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Dietary supplement

Lemon Balm Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Tonic Tinctures

Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Lemon Balm is a dietary supplement by Tonic Tinctures with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for anxiety and stress, sleep problems, digestive upset.Based on those ingredients, 264 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Lemon Balm Leaf Tincture. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Lemon Balm by Tonic Tinctures

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 0 of its 1 active ingredient.

This product contains one active ingredient: lemon balm leaf tincture — a liquid herbal extract of the lemon balm plant. The inactive ingredients are water, alcohol, and stevia leaf extract.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed

This product doesn't appear to be marketed for a specific use, so we graded Lemon Balm's overall clinical evidence instead.

Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports Lemon Balm for:

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.
  • Since the label doesn't commit to one use, we graded the ingredient's overall clinical evidence instead.
  • On file: Herpes labialis (cold sores) — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Depression — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Stress — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).

Lemon balm is possibly effective for cold sores (herpes labialis) and for stress and depression, based on the clinical evidence we have on file. That said, 'possibly effective' means the research shows some promise, not that it's proven to work — more robust studies would be needed to be certain.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Lemon Balm

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Lemon balm is generally well tolerated for short-term use in healthy adults, though long-term safety and effects of high doses haven't been well studied. In trials, dizziness and drowsiness were reported, but no more often than with placebo.

A rare case of heart rhythm changes was reported in someone using a multi-ingredient product containing lemon balm, but it's unclear whether lemon balm alone was responsible. Avoid lemon balm during pregnancy unless your doctor advises otherwise — there isn't enough safety data.

If you're breastfeeding, the safety information is limited; talk to your doctor before using it.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Lemon Balm

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Lemon Balm.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 264 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Check your medications if you take CNS depressants like sleep aids, sedatives, anxiety medication, or pain relievers — lemon balm may boost their drowsy effects (Moderate). Also check if you're on thyroid hormone replacement therapy, as lemon balm may interfere with it (Moderate).

Use the search tool on this page to verify your exact medications.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with some supporting evidence behind its ingredients' uses. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Lemon balm may help with cold sores or stress, but its interaction potential with sedating drugs and thyroid medication means you should check with your pharmacist first. It's not recommended in pregnancy.

If you're taking CNS depressants or thyroid hormone, this product needs a quick verification before you start.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Aug 22, 2024.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Lemon Balm, straight from the product label.

Brand Tonic Tinctures
Net contents 1 Fluid Ounce(s); 30 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Aug 22, 2024
DSLD ID 317936
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Lemon Balm by Tonic Tinctures, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Dropper(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
3 Dropper(s)
Servings per container
30
IngredientAmount% DV
Lemon Balm Leaf Tincture0 NP--

Other ingredients: Water, Distilled, Alcohol, Stevia Leaf Extract

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Formula

Artisan liquid extract Lemon Balm Single-step tincture Ratio 1 : 6.5 Herb: Menstruum

Formulation

Gluten free, no hidden additives

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Shake gently before use

Directions: Use as directed, 1-3 droppers 1-3 times a day.

Precautions

Keep out of reach of children.

Discontinue use if unusual symptoms occur.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

Caution: These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. These statement have not been evaluated by the FDA

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

See for yourself

Lemon Balm by Tonic Tinctures label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Lemon Balm by Tonic Tinctures

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Dropper(s) Dosage formLiquid Servings per container30 Amounts shown are per serving.

Lemon Balm Leaf Tincture

Interacts with
264 drugs
0 NP per serving

Lemon balm is a gentle, lemon-scented mint-family herb traditionally used to ease stress, support sleep, and calm digestion, and topically for cold so...

Lemon Balm Leaf Tincture monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Water, Distilled, Alcohol, Stevia Leaf Extract. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Lemon Balm by Tonic Tinctures Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Lemon Balm?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
264Drugs
264 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Lemon Balm with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Lemon Balm Leaf Tincture2 drug types · 264 drugs

Cns Depressants

Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Lemon balm seems to have CNS depressant activity in animals and in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Thyroid Hormone

Theoretically, lemon balm might interfere with thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
In vitro, constituents of lemon balm extract bind to thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), preventing TSH receptor-binding and leading to the inhibition of TSH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. In animals, lemon balm extract has been shown to decrease levels of circulating TSH and inhibit thyroid secretion.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Lemon Balm, from the product label.

