Lemon-balm (Melissa officinalis), also called Balm-mint or Melissa is a perennial herbaceous plant in the mint family. Used since ancient times to calm the heart and the body, lemon balm has a delicate lemony flavor when used as a culinary herb. Lemon-balm is native to Europe and western Asia and is introduced widely in cultivation in North America. It is grown as a medicinal herb and garden ornamental, and has been used for millennia to treat anxiety and depression. It has been clinically tested for use in treatment of cold sores.