Papaya - a world class meat tenderizer, natural digestive aid, prevents ulcers, and also a soft contact lense cleaner.Rx for Balm
For a relaxing bath, tie a handful of balm in a cloth and run your bathwater over it. In addition to feeling its tranquil effect, you’ll love its lemony aroma.
To help treat wounds, make a hot compress using 2 teaspoons of leaves per cup of water. Boil 10 minutes, strain, and apply with a clean cloth.
For a light, lemony-tasting infusion, which may help soothe the stomach, fight infection, or ease menstrual pain, use 2 teaspoons of leaves per cup of water. Steep 10 to 20 minutes. Drink up to 3 cups a day.
In a tincture, use ½ to 1½ teaspoons up to three times a day. When using commercial preparations, follow package directions.
Medicinal infusions or tinctures of balm should not be given to children under age 2. For older children and people over 65, start with low-strength preparations and increase strength if necessary.
To help treat a minor cut, crush some fresh balm leaves and apply them directly to the wound
Balm the Safety Factor
Two recent studies show that balm interferes with the thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyrotropin. There are no reports of this herb causing thyroid problems, but anyone with a thyroid condition should discuss balm’s thyrotropin-inhibiting effect with a physician before using it.
Balm is on the Food and Drug Administration’s list of herbs generally regarded as safe The medical literature contains no reports of toxicity. For otherwise healthy nonpregnant, nonnursing adults who do not have thyroid conditions, balm is considered safe in amounts typically recommended.
Balm should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If balm causes minor discomfort, such as stomach upset or diarrhea, take less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience any unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve Significantly in two weeks.
Native Cultivation - Sweeten Up Your Garden
Balm is a branching, erect perennial that grows to 2 feet. It has the mint family’s characteristic square stems and small, two-lipped. white or yellow flowers, which bloom in bunches throughout the summer. The aboveground parts die back each winter, but the root is perennial.
Balm grows easily from seeds sown in spring or from cuttings or root divisions. Seeds germinate indoors or out and often do best when left uncovered. Simply keep them moist. Germination typically takes three to four weeks.
Balm likes well-drained soil with a pH near neutral. Thin seedlings to l-foot spacing. The herb prefers partial shade. It wilts in full sun and loses some aroma.
For medicinal use, the leaves should be harvested before the plant flowers. Cut the entire plant a few inches above the ground. Dry it quickly or the leaves may turn black. Balm loses much of its fragrance when dried. After drying, powder the leaves, then store them in tightly sealed opaque containers to preserve the volatile oil.