Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
The best sleep evidence is for one branded extract. Two placebo-controlled trials of the phospholipid-carrier extract Relissa at 400mg/day found better sleep: in a 2-week crossover in 30 adults, insomnia scores were 2.9 points lower than on placebo (Di Pierro 2024, whose authors include the scientific director of and consultants to Pharmextracta, maker of the tested product), and in a 3-week trial in 100 adults with emotional distress or poor sleep, sleep quality improved, though the treated group started with worse sleep (Bano 2023). An open-label study without placebo found half the sleep-score change at 200mg/day as at 400mg/day (−15% vs −30%). A formula of L-theanine, lemon balm, valerian and saffron was no better than placebo over 6 weeks (Gutiérrez-Romero 2024). In single-dose tests in 20 healthy young adults, the lowest dose raised calmness early, but the highest dose lowered alertness and some doses worsened memory scores (Kennedy 2002), and the largest cognition trial (323 older adults, 96 weeks) found no effect on its primary endpoint (Noguchi-Shinohara 2023).
Evidence reviewed:
Mechanism of action
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) trials use very different preparations: standardised extracts, dried leaf, a branded aqueous leaf extract in a phospholipid carrier (Relissa, from Indena), and extracts standardised to rosmarinic acid. Results from one preparation do not transfer to another, so a product that does not state its extract type or standardisation cannot be matched to a trial.
Clinical evidence summary
The best sleep evidence is for one branded extract. Two placebo-controlled trials of the phospholipid-carrier extract Relissa at 400mg/day found better sleep: in a 2-week crossover in 30 adults, insomnia scores were 2.9 points lower than on placebo (Di Pierro 2024, whose authors include the scientific director of and consultants to Pharmextracta, maker of the tested product), and in a 3-week trial in 100 adults with emotional distress or poor sleep, sleep quality improved, though the treated group started with worse sleep (Bano 2023). An open-label study without placebo found half the sleep-score change at 200mg/day as at 400mg/day (−15% vs −30%). A formula of L-theanine, lemon balm, valerian and saffron was no better than placebo over 6 weeks (Gutiérrez-Romero 2024). In single-dose tests in 20 healthy young adults, the lowest dose raised calmness early, but the highest dose lowered alertness and some doses worsened memory scores (Kennedy 2002), and the largest cognition trial (323 older adults, 96 weeks) found no effect on its primary endpoint (Noguchi-Shinohara 2023).
Human effect matrix
Based on human clinical trials only. Animal and in-vitro data excluded.
| Effect | Evidence | Magnitude | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep Quality (Phospholipid Extract) | preliminary | Small | 3 |
| Sleep (Multi-Ingredient Formula) | preliminary | Negligible | 1 |
| Calm, Alertness & Memory (Single Doses) | mixed | Small | 1 |
| Cognition (Older Adults) | mixed | Negligible | 1 |
Evidence key: Strong = multiple consistent RCTs · Moderate = smaller/fewer RCTs · Preliminary = early trials or small n · Mixed = conflicting results
Documented benefits
- Better sleep scores with 400mg/day of a phospholipid-carrier extract (two placebo-controlled trials of one branded product, 2–3 weeks)
- More self-rated calmness early after a single low dose (one laboratory study)
Side effects & cautions
- Lower alertness: self-rated alertness fell at every time point after a single 900mg dose, and some doses lowered memory scores. Next-day effects of an evening dose were not measured
- An extract supplying 500mg/day of rosmarinic acid showed no differences from placebo in vital signs or physical and neurological measures over 96 weeks in 323 older adults
- In a 3-week open-label study at 200–400mg/day, liver and kidney blood tests did not change and no adverse effects were reported
- We reviewed no human data on interactions with sedatives, sleep medication, alcohol or thyroid medication, or on use in pregnancy and breastfeeding; absence of evidence is not evidence of safety
How to take
Frequently asked questions
Does any lemon balm extract work the same way?
No. The two placebo-controlled sleep trials we cite used one branded phospholipid-carrier extract at 400mg/day. Trials of dried leaf, other extracts or herbal combinations are not evidence for it, and a product that does not state its extract type or standardisation cannot be compared with them.
What dose was tested for sleep?
400mg/day of the phospholipid-carrier extract, as two 200mg tablets, in its two placebo-controlled trials. 200mg/day was tested only in an open-label study without placebo, where sleep scores improved half as much as at 400mg/day (−15% vs −30%). 200mg is also below the lowest single dose (300mg) in the calm and memory study.
Will lemon balm make me drowsy the next day?
Unknown. A single 900mg dose lowered self-rated alertness in a laboratory study, but no trial measured the next-day effects of an evening dose.
Who funded the research?
The authors of the crossover sleep trial include the scientific director of and consultants to Pharmextracta, maker of the tested product, and the open-label study disclosed that Relissa is an Indena trademark. No independent replication of the sleep results was found.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) in the United States
Products in the United States
None of the stacks we have audited are listed in our catalogue in the United States yet.
FDA (DSHEA dietary supplement)
Regulatory note
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. Individual results vary.
Sources (6)expand
- PMID 39683592Effects of Melissa officinalis Phytosome on Sleep Quality: Results of a Prospective, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, and Cross-Over Study (2024)
- PMID 37927585The possible "calming effect" of subchronic supplementation of a standardised phospholipid carrier-based Melissa officinalis L. extract in healthy adults with emotional distress and poor sleep conditions: results from a prospective, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial (2023)
- PMID 41777239Melissa phospholipids improves sleep quality and mental well-being: concluding results from clinical study in adults with emotional distress (2026)
- PMID 38580720Effect of a nutraceutical combination on sleep quality among people with impaired sleep: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial (2024)
- PMID 12062586Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) (2002)
- PMID 36502333Effects of Melissa officinalis Extract Containing Rosmarinic Acid on Cognition in Older Adults Without Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2023)