Tonic Tinctures

See all Tonic Tinctures products
Name
Tonic Apothecary
Web Address
www.tonictinctures.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Lemon Balm by Tonic Tinctures: Common Questions

Does Lemon Balm by Tonic Tinctures interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Lemon Balm has a known interaction with 264 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Lemon Balm contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Will lemon balm make me drowsy?
Dizziness and drowsiness have been reported with lemon balm, but in clinical trials these effects didn't show up more often than with placebo. However, if you're already taking sedating medications, lemon balm could add to that effect — that's the main concern.
Can I use lemon balm while pregnant?
There isn't enough reliable safety data, so it's best avoided during pregnancy unless your doctor specifically advises you otherwise. If you're considering it, talk to your doctor first.
Is it safe to use lemon balm while breastfeeding?
Safety information is limited. Talk to your doctor before using it while breastfeeding so they can weigh the pros and cons for your situation.
Does lemon balm actually work for cold sores?
Lemon balm is possibly effective for cold sores based on the evidence we have. That means research shows some promise, but it's not a guaranteed cure — you and your doctor can decide if it's worth trying.
Can I use lemon balm long-term?
We don't have solid safety data on long-term use or high doses. It's considered well tolerated for short-term use in healthy adults, so if you're thinking of using it regularly, check in with your pharmacist or doctor.
What's in this tincture besides the lemon balm?
The inactive ingredients are water, alcohol, and stevia leaf extract. The alcohol is part of how the herb is extracted and preserved in liquid form.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Lemon Balm label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Lemon Balm's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 12 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Lemon Balm 12 references
  1. Wolbling RH, Leonhardt K. Local therapy of herpes simplex with dried extract from Melissa officinalis. Phytomedicine 1994;1:25-31.
  2. Akhondzadeh S, Noroozian M, Mohammadi M, et al. Melissa officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a double blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2003;74:863-6. PubMed
  3. Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Tildesley NT, et al. Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of Melissa officinalis (lemon balm). Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2002;72:953-64. PubMed
  4. Albrecht M, Berger W, Laux P, Schmidt U, et al. Psychopharmaka und Verkehrssicherheit. Der Einfluß von Euvegal® - Dragees forte auf die Fahrtüchtigkeit und Kombinationswirkungen mit Alkohol Z Allg Med 1995;71:1215-25.
  5. Herberg, KW. Nebenwirkungen pflanzlicher Beruhigungsmittel/ Leistung und Befinden nach Einnahme einer Baldrian-Hopfen-Kombination. Z.Allg Med 1996;72:234-240.
  6. Soulimani R, Fleurentin J, Mortier F, et al. Neurotropic action of the hydroalcoholic extract of Melissa officinalis in the mouse. Planta Med. 1991 Apr;57:105-9.
  7. Sourgens H, Winterhoff H, Gumbinger HG, et al. Antihormonal effects of plant extracts. TSH- and prolactin-suppressing properties of Lithospermum officinale and other plants. Planta Med. 1982 Jun;45:78-86. DOI
  8. Auf'mkolk M, Ingbar JC, Amir SM, et al. Inhibition by certain plant extracts of the binding and adenylate cyclase stimulatory effect of bovine thyrotropin in human thyroid membranes. Endocrinology. 1984 Aug;115:527-34. PubMed
  9. Santini F, Vitti P, Ceccarini G, et al. In vitro assay of thyroid disruptors affecting TSH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. J Endocrinol Invest. 2003 Oct;26:950-5. PubMed
  10. Alijaniha F, et al. Heart palpitation relief with Melissa officinalis leaf extract: double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial of efficacy and safety. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015;164:378-384. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.02.007. Epub 2015 Feb 11. PubMed
  11. Araj-Khodaei M, Noorbala AA, Yarani R, et al. A double-blind, randomized pilot study for comparison of Melissa officinalis L. and Lavandula angustifolia Mill. with Fluoxetine for the treatment of depression. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020;20(1):207. PubMed
  12. Kucuk U, Pham M, Raza Raja MH, Saad Shaukat MH, Clark R. Transient complete atrioventricular block associated with herbal supplement use. S D Med 2023;76(7):311-313.

See these in context on the Lemon Balm monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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