@nourishingapothecary: Most people know lemon balm for its calming effects, but this herb also has a fascinating history of use in overactive thyroid states. Lemon balm, Melissa officinalis, has traditionally been used for nervousness, restlessness, anxiety and sleep disturbance. But what makes it particularly interesting from a thyroid perspective is the research into how some of its constituents may interact with thyroid signalling. Laboratory research has suggested that compounds within lemon balm may interfere with TSH activity at the thyroid receptor. This is one of the reasons lemon balm has attracted interest in hyperthyroidism and conditions such as Graves’ disease. But this is where we need to be careful with the evidence. We have mechanistic and laboratory research that makes lemon balm interesting, but we do not yet have strong human clinical evidence showing that lemon balm treats hyperthyroidism or Graves’ disease. And it absolutely should not be considered a replacement for thyroid medication or appropriate medical management. Where I find lemon balm particularly interesting clinically is when we look at the whole presentation of the patient. Someone with an overactive thyroid may also be experiencing feeling wired or overstimulated, anxiety, nervousness, restlessness, difficulty switching off and trouble sleeping. So rather than looking at lemon balm purely as “a herb for the thyroid”, we can think about how its traditional calming actions may support some of the broader symptoms a person is experiencing while the underlying thyroid condition is being appropriately investigated and managed. This is such a good example of why naturopathic medicine should be about treating the person, not simply treating the diagnosis. The product I’m holding in this video is Nature’s Sunshine Lemon Balm, which you can find through Nourishing Apothecary. And if you’re struggling with your thyroid and want someone to actually look at the bigger clinical picture, Toni is our naturopath who specialises in thyroid, women’s hormones, weight and metabolic health. She is incredibly knowledgeable in this area and works with patients to understand what may be driving their thyroid presentation rather than looking at one marker in isolation. We offer consultations online via Zoom Australia-wide. Comment CLINIC below and we’ll send you the details to book a FREE discovery call with Toni to have a chat about what’s going on and whether she’s the right practitioner for you. You can also visit nourishingapothecary.com to learn more about the clinic or shop Nature’s Sunshine Lemon Balm.

Jaime | Naturopath & Homeopath

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Tuesday 18 August 2026 02:41:40 GMT