Comments on: Bee Balm

By: aja_30

aja_30 — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 02:07:09 +0000

Yes, it helps a lot (thanks) … I’m not up on herbal remedies, so truly do
not know the benefits or sensitizing factors / recommended percentage limits of
bee balm.

I’m sensitive to mints (peppermint most often in the products) in lip balms
and even in toothpaste - I’ve found that it makes my chapped-lip problems worse
than when I brush with baking soda. Mints are known sensitizers; however,
many love them.

Let us know how this works for you.
- Katie

By: chana_40

chana_40 — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 09:45:05 +0000

Bee Balm has nothing to to with bees it is the common name of the plant.
Monarda is the Genus name incase the herbal store doesn’t know what bee
balm is. It is a plant in the mint family, and the parts that are used
in the recipe are the green/vegetative parts.

By soaking the plant in alcohol it extracts certain chemicals/alkaloids
in the plant that can’t be extracted by soaking it in water. When
applied to the skin, the alcohol evaporates leaving whatever chemicals or
alkaloids are extracted from the plant on the skin.

Hope that helps out a little bit.

By: aja_30

aja_30 — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 08:52:27 +0000

> I have an herbal book with an acne recipe in it. I don’ t know how
> effective it is …

What is Bee Balm / Monarda? Beeswax is identified under the International
Nomenclature for Cosmetic Ingredients as Cera Alba, and Honey is Honey.
FYI, Alcohol is a "drying" agent and, at this high amount, most likely what
may (???) be preserving this balm?

Need more info …
- Katie