Unlike the bee balm plant, the wild balm plant does not have such a pleasant aroma. Wild balm flowers grow in pairs and are larger and more exuberant than balm. Its composition and properties are also different.
Wild Balm Scientific Facts
- French: Melisse des bois.
- Spanish: Toronjil silvestre, melisa silvestre.
- Environment: Oak or beech tree forests and unfarmed lands in Central and southern Europe.
- Description: Vivacious plant of the Labiatae family, growing up to 50 cm high, with an upright stem, toothed leaves with marked nerves, and pink or white flowers.
- Parts of the plant used medicinally: The whole plant, except its root.
Healing Properties
The entire plant contains coumarin substance, which gives it diuretic and depurative properties, mildly sedative, emmenagogue, and when externally applied, vulnerary properties (it heals wounds and bruises). Wild balm is used mainly as a depurative in spring treatments in central European countries.
Moreover, it promotes menstruation and eases the pain of dysmenorrhea, though it is not as effective as bee balm. As a vulnerary, it is used in external applications to heal wounds and alleviate pain and inflammation caused by bruises and sprains.
How to use Wild Balm
- Infusion with 20-30 grams per liter of water. Drink three cups daily. It may be sweetened with honey.
- Cleansing with a more concentrated infusion than that used internally (up to 60 grams per liter).
- Compresses soaked in the aforementioned concentrated infusion (up to 60 grams per liter). Apply on the affected area.
REFERENCES
George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. “Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants.” George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Ed. Francesc X. Gelabert. vols. 2 San Fernando de Henares: Editorial Safeliz, 2000. 580. Print.[wild balm]
