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Definition: "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance "

08.02.2013

Melissa officinalis is a smart drug

The brain works better after a single high dose of Melissa officinalis. The memory function improves, discovered psychologists at Northumbria University. Melissa officinalis, better known as lemon balm and available over the counter, is a legal smart drug.

Melissa officinalis
Herbalists in Europe have used extracts of Melissa officinalis – common name lemon balm – as a sedative and memory improver since the Middle Ages. In the sixteenth century Paracelsus wrote that Melissa officinalis was effective against "all complaints supposed to proceed from a disordered state of the nervous system".

The memory-stimulating aspect of Melissa officinalis has long been ignored however. Melissa officinalis is still easy to buy in the form of tea, herb or supplement, but the claim most often made is that the herb calms the digestive system or helps users to fall asleep. The British researchers studied the other aspects of lemon balm [Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2002 Jul; 72(4): 953-64.] after having done research on other herbs including ginseng [Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2003 Jun; 75(3): 687-700.] and ginkgo [Nutr Neurosci. 2001; 4(5): 399-412.].

Study
In 2003 the Brits published the results of a study in which they gave 20 students aged 18-23 doses of 600, 1000 or 1600 mg powder made from dried Melissa officinalis leaves. This is the powder that the supplements contain.

The researchers then gave the students words, numbers and pictures to look at. The students then had to try and recall these six hours later.

Results
The figure below shows that they were better at this after taking the highest dose of lemon balm.

The subjects were also asked to indicate on a scale how calm they were feeling. From this the researchers discovered that the 1600-mg dose had a noticeable effect.

Mechanism
The researchers were not able to work out exactly how Melissa officinalis works. They did discover that the herb doesn't inhibit the enzyme cholinesterase. What is known is that unknown compounds in the herb attach themselves to the nicotine and muscarine receptors in the brain. These receptors are intended for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

The Brits suspect that Melissa officinalis contains substances that can help fight Alzheimer's.

Source:
Neuropsychopharmacology. 2003 Oct;28(10):1871-81.

More:
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Your brain works better after two days of vinpocetine 21.07.2012
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Melissa officinalis, a supplement for worriers Worriers will sleep better and feel better about themselves if they take an extract of Melissa officinalis, according to a small human study.	Combo Melissa officinalis and Passiflora caerulea inhibits stress-related cortisol Animal study.	The anticancer effect of Melissa officinalis Hundreds of years ago European traditional healers suspected that frequent use of Melissa officinalis made people live longer and remain disease-free at the same time.