Lemon Balm and Reduced Anxiety

Research synthesisVery low evidenceSmall effect3 studies · 2 beneficial · 1 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies, 2 reported beneficial effects on anxiety, with 1 showing a small effect size and the other a moderate effect. The only RCT (700 mg/day, 84 days) found a statistically significant small reduction in anxiety in patients with type 2 diabetes and depression. The median study duration was 84 days, suggesting effects typically observed at 12 weeks.

Effective dose range: 700 mg/day
Studied populations: patients with type 2 diabetes and depression

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. One of the studies was a review that did not find sufficient evidence to fully support lemon balm for anxiety, creating mixed signals. No form data was reported in any study, so it is unclear if specific preparations are more effective.

Generated Jul 16, 2026

Doses used in studies

mg/day: 700 (median 700, IQR 700–700) — 1 study

Time to effect

Median: 2.8 months · IQR 2.8 months–2.8 months · Range 2.8 months–2.8 months — Reported in 1 of 3 studies

3 of 3 papersPopulation:

The effects of melissa officinalis on depression and anxiety in type 2 diabetes patients with depression: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial.
- 2023-05-02
- RCT · n = 44
- BMC complementary medicine and therapies 23(1)
- - Mostafa Safari
  - Akbar Asadi
  - Naheed Aryaeian
  - Hasan Fallah Huseini
  - Farzad Shidfar
  - Shima Jazayeri
  - Mojtaba Malek
  - Agha Fateme Hosseini
  - Zahra Hamidi
- PubMed: 37131158
- DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-03978-x
8 Insights on
- Reduced Anxiety
- High evidence
- Clinical
After 12-week the mean change of depression and anxiety scores were statistically significant between the two groups (p < 0.001 and p = 0.04, respectively). In the intervention group, there was a significant decrease in depression and anxiety severity (p < 0.001 and p = 0.01, respectively) at the end of the study compared to the baseline.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Dose
700 mg/day
Medicinal Plants Used for Anxiety, Depression, or Stress Treatment: An Update.
- 2022-09-15
- Review
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) 27(18)
- - Maša Kenda
  - Nina Kočevar Glavač
  - Milan Nagy
  - Marija Sollner Dolenc
- PubMed: 36144755
- DOI: 10.3390/molecules27186021
3 Insights on
- Reduced Anxiety
- Low evidence
currently available data do not fully support the use of peppermint for anxiety disorders and depression
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Nip it in the Bud: Botanicals for Anxiety - a Practical Prescriber's Guide.
- 2022-09-01
- Review
- Current psychiatry reports 24(10)
- - Theresa B Gattari
  - Karina Drake
  - Alexander Scott
- PubMed: 36048322
- DOI: 10.1007/s11920-022-01365-w
1 Insight on
- Reduced Anxiety
- Low evidence
There is scientific evidence supporting the use of kava, lavender, lemon balm and passionflower in anxiety disorders.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes

Lemon Balm and Reduced Anxiety

The effects of melissa officinalis on depression and anxiety in type 2 diabetes patients with depression: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Medicinal Plants Used for Anxiety, Depression, or Stress Treatment: An Update.

Nip it in the Bud: Botanicals for Anxiety - a Practical Prescriber's Guide.