Lemon balm can help memory

by GERAINT SMITH, Evening Standard

It is a common sight in British gardens and for centuries has been linked to herbal medicine.

Now the first proper scientific investigation into the benefits of lemon balm has found it enhances the memory and could even help patients with Alzheimer's disease.

The shrubby perennial herb, a native of this country and much of the rest of Europe, has been traditionally used to calm and refresh.

Now a series of experiments at Northumbria University suggests its reputation is deserved and provides the first evidence of exactly how it works.

Researcher Dr David Kennedy found that healthy young adults given capsules containing doses of the plant's dried leaves were significantly better at standardised computer memory tests than those who took a placebo. They also scored higher in another standard test that measured calmness. They found that the higher the dose, the bigger the effect on both memory and mood.

Meanwhile, Elaine Perry of the Medical Research Council's unit at Newcastle General Hospital found lemon balm had a positive effect on pieces of brain tissue and chemical receptors in the brain affected by Alzheimer's.

"As a sedative, the extract worked,î Dr Kennedy said. "The more you took, the more it worked. But it was only the dried leaf, which is probably closest to the traditional way of taking lemon balm, that enhanced memory.

"We believe that it could be used as an helpful adjunct to conventional treatment for Alzheimer's disease.î

Dr Kennedy added: "The nice thing about these studies is that we found that you don't need exo t ic ing redients to

improve your memory. If you find lemon balm in the garden there's no need to dig it up, just dry the leaves and try some.î

The team, whose results are published today at the British Psychological Society's annual conference in Bournemouth, also discovered that a drink largely consisting of glucose and caffeine - with trace elements of gingko, guarana and ginseng - acted to enhance memory. Author Dominic O'Brien, who has won the World Memory Championships eight times, said he usually used such drinks before a competition. He said: "I tend to use thinks like ginko biloba and ginseng during competitions to boost my performance. There has been lots of independent research which has backed up the claims that they are helpful aids to memory.

"I can't say for certain that they have helped me, but since I started using ginseng I have won the World Memory Championships three times, so they don't seem to have done any damage.

"I also have a bottle of lemon oil which I sniff from time to time to help me concentrate, and I take vitamins A, C and E."

Potted history of lemon balm

  • Lemon balm grows wild in gardens across Britain.

  • A relative of the mint family, it grows to about one metre and its leaves are usually hairless and bright green.

  • In ancient times it was planted by the front door to drive away evil spirits

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