Lemon Balm and Milky Oat Elixir Recipe

Lemon balm and milky oat elixir recipe for easing stress and relaxing. Give yourself some love with this sweet herbal preparation 🩷.

Tags: Lemon Balm, Milky Oats, Oats, Tinctures

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This lemon balm and milky oat elixir is perfect for relaxing and giving your body some TLC, especially if you’re feeling drained or burned out. These herbs help calm the nervous system and ease stress.

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What is an Herbal Elixir?

Elixirs are sweet herbal preparations made with alcohol and honey. They can be taken on their own or mixed into water, teas, or other drinks. Elixirs can be made by adding herbs, alcohol, and honey into a Mason jar and letting everything infuse for 4-6 weeks. They can also be made by combining tinctures you already have on hand with honey.

Grow Your Ingredients

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Fresh lemon balm leaves in a vase outside

Lemon balm is really easy to grow from seed and you can start harvesting leaves after about a month. Sow the seeds in the spring, around April or May. Grow lemon balm in large pots housed on gravel or cement, and be sure to remove flowering stalks before they go to seed.

Lemon balm leaves have a beautiful lemony scent that attracts bees and other pollinators to the garden. They also repel mosquitos! Crush the leaves in your hands, and rub them on your skin to help keep mosquitos away.

Oats (Avena sativa)

Oats are also really easy to grow, and they do well in zones 2-8. They like cooler weather, so I direct sow them in March or April. They usually sprout within a week or two and flower in early June. By late June, I can harvest the milky oats for tinctures and oat straw for teas. The remaining oat seeds mature by late July to early August, depending on the weather. I save the mature oat seeds for next season’s crop and use the surplus for oat milk and oat bread.

Oats are a great cover crop for summer veggies like tomatoes and peppers. I crimp or cut down the oats about 2 weeks before I transplant the summer crops, which is around mid-May. Using oats as a cover crop in this way helps build soil health and suppresses weeds in my garden beds.

Overview of Lemon Balm and Milky Oat Elixir Recipe

This recipe involves combining lemon balm tincture and milky oat tincture with honey.

Two large amber glass bottles filled with milky oat tincture and lemon balm tincture. In the foreground is a glass bowl containing the elixir with a whisk resting on the bowl.

A one ounce amber glass bottle with a metal funnel resting in the top of the bottle.

Equipment Needed

Small glass bowl or measuring cup for mixing the ingredients
Small funnel
Sterilized amber glass dropper bottle – 1 ounce/30 milliliters
Permanent marker and label

Ingredients

4 teaspoons lemon balm tincture
4 teaspoons milky oat tincture
1 1/2 teaspoons honey

Instructions Summary

In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, add all the ingredients and whisk together until well combined.
Using a funnel, carefully pour the mixture into the sterilized amber dropper bottle.
Close the bottle and label the elixir with the name and date.

How to sterilize your Mason jar or glass jar

Wash the jar with hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly.
In a large pot, add a clean kitchen towel or Mason jar ring to the bottom. This protects the jars from clanging around and sitting directly at the bottom of the pot. Fill with water and bring to a boil.
Once the water is boiling, carefully lower the jar into the pot.
Let the jar sit in the boiling water for about 10 minutes to sterilize it.
Use tongs to remove the jar from the boiling water and place it on a clean towel or drying rack.
Let the jar air dry completely or dry it with a clean towel.

How to Use Lemon Balm and Milky Oat Elixir

It’s always best to consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner or herbalist who can help you determine the appropriate dosage based on your individual needs. However, here are some general guidelines for adults using this elixir:

For general relaxation and stress relief: 1–2 droppers full (approximately 30–60 drops), taken 1–3 times daily as needed. You can start with a smaller amount, around 10–15 drops, once or twice a day to see how your body responds, especially if you’re new to using herbs.

Note: This information is general and for educational purposes only. Your personal health and dosing should be determined by you and your healthcare provider.

Contraindications of Lemon Balm and Milky Oats

Lemon balm and milky oats are considered generally safe for most people when consumed in reasonable amounts, there are a few things to keep in mind:

Hypothyroidism: Lemon balm may interfere with thyroid function and should be avoided by people with hypothyroidism or other thyroid conditions.
Sedative medications: Lemon balm has sedative properties and may enhance the effects of sedative medications, including benzodiazepines and barbiturates.
Glaucoma: Lemon balm may increase intraocular pressure and should be avoided by people with glaucoma.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: There is not enough research to determine the safety of lemon balm during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding women avoid lemon balm or consult with a healthcare professional before using it.
Allergies: Some people may be allergic to lemon balm and may experience symptoms such as itching, rash, or difficulty breathing. If you are allergic to other members of the mint family, you may be more likely to be allergic to lemon balm as well.
Celiac Disease: Oats are gluten-free but contain avenin, a protein that can cause reactions in some people with severe gluten sensitivities.
Allergies: Although rare, some people may have an allergy to oats. Symptoms may include skin reactions, digestive upset, or respiratory issues like sneezing or a runny nose. Avoid milky oats if you know you have an oat allergy or are sensitive to oat-based products.