Page 162 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Bee Balm, Oswego Tea,
Monarda didyma

Howcheng CC 2.0
Bee Balm is also known as Oswego Tea, horse mint, In-
dian nettle, Red Bergamot and Scarlet Bergamot. It
gets the name Oswego tea because of its use by the
Oswego Tribe. It is in the Lamiaceae (Mint) Family and
is easily cultivated in the garden. This is a great herb to
plant to attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. It
is a perennial and grows naturally in much of North
America, Europe, and Asia.

Identification: Bee balm has straight, ridged,
square stems and grows to 3 feet (0.9 meters) tall. Its H. Zell, own work, CC 3.0
course opposite leaves can be smooth or have a thin
coating of fine hairs. The leaves have a strong fragrance Colds, Sore Throats, and Congestion: Bee
balm leaves are useful for treating colds, sore throats,
and are 3 to 6 inches (7.5 cm to 15 cm) long. Their
showy flowers range in color from deep pink to bright and nasal and chest congestion in the form of a tea or
in a steam vaporizer. Breathe in the vapors to open si-
red to purple. They are approximately 1 ½ inches (3.75
cm) long and are grouped in dense heads of many flow- nuses and clear congestion from the lungs.
ers. They bloom in mid to late summer. The plant Fevers: Oswego/Bee Balm tea is a mild diuretic, ex-
spreads on underground shoots, increasing the size of pelling water from the body through both sweat and
the plant every autumn. The plant in the center will urination. Sweating helps cool the body and reduce fe-
begin to die back after three to four years. vers.

Edible Use: Nausea, Vomiting, Flatulence, and Stom-
Oswego tea is ach Problems: Like most mints, bee balm has a
made from soothing effect on the stomach and can calm flatu-
dried leaves of lence, nausea, and vomiting. However, it is not appro-
the bee balm priate for use with nausea caused by pregnancy. Large
plant. The doses can cause miscarriage.
leaves and flow-
ers are edible. Nervine for Calm: Bee balm works similarly to
Bee balm flow- Lemon Balm as a nervine, though it is less powerful
ers are lovely as than Lemon Balm for this use.
a garnish in sal- Stings, Scrapes, and Rashes: Bee balm is won-
ads, and dried derful in a healing salve and helps soothe bites, stings,
leaves can be and rashes.
used like sage to
flavor meats. Harvesting: Pick the leaves in the mid to late morn-
ing after the morning dew has dried. Pick your yearly
Medicinal Use: Leaves and flowers are used medic- supply during the summer and dry them for future use.
inally. Collect the flowers when they are beginning to fully
Menstrual Problems: Bee balm is an anti-spas- open. Dry them and store them in a sealed jar in a dark
modic, and large doses of bee balm tea cause the uterus place.
to contract, bringing on the menstrual period. How- Recipes. Oswego Tea: You’ll need 1 teaspoon
ever, it can also cause miscarriage and thus should be Oswego Tea/Bee Balm Leaves and 1 cup boiling water.
avoided during pregnancy Pour the boiling water over the tea leaves and allow the
tea to steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain out the leaves
and drink.
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