Lemon Balm & Elderberry: Two Beautiful Herbs, Ancient Wisdom and a Little Plant Magic

Some herbal formulas take years of research, experimenting and rearranging before everything feels just right.

Others come together almost as though the plants were waiting for you to put them in the same bottle.

That's how my Lemon Balm and Elderberry formula came to life.

A few years ago, when our Lomatium products became unavailable, I created Pivot 8 as another herbal option for our customers. But almost immediately, I realized I needed to think about the littlest members of our herbal families too.

Pivot 8 contains herbs I don't recommend for children under two, including Cryptolepis, Chaparral and Licorice Root. I wanted something simpler, so I turned to two plants with long histories in traditional herbalism.

Lemon Balm and Elderberry.

I introduced the formula in both a traditional tincture and a reduced-alcohol version, giving families choices.

There isn't a dramatic origin story behind this blend. But the history of the two plants? Oh, that's another story entirely.

Because both Lemon Balm and Elderberry have been surrounded by herbal wisdom, folklore, superstition and a little bit of magic for centuries.

And I love that part of herbalism.

Elderberry: The Ancient Guardian of the Home

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) has been part of traditional European herbalism for a very long time.

Its clusters of dark purple-black berries have been used in syrups, preserves and herbal preparations, particularly during the colder months when seasonal illnesses tend to make their rounds.

Those gorgeous berries contain anthocyanins, the natural pigments that give them their deep color, along with flavonoids and other polyphenols.

Modern researchers have been interested in Elderberry's potential relationship with immune function and respiratory wellness. Some small clinical studies have explored its use during respiratory infections, although results aren't consistent enough to say that Elderberry reliably prevents or treats them.

But Elderberry's reputation goes back long before anyone was studying anthocyanins in a laboratory.

And that's where things get interesting.

Have You Ever Heard of the Elder Mother?

In parts of European folklore, particularly in northern European traditions, the Elder tree was believed to be inhabited by a spirit sometimes called the Elder Mother.

She was thought to watch over the tree, and people were warned not to cut branches or gather from it without first asking permission.

In some versions of the folklore, disrespecting the Elder Mother could bring illness or misfortune.

But treating the tree respectfully could bring protection and good fortune.

Elder trees were sometimes planted near homes because people believed they helped protect the household from harmful influences, evil spirits and even lightning.

Imagine that for a moment.

A plant that people valued for its berries and flowers was also considered a guardian of the family home.

I find that absolutely fascinating.

And while I don't take those old stories as literal proof of anything supernatural, I do think there's something beautiful about the underlying message.

Approach the plants with respect.

Don't take without thinking.

Remember that the living world around you deserves consideration.

That's a philosophy I can appreciate.

Elderberry Has a Practical Side Too

There's another important piece of Elderberry knowledge that traditional herbalists understood: preparation matters.

Ripe Elderberries are generally cooked or otherwise appropriately processed before being used in foods and herbal preparations. Raw or unripe berries, along with certain other parts of the plant, can contain cyanogenic compounds that may cause illness.

This is a wonderful reminder that knowing a plant means knowing more than its benefits. It means understanding which parts to use and how to prepare them.

That's real herbal wisdom.

Lemon Balm: The Herb of Happiness, Honeybees and the Heart

If Elderberry has a mysterious, protective personality, Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) feels like its cheerful, comforting companion.

Lemon Balm is a member of the mint family, and if you've ever grown it, you know what a lovely plant it is.

Rub one of those soft green leaves between your fingers and you'll immediately recognize its bright, lemony fragrance.

It's one of those herbs that makes you smile before you've even done anything with it.

Lemon Balm has been used for centuries in European and Mediterranean herbal traditions, particularly for nervous tension, digestive discomfort and encouraging relaxation.

It's traditionally considered a gentle nervine and carminative, meaning herbalists have valued it for calming the nervous system and soothing occasional digestive upset.

Modern research has explored Lemon Balm for stress, mood, sleep and cognitive effects, with some promising findings, although studies vary in quality and preparation.

Its leaves contain rosmarinic acid and aromatic compounds such as citral and citronellal, which contribute to its interesting chemistry and distinctive fragrance.

But my favorite thing about Lemon Balm might be its name.

Melissa Means Honeybee

The botanical name Melissa comes from the Greek word for honeybee.

And there's a lovely reason for that.

Lemon Balm has a long relationship with bees and beekeeping. Its flowers attract pollinators, and beekeepers have traditionally rubbed Lemon Balm leaves inside empty hives or used the plant to help attract and settle swarms.

Think about that.

A fragrant plant that has been used to welcome honeybees into a new home.

There's something almost poetic about it.

In ancient Greek mythology, Melissa was also a name associated with nymphs and priestesses connected to bees and honey.

