Lemon Balm Benefits & Herbal Popsicle Recipe for Kids

Picture this: you’ve brewed a lovely cup of Lemon Balm tea, hoping it will help calm your little one before bedtime. You excitedly present it to them, only to be met with a scrunched-up nose and a firm, “No, thanks!” It’s a familiar scene for many parents who want to introduce their children to the benefits of herbs but find it challenging to get them on board. 

Herbal teas and tinctures, with their unfamiliar tastes and scents, often fall flat with kids. But the good news is that there are other creative ways to engage your child with the world of aromatics! If you’ve ever struggled to get your child interested in herbs, you’re not alone. The secret is to make the experience enjoyable. 

Enter Lemon Balm popsicles: a tasty and refreshing way to help your kids connect with nature while enjoying a cool summer treat. Plus, the Lemon Balm plant is a gentle but powerful herb that offers many health benefits to the nervous system and digestion.

In this article, we’ll dive into the numerous health benefits of Lemon Balm for both adults and children and provide you with a step-by-step guide to making your own Lemon Balm popsicles at home. The best part? These popsicles aren't just delicious – they also deliver all the same Lemon Balm benefits you’d get from drinking a cup of tea. It’s a win-win! Let’s get started.

Lemon Balm is a delightful herb with a refreshing and uplifting Lemony fragrance. If you’ve ever grown Lemon Balm or encountered the fresh plant, then you likely know how its sweet notes of Citrus and Mint can be both soothing and invigorating. As a member of the Mint family, Lemon Balm displays many Mint plant family characteristics, like square stems, opposite leaves, and the remarkable ability to take over a garden. 

For this reason, we prefer growing Lemon Balm in containers rather than directly in the ground – unless, of course, you’re a big fan of Lemon Balm or have plenty of space to let it flourish. Plus, honeybees absolutely love it, making it a great addition if you're looking to attract pollinators to your garden! In fact, the Latin name for Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis, is a nod to the Greek word for “honeybee” and a tribute to the bees that adore this plant so much.

Lemon Balm is classified as a nervine, which is an herb that helps calm and balance the nervous system. Whether used in aromatherapy or consumed in herbal preparations, Lemon Balm is known for its ability to ease stress, anxiety, tension, and even depression. 

A 2020 scientific study found that Lemon Balm effectively reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms in study participants when compared to the placebo [1]. Lemon Balm is also traditionally used for insomnia and restlessness and has been known to uplift moods.

You know that nervous feeling of butterflies you get in your stomach when you’re anxious? Lemon Balm is the perfect plant for that. As a member of the Mint family, Lemon Balm is related to Peppermint, an herb famous for its ability to support digestion and soothe an upset stomach. 

Lemon Balm acts in the same way, relieving gas, bloating, nausea, indigestion, and other stomach issues. Due to its calming nervine properties, it has a special affinity for soothing digestive discomfort that stems from stress and anxiety. Lemon Balm benefits both the nervous and digestive systems in this way.

Lemon Balm is also considered a safe and gentle – but powerful – calming herb for children. Thanks to the light, relaxing properties of Lemon Balm, it is especially great for soothing children who feel hyper or overstimulated. A 2014 scientific study found that foods containing Lemon Balm helped uplift mood and/or boost brain function [2]. For this reason, herbalists often recommend using Lemon Balm with children who struggle with ADD or ADHD. 

A 2014 study published in Phytomedicine revealed that Valerian root and Lemon Balm extract dramatically helped kids struggling with focus, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness [3]. The study also stated that “Valerian root and lemon balm extracts have previously shown efficacy and excellent tolerability in children younger than 12 years suffering from restlessness and insomnia.”

 Lemon Balm popsicles are a fun, interactive, and easy way to get your kids excited about consuming Lemon Balm. The best part about making them yourself is that you have complete control over the ingredients, including the type and amount of sweetener. No artificial dyes or unpronounceable ingredients – just pure, wholesome herbal goodness.

Herbal Lemon Balm popsicles are incredibly easy to make. Start by brewing a batch of herbal tea, sweeten it to taste, then pour the mixture into popsicle molds and freeze. You can follow the recipe below or get creative by adding more herbs and experimenting with flavors. We love using raw honey as a sweetener, but maple syrup, agave, or even fruit juice work well too. 

For this recipe, we used fresh Lemon Balm leaves from our garden, but dried Lemon Balm would work as well. While the dried leaves may lack the vibrant aroma of the fresh, they still pack all the same Lemon Balm benefits.

Ingredients:

2 cups of fresh Lemon Balm leaves (or ½ cup dried Lemon Balm)
2 cups of water
2-3 Tablespoons raw honey 

Directions:

1. Fill a large glass mason jar with your Lemon Balm. If it’s a hot and sunny day, you can make herbal sun tea by pouring the water over the Lemon Balm leaves, screwing on the lid, and leaving it outside in a sunny location for 2-5 hours. Alternatively, you can boil water and pour it over the leaves, cover it, and let it steep for 30 minutes.

2. When the tea is ready, strain out the Lemon Balm leaves from the water.

3. Add your sweetener to taste and stir until dissolved.

4. Allow the tea to cool down before pouring it into popsicle molds. Freeze them for several hours or overnight. 

5. Enjoy your popsicles on a nice, warm day!

Article Written By Melissa Szaro

1. Ghazizadeh, J., Sadigh-Eteghad, S., Marx, W., Fakhari, A., Hamedeyazdan, S., Torbati, M., Taheri-Tarighi, S., Araj-Khodaei. M., & Mirghafourvand, M. The effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) on depression and anxiety in clinical trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytother Res. 2021 Dec;35(12):6690-6705. 


2. Scholey, A., Gibbs, A., Neale, C., Perry, N., Ossoukhova, A., Bilog, V., Kras, M., Scholz, C., Sass, M., & Buchwald-Werner, S. Anti-stress effects of lemon balm-containing foods. Nutrients. 2014 Oct 30;6(11):4805-21.


3. Gromball, J., Beschorner, F., Wantzen, C., Paulsen, U., & Burkart, M. Hyperactivity, concentration difficulties and impulsiveness improve during seven weeks' treatment with valerian root and lemon balm extracts in primary school children. Phytomedicine. 2014 Jul-Aug;21(8-9):1098-103.

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*The statements above have not been evaluated by the FDA, and are for educational purposes only. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult your physician before you use this information for health purposes.