MELISSA, Melissa officinalis 
(Plant family: Lamiaceae/lebiatae)
Type of plant: bushy prennial herb growing to 3 feet high with lemon-scented serrated leaves and small white flowers.
Part used: Flowering tops, leaves, and stems 
Method of straction: Steam distillation 
Melissa is also known as lemon balm, lemon melissa, or sweet balm. It acquired the name bee balm because beekeepers once used it to attract bees to their hives. Valued by European herbalists since the Middle Ages, it is mentioned in many old pharmacopoeias and was the key ingredient in Carmelite water. Although the fragrance is easyly released by crushing a leaf, a very large amount of plant material is required to produce a small volume of essential oil.
Characteristics: A pale-yellow to yellowish-green, herbaceous, citrus aroma. 
Therapeutic properties: Anibacterial, antidepressant, antifungal, antiseptic, antiviral, calmative, circulatory, depurstive, insect repellent, nervine, soporific, spasmolytic, stomachic.
Therapeutic uses: Insomnia, sleep disorders, indigestion, nausea, fungal infections, candida, viral skin infections, herpes, menopausal symptoms, detoxifying, nervousness, stress and anxiety-related symptoms, depression.
Blends well with: Bergamot, chamomille, clary sage, frankincense, geranium, myrtle, neroli, orange, rosewood, tangerine, valeria, , vanilla and ylang ylang.