Is Lemon Balm Tea Good for Gas?

Partly: lemon balm tea may help with mild, occasional gas if the effects reported for lemon balm apply to the tea, but its effectiveness and gas-relieving mechanism are unproven. Research on lemon balm is limited, and it does not establish how well a cup of tea works for gas. A small serving of lemon balm tea may be reasonable to try if you have no reason to avoid the herb.

Can lemon balm tea help with occasional gas?

Lemon balm has traditionally been used for digestive discomfort, including flatulence. That history makes the tea an option some people may wish to try, but it does not establish how reliably it works or who might benefit.

Gas can cause a feeling of fullness or bloating and may result from swallowed air or the digestion of certain foods. Occasional gas is common, but lemon balm tea will not necessarily address its cause. Do not rely on the tea to manage symptoms that are severe, persistent or changing.

For other options, see the best drinks for gas.

How might lemon balm tea affect gas?

Lemon balm contains plant compounds, including rosmarinic acid and terpenoids. Researchers have discussed possible effects of the herb on flatulence, but the available evidence does not establish how a cup of lemon balm tea might relieve gas.

The presence of a compound in the plant does not tell us how much enters the tea or whether that amount affects symptoms. It is also not established whether the tea changes gas production, helps gas pass or prevents bloating.

A noncarbonated drink may be more comfortable than a fizzy drink for someone who finds carbonation makes gas worse. That is different from showing that lemon balm itself reduces gas.

What does the evidence say about lemon balm and gas?

A review of lemon balm research discusses traditional uses and reports biological activities that include effects related to flatulence. The review considers different kinds of research, including laboratory, animal and clinical research on lemon balm more broadly.

This is limited evidence for the specific question of whether lemon balm tea helps people with gas. The review does not establish that an ordinary cup of the tea reliably relieves gas, or identify a proven amount to use for that purpose.

Results from an extract or another lemon balm preparation cannot automatically be applied to tea because preparations can contain different amounts of plant compounds. If you feel better after drinking the tea, that experience alone cannot establish that the herb caused the improvement.

How can you use lemon balm tea for gas?

One simple option is a cold-steeped lemon balm infusion. Use fresh lemon balm grown for consumption, rinse the leaves under running water and use a clean, covered jug.

Ingredients

• 2 sprigs fresh lemon balm, about 5 g
• 4¼ cups water, about 1 L

Steps

1. Place the rinsed lemon balm in the jug with the water.
2. Refrigerate for 2–4 hours to steep.
3. Strain the lemon balm and pour a small serving. Warm that serving if you prefer it hot.
4. Keep the remaining infusion refrigerated and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor. Discard it after 2–3 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling.

There is no established therapeutic serving size of lemon balm tea for gas. Start with a small serving and stop if it makes you feel worse; drinking more is not necessarily more effective. Do not leave the jug at room temperature for more than a few hours.

If you choose to try the tea, notice whether your symptoms change and whether particular foods or drinks seem to affect them. That information may be useful to discuss with a healthcare professional, especially if gas keeps returning. Avoid treating a response to the tea as a diagnosis.

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 healthcare professional first. Safety information for using lemon balm to manage symptoms in these groups is limited.

If you have a medical condition or take medication, ask a clinician or pharmacist whether lemon balm tea is appropriate for you. Do not stop or change prescribed medication because of the tea.

See a healthcare professional if gas is persistent, keeps returning, or occurs with unexplained weight loss, blood in the stool or a lasting change in bowel habits. Seek urgent medical care for severe or worsening abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, or a swollen abdomen with an inability to pass gas or stool. These symptoms need assessment rather than a home remedy.