Bee balm is definitely a plant that pollinators of all kinds adore and while that is reason enough to have it in the herb garden it is also full of tasty and medicinal uses for us as well. If you want to get creative with this beautiful perennial try these 5 ways to use bee balm.
Before Using Fresh Bee Balm
Wash and dry leaves well. Soak the flowers for a bit to float out any insects that might be hidden inside.
1. Bee Balm Jelly
Bee balm jelly is essentially just bee balm petal tea with sugar and pectin. It’s lovely in the jar and carries a light honey flavor with minty undertones. It’s delightful with cream cheese or simply spread on toast. Makes a great gift.
2. Dried for Tea
Bee balm has traditionally been used to relieve nausea, vomiting, and flatulence. Keep it on hand for these digestive issues by drying it. Dehydrate by tying bunches of the stems upside down and hanging in a dark space until crispy. When dry strip the leaves and blossoms from the stems and store in labeled glass jars.
To make tea: Cover 1 teaspoon of dried leaves and/or flowers with 1 Cup of boiling water. Steep for 15 minutes before straining and enjoying.
Besides the medicinal benefits, the tea is just plain tasty on a cold winter night.
3. Oxymel for Cold Relief
Bee balm is antimicrobial making it useful for helping aid the body heal from colds, congestion, and sore throats. An oxymel is basically an herb infused into a mixture of vinegar and honey. It’s easy and tasty.
4. Healing Salve
As an antifungal and antimicrobial, bee balm makes the ideal base for a healing salve.
5. Tincture
Bee balm can act as a nervine and is helpful to folks dealing with anxiety and depression. Make a tincture by filling a jar 3/4 full with fresh bee balm and then covering it with vodka. Let steep for 1 month before straining and storing.
To use the tincture: Take 1 teaspoon in 8 ounces of water up to 3 times a day.
Who Should Avoid Bee Balm
Bee balm can interfere with certain thyroid medications, so be sure to ask a doctor if you’re taking one before using bee balm internally or externally. It can also be an issue for some pregnancies, check with an herbalist or doctor first before using if you are or might be expecting.
This covers just some of the many ways to use bee balm, so get out there and harvest some for your home. Do leave some for the bumblebees and other pollinators, too, please!
Margaret says
This is WONDERFUL!! I bought a bee balm plant last year and this year it just flourished and bloomed!! It has to be 3 or 4 feet tall and all the flowers are different colors! I just love it!! Thank you for all the great ideas on how to use it! I think I’ll leave this plant for the bees and next year harvest from the one that I have started from seed this year! How exciting!
Kathie says
I’m so glad to know this was useful to you. Enjoy those blooms!
Anna @Green Talk says
I grow a ton of bee balm since the bees adore it. The purple flower is less likely to get powdery mildew. My pink ones have a ton of mildew on them. I dry and sell the plant and flowers. Originally, the colonists used the leaves as tea.
The flower stays try to its color so it makes a nice potpourri too.
Angela says
I’ve just been reading about bee balm, and the article said that, to avoid mildew, do not plant in dry soil. It also said that the varieties M. ‘Garden view scarlet’, ‘Marshall’s Delight’, ‘Sunset’ and ‘Violet Queen’ are more resistat to mildew. I’m in England, so I don’t know if those varieties are available elsewhere.
Kristi D says
For the tincture do you sue the flower or the leaves? Thanks
Homespun Seasonal Living says
You can use both for a tincture.
nirala says
What is the latin name please?
Kathie Lapcevic says
Monarda
Rebekah Laflin says
Just want to thank you for sharing info on Monarda :)
Kathie Lapcevic says
Thank you for saying so!
Jacey Lea Neubauer says
Can it help with pregnancy nausea?
Kathie Lapcevic says
I can’t say with 100% confidence, I would think mint or ginger might be a better option for that but check with a local herbalist.
Terri Martinez says
Lemon Essential oil usually relieves pregnancy nausea. Place a drop on a cotton ball and inhale deeply three or four times…or as much as you need.
Sylvia says
What is the healing salve recipe?
Love this information, thank you! I just bought the plant and trying to search and learn how to use it.
Kathie Lapcevic says
You can find my healing salve recipe here: https://homespunseasonalliving.com/how-to-make-healing-salve/
Ashley says
Does it matter whether the flowers and leaves are fresh or dry for an oxymel?
Kathie Lapcevic says
It is usually done with fresh. However, if you’re going to use dried, use 1/3 less than fresh (so if you were using 1 Cup of fresh flowers use 2/3 cup of dried.