Know Your Herb: Bee Balm and Tea

Reader Contribution by Katie Priebe
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Bee balm (Monarda didyma) was originally used in ancient remedies by Native Americans for quite some time. It was often used to treat wounds and certain skin infections and later developed into an herbal tea. 

During the Boston Tea Party, bee balm was adopted as a popular tea replacement.  


This bee balm plant can be made into herbal tea.
Photo by Lady-Bug/Courtesy of Flickr

Bee balm tea can treat oral diseases such as gingivitis, dental caries and other infections in the mouth. During the winter, it can be used to help treat the common cold and other flu symptoms. Headache and fever symptoms can also be reduced by drinking bee balm.

Read Make Friends with Monarda to learn more about bee balm and its history.

I have found that bee balm tea is difficult to come across. But you can easily make your own at home. Have you found a place to buy bee balm tea? Please leave me a comment and let me know.

  • Published on Feb 9, 2011
Tagged with: Reader Contributions
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