * 490 mg cap twice a day. I originally bought the Solaray brand as it was recommended on Usenet (see below) and im quite impressed with the nice lift it brings...

http://groups.google...73ce0a5abc78c2/
Cem Tural (October 13, 2004):
"Hi to all,

I was seeking relief for amnesia, agitation (paradoxically) and cognitive
side effects of clonazepam (which I happen to be taking 2mg/day at the
moment); and I think I have found it: Melissa Officinalis (aka lemon balm)


It has a sudden calming effect on me, and it reduces distractibility. I've
come across some studies suggest that it has a subtle cholinergic effect
(displacement of nicotine and scopolamine from nicotinic and muscarinic
receptors) and that it could be helpful for Alzheimer's Disease.


Any experiences?


thnx,


cem"


Allan Pollock (October 18, 2004):
"I use it several times a week as a mood enhancer and calmant. It puts a
brighter texture on my day, and gives me the time to soak-up observations in a
more timely, profound manner.

Love the stuff.


I use Solaray herbal caps, and while at first I was using 1g to 1.5g at a
time, I've found that just 500 (490 to be precise) mg is amply sufficient for
a subtle effect that lasts several hours.

Lemon Balm 'Melissa' needed mentioning here in rec.drugs.smart. Thanks for
that. Nex"

[Jacovis]

More good posts from usenet on people's experiences with Lemon Balm are pasted in below...

http://groups.google...477c875dda4d6c5
Nootropics for Writers
Alan Pollock (April 10, 2004):
“Low-dose Picamilone's one I like a lot for that. (50mg separated by a minimum
of 6 hours, maximum twice a day)
I used to use the dynamite agents like very strong coffee, Vinpo and the amino
acids to give myself a kick in the butt. No longer. It's the subtle ones that
give me a quality kicklet.
Believe it or not, 3 (about 1.5 gm total) simple Lemon Balm whole leaf caps
(latin name Melissa) impart a wonderful sense of light and bright. Subtle, but
effective. It's touted to be useful as a sleep aid but I've never found it to
make me drowsy. Clarifies perception a little, and helps concentrate.
Gotu Kola also. Two (4 or 500 mg) whole herb caps do me fine. Double that and
you Will feel a little drowsy.
Both are pretty-much harmless for the long-term, and are cheap to buy. Nex”


http://groups.google...dd84069ac21bd3/
Alan Pollock (January 5, 2005):
“…I like the Fingerprinted version [of Gotu Kola], but then I take 3 caps at a time. For heavy
concentration needs I'll do the same again 2 or 3 hours later. In my system,
tiredness/sleepiness is the giveaway that I'm taking too much of the stuff in
a given time period. But no harm done, Gotu's pretty harmless.
Have you tried Lemon Balm? It's also called Melissa; I use Nature's Way 490mg
caps, one or two at a time. Subtle, but works really well for me in concert
with Gotu. Nex”

Alan Pollock (January 11, 2005):
“tso...@gmail.com wrote:
> I'm liking Lemon Balm a lot...seems to be curbing my fatally anxious
> outlook. I'll post more if i figure out more after taking it for a
> while. Thanks Nex.
That's it exactly. Lemon Balm contributes a bright, cheerful get-things-done
quality to those good concentration effects the Gotu's known for. Sugar and
spice.
'Course they're both good on their own too, according to context. Nex”

Alan Pollock (January 15, 2005):
“tso...@gmail.com wrote:
> Nex, about the lemon balm, do you see any adverse effects if you take
> too much at a time? or no difference? i think i may be finding that
> about 800 mg a day is great, but more might start to make me less
> interested in the going ons of the day (too much confidence almost).
> it's still to early to say, but i'm wondering what you think.
> thanks,
> chris
When I started occasionally using Lemon Balm (balm for the soul), I'd take two
caps of 490mg. Tried three as well, just to see.
Eventually I realized that for me, in my system anything over 1 is
counterproductive. 1 cap in a 3 or 4 hour period is just as (or more, as
you've noted) effective as 2 or 3 caps, but with the difference that I don't
get even a *slight* let-down when the effects wear-off, as I do with 2 or 3.
Nex”

http://groups.google...00cb4e9022c578b
Supplements that quiet the mind
Alan Pollock (May 19, 2005):
“Cem Tural <tu...@isbank.net.tr> wrote:
> A different humble suggestion that might work: Have you ever tried Melissa
> officinalis (lemon balm)? It is used as a mild sedative. For me, it shuts up
> the floating thoughts in my mind and helps me concentrate. It creates a
> state of calm alertness so to speak. It does not numb me out like
> benzodiazepines and helps me go to sleep in peace. But, if I am really
> agitated; a benzo is the only option for me. Of course YMMV.
> All the best,
> cem
I'll second the Lemon Balm assertion, although I've never tried it to go to
sleep. I use it for hectic days when I have a lot on my mind. Melissa will
calm me in a subtle but effective way. Nex”

[zocco]

Here is another interesting study (2008 Nov 20):

Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, PO Box 56 (Viikinkaari 5E), Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland.

The plant Melissa officinalis L. has been used traditionally in the treatment of cognitive dysfunction. Based on its traditional medicinal use, it was assessed for its clinical efficacy in mild to moderate Alzheimer's patients. The plant was effective in the management of the disease. Therefore, based on this result, a similar plant extract was prepared in order to be screened for bioactivities which are relevant in Alzheimer's disease therapy. The extract was recently screened for antioxidant activity and it showed a wide range of antioxidant properties. Another important bioactivity is acetylcholinesterase inhibition, which the extract was screened for in the current investigation. The extract was capable of inhibiting the enzyme in a time and dose-dependent manner. Activity of the extract at 10min was estimated as 1.72+/-0.16mug equivalents of physostigmine/mg of the extract. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory guided fractionation of the extract was then carried out. Most of the fractions showed inhibitory activity and were more potent than the extract. The contents of the most potent fraction were identified as cis- and trans-rosmarinic acid isomers and a rosmarinic acid derivative using LC-DAD-ESI-MS and NMR methods.

PMID: 19070498 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Upper study says "However, no cholinesterase inhibitory properties were detected".
What this means?

Would rosemary tea be usefull as nootropic too?

Maybe some expert could try explain a bit

Edited by zocco, 26 December 2008 - 12:54 AM.

[NDM]

Just had my first cup of lemon balm tea...it tastes rural (hay & horses). Quite interesting. Can't comment on cognitive effects because of possible confounds (took some supplements). But, confounds or not, I am calm and smiling.

[guy1985]

tried Lemon Balm before and it makes me feel sleepy.

[zocco]

tried Lemon Balm before and it makes me feel sleepy.

So far it doesn't make me sleepy, even if i drink alot of tea(cca. 1l). I feel, good, calm, bright. It's seems nice for reading/thinking hours.
Few times i made cca 0.5l of tea and drink it easy while reading.
It has nice taste/smell when it's almost cold, like green salat :-)

[guy1985]

however, it does for me. how bout other guys over here experience?