Is Lemon Balm Tea Good for Menstrual Cramps?

Partly: lemon balm tea may feel soothing for mild menstrual cramps because its warmth can be comforting, but a specific cramp-relieving effect is unproven.

Can lemon balm tea help with menstrual cramps?

Lemon balm tea is an option to consider as a comfort drink if your cramps are mild and you can safely consume the herb. Feeling soothed, however, is not the same as treating the cause of the pain.

The available human research concerns lemon balm and symptoms associated with menstruation, rather than a cup of tea tested specifically for cramp relief. For a broader discussion of options, see the best drinks for menstrual cramps.

How might lemon balm tea work?

Menstrual cramps occur when the uterus contracts during a period. Substances called prostaglandins help trigger these contractions; higher levels are associated with more intense cramps. A warm drink may be comforting, but that does not mean it changes prostaglandin levels or uterine contractions.

Lemon balm is sometimes used for its calming properties, and it is often described as having a possible muscle-relaxing effect. It has not been established that drinking lemon balm tea relaxes the uterus or directly reduces menstrual cramps.

Even if a lemon balm preparation has an effect in a study, that result cannot automatically be transferred to tea. Different preparations can contain different amounts of the plant's compounds, and the amount in a cup of tea is not established by the available trial.

What does the evidence say about menstrual cramps?

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 90 students examined lemon balm and menstrual bleeding and symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea, the medical term for painful periods. The participants were evaluated before treatment and during two subsequent menstrual cycles.

The researchers reported that the overall severity of associated symptoms decreased. Both groups showed reductions in symptom severity, however, and the findings varied by symptom: there were differences between groups in lethargy after treatment, but not in fatigue. The study also reported no increase in bleeding severity or the duration of menstruation with the preparation studied.

This trial is useful but limited for the question of cramp relief. It assessed a lemon balm preparation and associated symptoms, not lemon balm tea as a drink for menstrual pain. It does not establish that a cup of lemon balm tea reduces cramp pain or identify an effective amount of tea.

How can you use lemon balm tea for cramps?

If you want to try it, choose a commercially prepared lemon balm tea and follow the package directions for the amount of water and steeping time. Let the tea cool to a comfortable drinking temperature, and sip it when you want a warm drink during your period.

Check the ingredient list, particularly if you have allergies or take medicines. A blend can contain other herbs or caffeinated tea leaves, so its effects and precautions may differ from those of plain lemon balm tea.

There is no established amount or schedule of lemon balm tea for menstrual cramp relief. Treat it as a comfort measure rather than a proven pain treatment, and do not feel that you need to drink more if it does not help. A heating pad applied to the lower abdomen is another comfort measure some people find helpful.

Who should be careful, and when should you see a doctor?

Check with a clinician before using lemon balm tea if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or before giving it to a child: reliable safety information for these groups is limited. Also ask a clinician or pharmacist if you take sedatives or thyroid medication, because interactions are possible and not well understood.

Stop using the tea and seek medical advice if you develop a rash or another concerning reaction. Seek urgent care for signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat.

Medicines such as ibuprofen can help some people with menstrual cramps by reducing prostaglandin production, but they are not suitable for everyone. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before using them if you have kidney disease or a stomach ulcer, take blood thinners, or might be pregnant. Do not stop or change prescribed medication to try lemon balm tea.

See a clinician if cramps are new, worsening, unusually heavy, interfere with daily activities, or do not improve with your usual care. Seek urgent medical attention for sudden severe pelvic pain, fainting, or severe pain with fever. If pregnancy is possible, severe or one-sided pelvic pain, particularly with bleeding or dizziness, also needs urgent assessment.