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Lemon balm: the ally for sleep, serenity and maternal wellbeing

ingredient melisse
Relaxation and stress management

Lemon balm supports optimal relaxation and helps reduce tension, irritability and anxiety by acting directly on cortisol levels, the stress hormone. A gentle and natural action that is particularly valuable during pregnancy, when sleep becomes fragmented and nights can sometimes be restless.

More restful sleep, without melatonin

A natural alternative to melatonin, lemon balm supports sleep onset and sleep quality by gently encouraging a state of progressive relaxation in the nervous system, without causing excessive drowsiness or interfering with the natural rhythms of pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Mental wellbeing and mental clarity

Long recognised for its benefits on the brain, lemon balm contributes to improving overall mental wellbeing and may support certain cognitive functions such as memory and concentration — two aspects often affected by the fatigue of the first weeks of pregnancy or the postpartum period.

Origin and description

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Lamiaceae family, native to the eastern Mediterranean basin and widely cultivated throughout Europe since antiquity.

Its finely serrated, lemon-scented leaves contain an essential oil rich in citral and linalool, as well as phenolic acids including rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid — compounds with well-documented mild sedative, anxiolytic and cortisol-modulating properties.

Its value is particularly credible for supporting mild sleep disturbances, anxiety and irritability during pregnancy and the post-partum period — two phases during which melatonin is not recommended. The quality of the extract, in particular its EPS (standardised plant extract), directly determines the consistency and intensity of its effects.

In its natural form, in everyday life, lemon balm is primarily known as a culinary aromatic herb and herbal tea. Its fresh or dried leaves are used to flavour salads, fish, fruit desserts or homemade lemonades. As an infusion, lemon balm is one of the most popular evening herbal teas in Europe, consumed for centuries to encourage relaxation before sleep. It is often combined with lemon verbena, with which it shares aromatic notes, or with valerian, passionflower and chamomile for traditional soothing blends. The absorption of its active compounds depends on the infusion time, the quality of the leaves and their freshness. Intakes via food or infusion remain gentle and difficult to standardise, which explains the value of a concentrated extract for a more consistent digestive effect.

In supplement form, lemon balm is found primarily in the form of a dry leaf extract standardised in rosmarinic acid, EPS (standardised plant extract in liquid form preserved in glycerine), capsules or tablets, or integrated into relaxation and sleep complexes. The EPS form, as in Mama Dreams by Jolly Mama, is recognised for its richness in active compounds and its high bioavailability, achieved through a cold aqueous extraction process that preserves all the plant's fragile compounds. In Mama Dreams, lemon balm is present at a precise dose of 200 mg of extract, corresponding to 800 mg of EPS, for a well-dosed relaxing and sleep-supporting effect. Lemon balm is naturally vegan and has an excellent general tolerability profile.

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Why is lemon balm your serenity ally during motherhood?

  • Easier sleep onset and quality sleep

    Supports sleep onset and contributes to quality sleep by promoting a state of progressive relaxation of the nervous system, without dependency effects or residual drowsiness.

    ➜ Discover our sleep food supplements

  • Stress and anxiety reduction

    Helps to lower cortisol levels, the stress hormone, for deeper relaxation in the evening and better day-to-day anxiety management during pregnancy and the post-partum period.

  • Easing tension and irritability

    Helps reduce irritability and nervous tension, which are often heightened by accumulated fatigue, hormonal changes and sleep deprivation in the early weeks of motherhood.

  • Support for cognitive wellbeing

    Contributes to overall mental wellbeing and may support certain cognitive functions such as memory and mental clarity, which can be affected by sleep deprivation and the fatigue of motherhood.

  • Natural alternative to melatonin

    Offers natural, well-tolerated sleep support during pregnancy and breastfeeding — periods when melatonin is not recommended — for more restful nights without the need for sleeping aids.

How does it work? (The science bit)

Lemon balm acts primarily through two families of compounds: its phenolic acids, in particular rosmarinic acid, and the compounds of its essential oil, notably linalool and citral. Rosmarinic acid inhibits an enzyme, GABA-transaminase, which normally breaks down GABA in the brain. By slowing this degradation, lemon balm increases the availability of GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system, thereby producing a calming, anxiolytic and sleep-supporting effect. This mechanism is logically comparable to that of certain anxiolytic medications, but in an infinitely gentler and non-addictive form. The linalool in its essential oil reinforces this effect by acting directly on GABA-A receptors, as research on other plants of the Lamiaceae family has shown.

Furthermore, lemon balm may modulate the stress response by acting on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, contributing to a reduction in cortisol secretion in situations of acute or chronic stress. During pregnancy, when nights become fragmented, anxiety can intensify and the nervous system is often in a state of prolonged alertness — this gentle cortisol regulation offers valuable and well-suited support. In Mama Dreams by Jolly Mama, lemon balm is combined with other active ingredients supporting sleep and relaxation for a synergistic formula, specifically designed as an alternative to melatonin during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Cases J. et al. - Pilot trial of Melissa officinalis L. leaf extract in the treatment of volunteers suffering from mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders and sleep disturbances, Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism (2011)

European Medicines Agency (EMA) - Community herbal monograph on Melissa officinalis L., folium (2013)

Your questions, our answers.

Yes, this is one of its best-recognised uses in herbal medicine. By promoting relaxation of the nervous system and modulating GABA availability in the brain, it helps to facilitate falling asleep and to improve sleep quality in a gradual and natural way. It represents a safe and well-tolerated alternative to melatonin, which is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Absolutely. Lemon balm helps to reduce nervous tension, irritability, and anxiety by lowering cortisol levels and supporting the balance of the nervous system. These benefits are particularly valuable in the postpartum period, a time when fatigue, hormonal upheaval, and broken sleep can make new mothers emotionally vulnerable.

At the doses typically used in food supplements, it is very well tolerated. A mild drowsiness may occur at the start of a course in particularly sensitive individuals, which is why taking it in the evening is recommended. If taken alongside sedative or anxiolytic medication, an interaction is possible — please seek advice from a healthcare professional.

Lemon balm is generally considered compatible with pregnancy and breastfeeding at standard dietary and supplement doses. If you are currently taking any medication — particularly sedatives, thyroid drugs, or antivirals — please seek advice from a healthcare professional before starting a regular course. It is not recommended for people with glaucoma.

Very well. It combines naturally with valerian, passionflower and chamomile for a more complete sedative effect, as well as with magnesium for overall muscular and nervous relaxation. This is the rationale behind Mama Dreams by Jolly Mama, which combines lemon balm with other carefully selected active ingredients for sleep support tailored to pregnant and breastfeeding women. It can also be taken as a menopause food supplement to support disrupted sleep during this period.

Our other ingredients

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ingrédient camomille

Chamomile

German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is a flowering plant recognised for its soothing properties, used for centuries in traditional phytotherapy. It is particularly valued for digestive comfort and relaxation.
ingredient lavande

Lavender

True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is an aromatic plant whose relaxing properties are well established. Its main active compound is associated with a calming effect on the nervous system.
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