Bee Balm – Wild Bergamot Herb
The Eat Your Yard, Edible Plant of the Day is Bee Balm, also known as Wild Bergamot herb. I don’t know about you, but when I hear the term bergamot, I think of the delicious orange-smelling essential oil. Bee Balm, or wild bergamot, does not smell like orange. It smells savory like thyme and is quite intense.
This strong-tasting herb can be used in Italian-style dishes or in a tea.
Medicinal Properties of Bee Balm (aka Wild Bergamot)
Medicinally, bee balm is…
- Digestive,
- decongestant,
- anti-inflammatory,
- Antimicrobial.
- Analgesic,
- Antispasmodic,
- anti-fungal,
- Nervine tonic (soothes anxiety and reduces stress,
- nutritional,
- anti-irritant.
As an anti-irritant, bee balm soothes bee stings. It attracts the bees and provides a remedy should one sting you.
Tea for Urinary Tract Health
I use bee balm in a tea blend I make for UTI’s. My urinary tract tea includes stinging nettle, Creeping Charlie, oregano, and bee balm. I bring it to a boil, take it off the stove, and let it set for at least 10 minutes or more. I sip on it throughout the day. Stinging nettle and Creeping Charlie are the main ingredients for a UTI, but I toss in the bee balm as an antispasmodic / anti-irritant. It seems to work well in this blend. Also oregano and wild bergamot (aka bee balm) are anti-microbial and can help kill the microbes in the body that lead to UTI’s.
Always make sure you have the right plant and make sure there are no known side effects for plants you eat to make sure they won’t interfere with medication or illnesses. Don’t eat anything sprayed with chemicals. Always consult a physician for medical advice. My videos and blog posts are for fun, gaining knowledge about what grows around us in nature, and learning about natural remedies Native Americans used. My videos are not meant to substitute for medical advice or medical care.
