Bee-balm or Monarda is a beautiful wildflower native to North east North America. It is known for the popular beverage Natives call Oswego tea, and is also cooked in stews, and used to flavour salads. Being aromatic the essential oil makes great perfume and keeps insects and flies away.
Monarda fistulosa has beautiful tubular lavender-purple pinkish flowers. The common name is known as Wild Bergamot, not to be confused with the citrus bergamot orange – Citrus bergamia L. used in EARL GREY tea, but it smells similar and is now sometimes combined. English Settlers that came to North America named it that because they thought it smelled just like earl grey tea and introduced it to England in 1744. Having a high geraniol content it smells like geranium flowers mixed with citrus and mint.
Monarda fistulosa<Monarda didyma has showy red flowers that smell like citrus and mint. The leaves make a wonderful tea dried or fresh. The common name is Bee-balm because it attracts bees, along with hummingbirds and butterflies. It is also called Scarlet bee-balm because of the colour of the flowers. The M. didyma species has a higher thymol content that makes it smell more like citrus thyme.
Monarda didyma
The stems are square with paired grey green leaves and rough on both sides. It prefers moist, light soil. Being a mint family member it likes some shade from the hot afternoon sun. Use all Monarda species the same way. Enjoy!
| Common Name | Bee balm/ Wild Bergamot |
| Latin Name | Monarda didyma (Bee balm) Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot) |
| Family | Lamiaceae (Mint Family) |
| Parts Used | Perennial- pick herb from spring until it flowers in July-August |
| Target Organs | circulatory, digestion, respiratory, nerves, lymphatic, skin, urinary, reproductive |
| Common Uses | Respiratory: infections, colds, flu, nasal congestion, coughs, fever, swollen lymph
Digestion: digestive catarrh, indigestion, constipation, gas, bloating, Urinary: UTI, incontinence, infection Female reproductive: spasms, cramps, PMS, balancing Nervous system: relaxant, stress, depression External: wounds, inflammation, |
| Properties | antimicrobial, antibacterial, anticatarrhal, antidepressant, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic (digestive, general, respiratory, uterine,) antiviral, anxiolytic, appetite stimulant, astringent, warming carminative, cholagogue, circulatory stimulant, decongestant, diaphoretic, diuretic, digestive stimulant, stimulating emmenagogue, relaxing, secretolytic, stimulating expectorant, febrifuge, nervine, rubefacient, relaxant, stomachic, tranquilizer, uterine relaxant, (neural, peripheral vasodilator), vulnerary |
| Constituents | Essential Oil Yield: 0.4%-0.6%
Monoterpenes Monoterpene alcohols: geraniol 90% Phenol: thymol(found in M. didyma)50% |
| Cautions | Mild remedy. Do not use during pregnancy or consult with a professional. |
| Dosage | Tincture: 2-4ml Tea: 2 tsp. infuse 5-10 minutes |
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