Content
The difference between mint and lemon balm is not always known to gardeners, which is why many people confuse these aromatic herbs. Some people don't even know how to distinguish them from each other. But, despite the similarity in some parameters, it is worth noting that in most of their characteristics there is a difference. To use these crops correctly, it is worth studying the description and photo of mint and lemon balm.
Lemon balm and spearmint are beneficial plants that people have been using since ancient times.
Is it the same thing or not?
Despite the fact that lemon balm (melissa) or lemon balm and peppermint (mentha piperita) are members of the same family, there are significant differences between the crops, and it is incorrect to assume that they are the same thing. They are confused for the reason that they have an external similarity, grow as a bush with wide green leaves, are considered medicinal, emit a pungent odor and are used to make aromatic tea. Often these two crops are allocated one bed on the site and grown using identical technology, which is also considered incorrect.It is undesirable to place them next door, due to the likelihood of cross-pollination and weakening of properties.
For people who harvest herbs, the difference between mint and lemon balm is obvious
What is the difference between mint and lemon balm?
The difference between peppermint and lemon balm lies in a number of characteristics. The most significant thing is, perhaps, the smell - the first crop smells very sharp, while the second is much softer and less aggressive. If you look closely at the bushes, you will see that there is a difference in their appearance. And when it becomes possible to compare drinks made from leaves of crops, the difference will be recognized in taste.
If you compare lemon balm with catnip, it is not so different from it. They have a similar lemon aroma, the same height of shoots, and the same flowering period. Visually, the difference between them is determined by the leaf blades, which in lemon balm are green, while in catmint (catnip) they are grayish with pubescence. The scope of application of herbs is also largely similar. These are medicinal plants used mainly in folk medicine.
The difference with catnip is that it makes the heart beat faster.
By appearance
Upon careful study of the appearance of herbs, any person will see that the difference in them is observed in many respects.
Peppermint is not a particularly tall plant, the length of which usually reaches 50 cm and very rarely can stretch up to 80 cm.Its stem is erect, covered with dark leaves with a smooth surface and a sharp end. In turn, the lemon balm bush, like the catnip, is tall and can stretch up to one and a half meters in length. Its stems are branched and have a large number of shoots. The difference in the sheet plates is also clearly visible. In lemon balm, they have a more saturated color, have a rounded shape, and are velvety to the touch.
The stems and leaves of lemon balm are covered with small hairs
During the flowering of crops, the difference is also visible in the buds, although visually they are similar. The differences are that in mint grass they are collected in ears and colored purple, while in lemon grass they form rings of 12 pieces of blue or white color. It should be noted that after flowering, fruits with oblong-shaped seeds are formed in their place every year.
Mint bears fruit not so abundantly and quite rarely
Composition and nutritional value
The differences between mint and lemon balm have also been proven to have beneficial properties. The difference lies in their composition and nutritional value. Mint includes:
- vitamins A, C, B;
- minerals – calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, zinc.
Melissa contains:
- vitamins A, B, C, PP and D;
- acids (rosmarinic, mineral, caffeic);
- minerals (iron, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, nickel).
Mint has a calorie content of 44 kcal per 100 g of product and contains 8.4 g of carbohydrates, 3.3 g of proteins, 0.7 g of fat. The nutritional value of lemon balm is as follows: carbohydrates, proteins, fats – 8; 3.7; 0.4 g respectively. Its calorie content is 49 kcal.
By smell
The difference in the aroma of the herbs is that peppermint smells sharper, and its smell is menthol-like and quite strong.Melissa has more lemon notes, it does not contain menthol at all and is classified as an essential oil crop.
Taste
The taste of lemon balm and mint has differences similar to the smell. The first one is sweetish, the tea with it is more like lemon. The taste of the second is more pronounced; drinks prepared on its basis have a mint (menthol) flavor.
By area of application
The scope of application, as well as the effect of mint and lemon balm, as well as their appearance, are also different. Both herbs are often used in cooking, but if mint is usually found in confectionery, all kinds of sweets and desserts, syrups are prepared from it, lemon balm is added only to marinades for meat, fish or vegetables.
In addition to cooking, herbs are used in cosmetology. Decoctions, masks, and creams are prepared from them. But lemon balm is more versatile in this matter. The difference with mint is that it is suitable for any skin type.
A strong difference between herbs is also visible in their use in folk medicine; they have completely different effects on the body.
Mint is used to get rid of the following problems:
- fatigue;
- apathy;
- inflammatory processes;
- infections;
- bloating;
- heartburn;
- cardiovascular diseases.
Mint helps bring the body into an active and working state
Melissa has the ability to fight the following ailments:
- depression;
- insomnia;
- stress and nervous disorders;
- skin diseases;
- nausea;
- flatulence and diarrhea.
Melissa promotes relaxation and has a calming effect on the body
Which is better for sleep: mint or lemon balm?
If we talk about getting rid of insomnia, then the difference between the herbs is not very noticeable. Both of these plants have calming properties and help normalize sleep, although, according to experts, lemon balm copes with this better and faster.
To achieve a therapeutic effect, it is enough to drink a cup of tea every evening, in which 2-3 branches of the plant are brewed, or take a bath with the addition of a herbal decoction prepared on its basis.
What is the difference between mint and lemon balm in properties?
In terms of properties, peppermint differs mainly from lemon balm in that it is more suitable for restoring energy and toning, while its “friend,” on the contrary, has a calming effect.
Mint, according to doctors, is more beneficial due to its extensive positive effect on the body
The difference between the herb and the menthol flavor is that it relieves inflammation, eliminates spasms and swelling, and has a diuretic effect. Mint has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart, normalizes metabolic processes, and improves mental activity.
Melissa is more suitable for the treatment of insomnia, nervous disorders, and inflammation of the female reproductive system. It helps fight migraines and frequent headaches. Decoctions based on it are used for hemorrhoids, to treat bedsores, for neuralgia, rheumatism and bruises.
In lemon balm, only the upper shoots and leaves can be used as raw materials.
Both herbs are most often used to make tasty and aromatic tea, but it is not recommended to drink it too often. Plants can cause an allergic reaction in the form of a rash, redness on the skin and severe itching, as well as a number of other problems. Therefore, before using lemon balm or mint, it is advisable to study their contraindications, and even better, consult a doctor.
Interchangeability
Since the differences between mint and lemon balm both in the presence of medicinal qualities and in the area of application are quite significant, in most cases they cannot replace each other. The only exception is brewing aromatic tea. You can also replace mint with lemon balm when using it for cosmetic purposes, for example, to prepare an infusion from it for lotions against swelling, acne or dry skin.
Although these herbs cannot be called interchangeable, in some cases they can be combined with each other. If mint and lemon balm are included in the composition of the herbal mixture, it will become more useful, because each plant will add its own beneficial properties to it.
Conclusion
The difference between mint and lemon balm, despite the similarities that are striking, is obvious at first glance. Before you start growing these herbs and using them for medicinal purposes, you need to study in detail their differences, properties and contraindications. You can grow plants yourself. They are unpretentious, feel great in open ground, and mint grows well in pots or other containers on the balcony and even on the windowsill. Just before planting them, you need to study the agricultural technology of each crop, since there are also differences in the rules for growing them.
