Does supplementing with lemon balm improve mental health and sleep quality? Original paper

In this randomized controlled trial, supplementing with lemon balm improved mental health and sleep quality in participants with self-reported elevated levels of anxiety, stress, or depression or poor sleep quality.

Whether supplementing with lemon balm improves mental health and sleep quality.

The primary outcome was anxiety, measured using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-42 (DASS-42) questionnaire. The secondary outcomes included sleep quality (measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index or PSQI), stress, depression, positive and negative affect, overall mental wellbeing, and quality of life, all of which were measured using different questionnaires.

100 adults (average age of 31; 64% women, 36% men) in Pakistan without apparent health conditions but who self-reported moderate levels of stress, anxiety, or depression or poor sleep quality.

In this 3-week randomized controlled trial, the participants were assigned to supplement with 200 mg of an oral, phospholipid-based, lemon-balm aqueous extract or a placebo twice daily.

Adherence to the supplementation protocol was confirmed through a weekly phone call.

Compared to the placebo group, all of the examined outcomes improved in the lemon balm group.