Is Lemon Balm Tea Good for Hot Flashes?

No: lemon balm tea has not been shown to relieve hot flashes through an effect on temperature regulation, although it may feel soothing when stress accompanies them. There is not enough reliable evidence to recommend it as a treatment for hot flashes. If you enjoy lemon balm tea, you can generally approach it as a beverage rather than a remedy, while taking the precautions below.

Can lemon balm tea help with hot flashes?

Lemon balm tea may be pleasant to drink during a hot flash, especially if a quiet break helps you feel more comfortable. That personal sense of comfort is different from evidence that the tea makes hot flashes less frequent or less intense.

Temperature matters to some people. If a hot drink seems to bring on or worsen your hot flashes, try lemon balm tea chilled or at room temperature instead. Pay attention to your own experience rather than assuming a particular temperature will work for everyone.

You do not need to drink lemon balm tea to manage hot flashes. If symptoms are disrupting sleep or daily life, a clinician can discuss treatments with better-established evidence.

How might lemon balm tea affect hot flashes?

Hot flashes are episodes of sudden warmth that can also involve sweating and flushing. Around menopause, changes in hormone levels affect how the body regulates temperature. Hot flashes can also have other causes, including some medications and medical conditions.

Lemon balm is often associated with relaxation, so a cup of lemon balm tea may feel comforting when stress accompanies a hot flash. However, that does not establish that lemon balm tea changes the temperature regulation involved in hot flashes. No specific mechanism for treating them with lemon balm tea has been established.

Drinking fluids can help replace fluid lost through sweating. Hydration supports normal body functions, but it is not a proven treatment for hot flashes. The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification; a tea does not need to “flush toxins” to be a useful part of a hydration routine.

What does the evidence say?

The available evidence does not establish whether lemon balm tea reduces the number or severity of hot flashes. It also does not establish a treatment dose, how long someone would need to use it, or whether any effect would last.

Claims about lemon balm and relaxation should not be treated as proof of an effect on hot flashes. Similarly, results involving a concentrated extract or a blend of herbs would not automatically apply to lemon balm tea: the preparation and amount consumed can differ.

For symptoms that are frequent or bothersome, ask a clinician about established options, including hormone therapy or nonhormonal medications when appropriate. The choice depends on your health history and preferences. You can also read about the best drinks for hot flashes for practical ways to choose beverages that suit you.

How can you use lemon balm tea?

If you would like to try lemon balm tea as a refreshing drink, a cold infusion is an option. This is a food preparation, not a tested dose for hot flashes.

Ingredients

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

Steps

1. Rinse the lemon balm leaves under running water.
2. Place the leaves and water in a clean covered container.
3. Refrigerate for 2–4 hours to infuse.
4. Strain the leaves and serve the lemon balm tea chilled, or let a serving reach a comfortable drinking temperature.
5. Keep the remaining lemon balm tea refrigerated and drink it within 24 hours for best flavor. Discard it sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling.

Use lemon balm identified and sold for food, or leaves from a source you know is safe to eat. Avoid unidentified plants and plants treated with pesticides not intended for food use.

If you prefer a packaged lemon balm tea, follow its preparation instructions. Check the ingredients: a blend may contain other herbs or caffeine, and its effects and precautions may differ from those of lemon balm alone.

Who should be careful with lemon balm tea?

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, check with a clinician before drinking lemon balm tea because safety information is limited. Ask a pediatrician before giving it to a child.

If you take sedatives, sleep medicines or other medications that cause drowsiness, ask a clinician or pharmacist before regular use; lemon balm may add to drowsiness. If you have thyroid disease or take thyroid medication, check before using lemon balm regularly because possible interactions are not well established. Do not stop prescribed medication to try the tea.

See a clinician if hot flashes are new, persistent, severe, or interfere with sleep or daily activities, or if they occur with symptoms such as fever, a racing heartbeat or unexplained weight loss. Seek urgent medical attention for chest pain, fainting or difficulty breathing.