Bee Balm
Bee Balm- Monarda fistulosa- image by Cori Achi
Bee Balm- Monarda fistulosa
Bee Balm also known as Monarda, Oswego Tea, Bergamot, Horsemint, Indian Plume, & Mountain Balm is a Native American herb from the mint or Lamiaceae family.
Bee Balm is found growing wild along the roadsides in Tennessee and the plant prefers well-drained gravelly soil in full sun. The fluffy pom-pom like flower heads attract hummingbirds, bees, & butterflies. Some species of Monarda have lavender, pink, white, or red flowers. The pairs of opposite leaves grow along a thick squared stem and tend to have powdery mildew.
Caution: Monarda should not be taken by women who are pregnant.
Bee Balm- Monarda fistulosa- Flower blossoms in a heart shape- image by Cori Achi
Reasons to Love Bee Balm
The leaves, stems, & flowers of Bee Balm are edible. The flowers or leaves can be used in beverages, syrups, oils, salads, butters, cream cheese, vinegars, marinades, honey, jellies, sorbets, & cake icing.
Bee Balm is a good source of nutritional & bioactive compounds & is an important antioxidant. Bee Balm is a good substitute for Oil of Oregano.
The flowers can be chewed & rubbed onto bug bites, stings, & rashes. Historically, boiled leaves were wrapped in cloth for sore eyes, headaches, muscle spasms, fungal infections & placed under bandages to slow bleeding. On battlefields, the leaves were chewed & used for this purpose.
Scarlet Beebalm- Monarda didyma- Image by Cori Achi
Native American Uses
Muskogee- this plant was called “Sweet Leaf” & is part of their 7 Sacred Medicines. It is considered a “cure all” and is useful for burns, lung & upper respiratory infections, stings, bites, anxiety, insomnia, calming anger or violence, severed or damaged nerves, digestion, urinary tract infections, etc.
Cherokee- made a poultice to relieve headaches, used the leaves to stop nosebleeds, and used the plant to help with measles.
Lumbee- used the plant externally as a blistering agent, & for backaches & arthritis. Bee Balm was also used to bring out coughs, for urinary disorders, to help with headaches, colds & flu, weak bowels & stomachs, delayed menstruation, nosebleeds, heart trouble, fever, measles, flatulence, to encourage restful sleep, & for smallpox.
Bee Balm- Monarda fistulosa- Flower blossoms in a basket- Image by Cori Achi
Bee Balm- Herbal Uses
As an infusion, Bee Balm can help relieve sore throats, toothaches, mouth sores, & is used as a general mouthwash. In steam, Bee Balm can help clear the sinuses & makes the house smell nice. It can be used in a bath or foot soak to help with sore feet, & tired or achy muscles. Bee Balm can promote healthy digestion & helps relieve indigestion, bloating, cramping, gastric & intestinal pain.
Bee Balm Flower Essence assists with staying grounded, flexible, resolving unfinished business, cleansing the entire energetic system, helps with the transition to more expanded states of spiritual awareness, & helps people who have trouble expressing & releasing.
Sources:
Southern Appalachian Herbs- Monarda... aka Bee Balm, Wild Bergamot, Oswego Tea
Whispering Roots Apothecary- BEE BALM/WILD BERGAMOT FLOWER ESSENCE
Herbal Academy- BENEFITS OF BEE BALM: MONARDA FISTULOSA AND M. DIDYMA