Bee Balm

Also Known As: Sweet Leaf, Bergamot, Horsemint, Wild Oregano, Oswego Tea, Lemon Mint, Monarda, and Indian Nettle

Botanical Name: Monarda Spp.

Family Name: Lamiaceae

Native To: North America

Parts To Use: Leaves, Flower, and Stems

How It’s Used: Due to the high thymol content, which is a strong antiseptic, bee balm has been used in infusion form for a variety of ailments: colds, flu, upper respiratory problems, gas, diarrhea, nausea, fevers and whooping cough, and topically for skin problems and wounds. It can be used in tea, tincture, infused oil, ointment/salve, and steam inhalation forms.

Harvesting: Harvest mid-morning after the dew has evaporated for the greatest flavor. Start by clipping the base of the stalk. Gather the stalks by their stems, tie the ends, and hang to dry. You can also pluck the leaves and petals from the stalks, spread them out on a screen and allow them to dry naturally away from dust and sunlight. Depending on the humidity level, drying can take 1-2 weeks. You can tell when the leaves are dry by crushing a leaf or two. It should crumble easily. Once dry, store leaves lightly packed in a glass jar away from direct sunlight. Try not to crush them to preserve the flavor until you are ready to use.

Bee balm’s fragrant blossoms attract bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinat ing insects. It was named after Spanish physician and botanist Nocholas Monardes, who published some of the first European books on American native plants in the late 1500s. However, the Native American tribes of Eastern North America and Canada used Monarda (bee balm) medicinally for centuries before Nocholas Monardes studied the plant. North American tribes in the eastern United States used the herb to ease the pain of mild abrasions and bee stings by crushing the leaves of the plant and rubbing them on the skin. The name, “Oswego tea,” originated from the Native Americans living near the present-day city of Oswego in upstate New York. They showed early settlers how to make an herbal tea from the leaves of the plant. It is generally believed that after the Boston Tea Party when the English tea was tossed overboard, the bee balm plant was used as a black tea replacement to make the tea the colonists craved.

There are over 15 species of bee balm that grow both wild and in gardens. Colors range from bright red to lilac to shades of pink and white. The plant grows in dense clusters with striking red flowers that bloom on 3-foot high stems in mid to late summer. Most bee balm varieties are perennials and will grow in average to well-drained soil in full sun. You can grow bee balm from seed, but it establishes quicker when planted from clippings or mildly established plants from your local garden center. Plant in full sun and provide plenty of air circulation. This is a plant that will grow in heavy clay soils tolerating the wetness fairly well. It is pollinated by bees, so it is a good one to grow in your gardens to help our ailing bee population.

Bee balm is used to soothe cold symptoms, including congestion, headache, and sore throats. Inhaling the fumes of steamed leaves is done to help clear sinuses. Bee balm has also been used for stomach issues such as gas, nausea, and vomiting, to reduce muscle spasms, and as a diuretic . It contains high concentrations of thymol, which is a strong antiseptic that is common in mouthwashes. The Native Americans used poultices made from the leaves of the plant for skin infections and minor wounds, and as a tea for mouth and throat infections caused by dental issues and gingivitis.