Herb Of The Week - Lemon Balm - Article - Lemon balm 'boosts memory'

July 20, 2004

Article below is from the BBC ...

Nite y'all. Time to be hittin' the hay on this side of the pond

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

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Lemon balm 'boosts memory'

Taking lemon balm can boost memory as well as improve mood, researchers

have found.

The benefits of lemon balm, a common weed that resembles a small nettle,

has long been recognised. In the 16th century, herbalist John Gerard

gave it to students to " quicken the senses " .

Tests have now shown it helps people learn, store and retrieve

information.

It may help conditions where the memory is fragile

Dr Andrew Scholey, Northumbria University

Laboratory tests found lemon balm increased the activity of

acetylcholene, a chemical messenger linked to memory that is reduced in

people with Alzheimer's disease.

Early findings

Dr Andrew Scholey and Dr David Kennedy, from Northumbria University,

made capsules of dried lemon balm grown locally and gave them to a group

of 20 volunteers.

They then carried out memory tests one, three and six hours later.

There was no effect on working memory - the constant recall of continual

events during the day.

But secondary memory, the ability to learn, store and retrieve

information, was improved.

The findings were presented to presented to the British Psychological

Society's annual conference in Bournemouth.

Dr Scholey said it was too early to say whether lemon balm might help

Alzheimer's sufferers, but said: " It may help conditions where the

memory is fragile. "

Story from BBC NEWS:

Published: 2003/03/14 00:01:12 GMT

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