Honey itself carried deep symbolism in the ancient world, associated with nourishment, sweetness and sometimes sacred offerings.

So Lemon Balm's relationship with honeybees isn't just a botanical curiosity. It connects the plant to a much older world of mythology and symbolism.

A Plant Associated With Love and Happiness

Lemon Balm also developed a reputation in European herbal folklore as a plant of happiness, love and comfort.

It appeared in traditional preparations intended to lift the spirits, ease melancholy and encourage a sense of well-being.

One of the most famous historical herbal preparations associated with Lemon Balm is Carmelite water, an aromatic blend traditionally linked to Carmelite religious communities in Europe.

Lemon Balm was also praised by historical physicians and herbal writers for its comforting qualities.

Paracelsus, the influential Renaissance physician and alchemist, was associated with particularly enthusiastic claims about the plant's restorative powers.

Of course, those historical claims aren't the same as modern medical evidence.

But I love that people have been drawn to Lemon Balm's cheerful, calming personality for so many generations.

And I especially love the old association with the heart.

Not necessarily the physical heart, but the emotional one.

The part of us that needs comfort, peace, affection and a little happiness.

If you've ever sat in a garden and smelled fresh Lemon Balm on a warm day, you might understand why people gave it that reputation.

Two Plants, Two Personalities, One Beautiful Formula

When I decided to bring Lemon Balm and Elderberry together, I wasn't thinking about the Elder Mother or ancient Greek honeybee symbolism.

I was thinking about herbal formulation.

Elderberry brought its long tradition of seasonal wellness support and its fascinating berry polyphenols.

Lemon Balm brought its calming, aromatic and digestive traditions.

They weren't two plants doing exactly the same thing.

They complemented one another.

And that's always been important to me as a formulator.

I grew up watching my dad, medicinal botanist Dr. Max G. Barlow, study plants and create herbal formulas with purpose.

He understood that you don't necessarily make a formula better by adding more and more ingredients.

Sometimes you make it better by choosing the right ones.

I've carried that philosophy into my own work at Barlow Herbal.

Some of my formulas contain seven, eight or nine plants because I want to approach a particular system from several directions.

But Lemon Balm and Elderberry didn't need that kind of complexity.

Two plants made sense.

And I knew when to stop.

A Little Plant Magic for the Family Apothecary

Here's the part that makes me smile when I look back at this formula.

Elderberry has centuries of folklore surrounding protection of the home.

Lemon Balm has centuries of associations with honeybees, happiness, affection and comfort.

One plant was traditionally imagined as a guardian of the household.

The other was associated with bringing a little peace and sweetness into it.

And I happened to put them together in a formula I created with families in mind.

Isn't that lovely?

I didn't plan that symbolism, but I certainly appreciate it now.

To me, herbalism has always been about more than memorizing which constituent is found in which plant.

It's also about history.

Observation.

Tradition.

The relationship people have developed with the plants around them.

And the stories that have been passed from one generation to the next.

Some of those stories are scientific. Some are practical. Some are folklore.

And some have a little magic tucked inside them.

I think there's room to appreciate all of that while still understanding the difference between tradition and proven medical effects.

Sometimes Simple Is Exactly Right

Today, our Lemon Balm and Elderberry blend has become a treasured formula among many of the moms, dads, grandparents and herbal-loving families who know these plants.

I originally introduced it in both a traditional tincture and a reduced-alcohol version because I wanted to offer different preparation options.

Because the formula was created with younger family members in mind, I also want to emphasize that herbal products aren't automatically appropriate for infants or toddlers simply because their ingredients are familiar. Parents should consult their pediatrician before giving herbal preparations to children under two, and reduced-alcohol tinctures can still contain residual alcohol.

There's no elaborate mystery behind why I created this formula.

I saw a need.

I knew two plants I loved.

And I put them together.

But the more you learn about Elderberry and Lemon Balm, the more you realize just how much history, chemistry, tradition and folklore can live inside two seemingly simple herbs.

Sometimes two plants really are all you need.

And sometimes those two plants have stories worth telling for generations.

With love and herbs,

Jane XO

Explore Lemon Balm & Elderberry at Barlow Herbal

Our Lemon Balm and Elderberry formula is available in traditional tincture and reduced-alcohol versions.

Visit www.barlowherbal.com and search "Lemon Balm Elderberry" to learn more.

Lemon Balm & Elderberry may be one of my simplest formulas, but it's also one of those combinations that reminds me why I love herbalism so much.
Two time-honored plants, thoughtfully paired, with both traditional and reduced-alcohol options available.

And because this formula was created with very young children in mind, please check with your pediatrician before giving herbal preparations to a child under two.