Melissa officinalis, known colloqually as Lemon Balm, has a venerable history of use as a relaxant, anxiolytic, and sleep aid. A new study shows nightly supplementation with a phytosomal extract of this plant improved sleep quality in a cohort of people with insomnia (Photo: Cristina Ionescu/Shutterstock)
These days, a lot of people could use some help in improving
their sleep. A phytosomal extract of Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
may be just the ticket for many of them.
Data from a recent double-blind crossover study of 30 people with chronic insomnia show that nightly supplementation with 400 mg of Melissa officinalis Phytosome® (Indena), taken 30 minutes prior to bedtime, markedly reduced composite Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores and increased the amount of time spent in restorative slow-wave sleep.
The findings were strong enough to prompt lead investigator
Francesco Di Pierro, PhD, of the University of Insubria, Varese, Italy, to consider
this form of M. officinalis a “viable alternative to pharmaceutical
treatments for insomnia, offering a natural and potentially safer option for
individuals seeking relief from sleep disorders.”
(This article was originally published by Undark.org on Dec. 9, 2024, and republished here with permission) Earlier this fall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported data showing that adult obesity rates — long trending upwards — had fallen modestly over the past few years, from 41.9 to 40.3 percent. The decline sparked discussion […]
For a lot of people these days, medical clinics are no longer the center of the healthcare equation like they were in the past: their smartphones are now the point of focus. An astonishing number of medical tests, treatments, and services have jumped out of the clinic and into peoples’ daily lives via their computers, […]
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Edward Walker, PhD is a scientist and lecturer who believes that developing a
healthy relationship with food is key to long-term wellness. He completed his PhD at the University of
Auckland on the antioxidant effects of berry fruits, and has continued to
research how dietary plant compounds can improve health and wellness. Dr.
Walker works at The New Zealand Institute of Plant and Food Research
undertaking commercially-focused research on clinically validated nutraceutical
products for human health applications.
He is also a guest lecturer at the University of Auckland on the topic
of nutraceuticals and functional foods.
He has headed 14 years’ worth of clinical research on Amarasate, the
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Ashley Koff, RD, is an award-winning personalized nutrition
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the Nutrition Director for the University of California Irvine Susan Samueli
Integrative Health Institute’s Integrative and Functional Medicine Fellowship.
She’s the author of 2 books, with a third coming in January 2026.
