PARTS USED:
- Flowers
- Leaves
- Roots
USES:
Soothes mucous membranes
Relaxing nervine
- Depression – lifts mood (somewhat euphoric effect)
- Calming effect on the nervous system
- Helps relieve anxiety and stress
- Good for sensitive children
Respiratory
- Cough/Cold/Flu – tinctures, gargles, steam inhalations
- Decongestant
- Expectorant
CV
- Insufficient circulation
GI
- Calms the GI system – helps with
nausea/vomiting
- Relieves stagnant digestion, bloating/gas
GU
- Bladder infections
- UTIs
Immune
- Antiviral – colds, flu
- Swollen neck glands
- Infection
- Exceptional for yeast infections – use the tea topically and as a douche
- Fungal infections
Antibacterial
- Effective against Streptococcus pyogenes, E. Coli, and Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Essential oil known to be effective against resistant strains of Staph aureus
Anti-allergenic
Antiseptic
Antioxidant
Styptic/Astringent – stops bleeding by contracting the surrounding tissues and blood vessels
Diaphoretic
- While it warms during a shivering fever, it eventually cools and helps break the fever by moving the heat from the core out to the peripheries
- Known as a diffusive – it warms during a shivering fever while at the same time keeping the core cool and dissipating excess heat by improving circulation to the peripheries and causing the body to sweat
Emmenagogue
- Brings on delayed menses
- Helps with circulation through the reproductive tract
- Helps with cramping
PREPARATION:
- Infusion
- Tincture
- Bath
- Oxymel
- Poultice
SIDE EFFECTS AND TOXICITY:
- Pregnant women, because of the stimulation of uterine secretions
- For those of higher anxiety, it’s euphoric properties can leave one feeling spaced out; combine with a calming, grounding herb to counteract this effect
MISCELLANEOUS:
- The name Bee Balm is due to its strong allure for bees, as well as butterflies and hummingbirds
- Often called Wild Oregano – Commonly used in all sorts of foods in the Southwest (stews, spaghetti sauces, salsas, pizza), anywhere Oregano is used
- Known as the “medicine that draws out the fire,” it is particularly good for burns and fever
- To utilize the flowers, pull them from the flower head before use – the head itself is quite fibrous and tough
- Monarda fistulosa is spicier and hotter in its actions than the common garden variety of Monarda didyma
- Male elk will roll in a patch of Monarda in order to attract a mate
