Melissa tea

What is lemon balm tea?

Lemon balm tea is a herbal tea made from the leaves of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). Lemon balm is a plant from the labiate family, which also includes mint, sage and thyme. Lemon balm has a lemony scent and taste, which has earned it the name lemon balm.

Lemon balm originally comes from the Mediterranean region, but is now cultivated in many parts of the world. It has been used for centuries in folk medicine to alleviate various ailments. Among other things, lemon balm contains essential oils, flavonoids, tannins and rosmarinic acid, which are responsible for its healing properties.

How does lemon balm tea work for dogs?

Lemon balm tea has a calming and relaxing effect on the nervous system of dogs. It can help to reduce anxiety, restlessness or hyperactivity. Lemon balm tea can also help with nervous digestive complaints such as flatulence, cramps or diarrhea, as it has an antispasmodic and digestive effect.

Lemon balm tea also strengthens the immune system of dogs by stimulating the body's defenses and having an anti-inflammatory effect. It can therefore be used for colds, coughs or infections. Lemon balm tea also has an antibacterial and antiviral effect and can therefore provide preventative protection against pathogens.

How can you offer your dog lemon balm tea?

There are various ways to incorporate lemon balm into your dog's diet:

• Lemonbalm tea: prepare a lemon balm tea and leave it to cool. You can then pour the tea over your dog's food or offer it separately as drinking water. The dosage will depend on your dog's size and weight, but as a guide you can use about one teaspoon of dried lemon balm per cup of water. Do not give your dog more than two to three cups of lemon balm tea per day.
• Lemon balmleaves: You can also mix fresh or dried lemon balm leaves directly into your dog's food or give it as a treat. Make sure that you only use organically grown or self-collected lemon balm leaves that are free from pesticides or other harmful substances. Again, the dosage depends on the size and weight of your dog, but as a guide you can give about half a teaspoon of dried or one teaspoon of fresh lemon balm leaves per 10 kg of body weight.
• Melissa oil: You can also use melissa essential oil to give your dog an aromatherapy treatment. The oil has a pleasant scent and can improve your dog's mood. You can put a few drops of lemon balm oil on a cloth or cushion and place it near your dog or gently massage his coat with it. Make sure that you only use high-quality and pure lemon balm oil and do not apply it directly to your dog's skin or mucous membranes. Also, do not use more than two to three drops per application.

Are there any risks or side effects of lemon balm tea for dogs?

Melissa tea is generally well tolerated by dogs and has no serious side effects. However, you should take a few precautions to avoid potential problems:

• Lemon balm tea can affect the effects of medications your dog is taking. If your dog is suffering from a chronic or acute illness and is on medication, you should speak to your vet before using lemon balm tea.
• Lemon balm tea can cause allergic reactions in some dogs. If you notice that your dog shows symptoms such as itching, skin rash, swelling or breathing difficulties after drinking lemon balm tea, you should stop the tea immediately.
• Excessive consumption of lemon balm tea can lead to drowsiness or dizziness. If you give your dog lemon balm tea, you should not leave him unattended and make sure that he does not stumble or injure himself. You should also refrain from giving your dog lemon balm tea before taking him for car rides or other activities that require his attention.