Is Lemon Balm Tea Good for Bloating?

Partly: lemon balm tea may ease mild, occasional bloating if it helps relax the digestive tract, but that proposed mechanism has not been proven for the tea. Evidence comes mainly from a trial of a multi-herb extract, not lemon balm tea itself. An occasional cup may be worth trying as a comfort measure, provided you have no relevant health or medication concerns.

Can lemon balm tea help with bloating?

Lemon balm tea might be soothing when bloating is mild and occasional, but there is not enough evidence to predict who will benefit. It should not be considered a proven way to reduce gas or treat a digestive condition.

Bloating can feel like fullness or pressure, with or without a visibly swollen abdomen. It has several possible causes, so a tea that feels comfortable for one person may not make a difference for another. If your symptoms persist or keep returning, look beyond the tea and discuss them with a health professional.

How might lemon balm tea work?

Lemon balm is traditionally used for digestive discomfort and is sometimes described as a carminative: an herb used for gas or related symptoms. One proposed explanation is that it may help relax muscles in the digestive tract. That does not establish that lemon balm tea changes intestinal movement or helps gas pass in people.

A cup of lemon balm tea can also be a pleasant, noncarbonated drink. Any comfort you notice could have several explanations, including the experience of sipping a warm drink; it would not prove that lemon balm caused the improvement. There is no good evidence that the tea removes an underlying cause of bloating.

What does the research say about lemon balm tea?

In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of a multi-herb preparation, 120 people with functional dyspepsia received treatments that included an extract containing lemon balm and several other herbs. Functional dyspepsia involves recurring upper digestive symptoms. During the first 4 weeks, the group receiving the herbal preparation had greater improvement in an overall gastrointestinal symptom score than the placebo group.

That result is encouraging for the combination tested, but it does not show that lemon balm alone relieved bloating. The preparation contained several herbs, and an extract is not equivalent to a homemade tea. The trial also assessed a group of digestive symptoms rather than proving an effect on bloating alone.

Overall, evidence for lemon balm tea specifically is limited. There is no established effective tea strength or amount for bloating.

How can you use lemon balm tea for bloating?

If you want to try lemon balm tea, start with a small cup and notice how you feel. Choose a preparation you enjoy rather than treating it as a measured remedy. Stop using it if it seems to worsen your symptoms or causes an unwanted reaction.

This cold-steeped version makes a lightly flavored lemon balm tea; it is not the extract used in the trial.

Ingredients

• 1 liter drinking water (about 4¼ US cups)
• 2 sprigs fresh lemon balm, about 5 g, or 8–12 leaves

Steps

1. Rinse the lemon balm under running water and place it in a clean, covered container.
2. Add the drinking water, cover and refrigerate for 2–4 hours.
3. Strain and pour a serving. Drink it cold or gently warm the serving if you prefer.
4. Refrigerate the remainder and drink it within 24 hours for best flavor. Discard it after 2–3 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling.

Use only a plant you can confidently identify as lemon balm, and do not leave the prepared tea at room temperature for more than a few hours. These preparation amounts are for flavor, not a proven therapeutic dose.

It may also help to notice whether bloating follows particular meals or eating habits. A simple food and symptom diary can give you useful information to discuss with a clinician. For other options, see the best drinks for bloating.

Who should be careful with lemon balm tea?

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or want to give lemon balm tea to a child, ask a health professional first; reliable safety information for these groups is limited. Check before using it if you have a thyroid condition or take thyroid medication, because possible effects on thyroid activity and medication interactions are not well established.

Also ask a clinician or pharmacist if you take sedatives or sleep medications, as lemon balm may add to drowsiness. Do not stop or change prescribed medication to try the tea. Avoid lemon balm if you have had an allergic reaction to it.

See a clinician if bloating persists, keeps returning, or occurs with a change in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss or blood in your stool. Seek urgent medical care for severe or sudden abdominal pain, vomiting with an inability to pass stool or gas, or signs of a serious allergic reaction such as trouble breathing.