The contests of Petals: #pinkflowerday ~ Bee Balm

Bee Balm is a perennial herb and is more than just a fragrant and pretty plant but also has many uses. It is a member of the mint family and is an antimicrobial and antifungal. The flowers are edible and can be used as a garnish in salads. The leaves are edible also. Raw or cooked they can be used in salads or any foods desired and can be brewed into tea. As an infusion it has been used, internally, to help soothe sore throats, colds, headaches relieve nausea and menstrual pain just to name a few. It can be used externally for some skin infection. You can also make a tincture with it that is said to help with depression and anxiety. The flowers are also great for attracting butterflies, hummingbirds and bees. Did you know you can make Bee Balm into a jelly and iced tea? I knew about the iced tea but never even thought of making jelly with it. I do love my black raspberry jam but would certainly try the bee balm jelly. If you are pregnant or on thyroid medicine then you’ll need to check with your doctor before using it. I’ll leave some links and sources below for more info on Bee Balm. The photos I took are from my daughter’s garden last year. She grew them for the bees and butterflies mostly and they sure were pretty and gave a nice pop of color in the garden!

Thank you @petals, @sardart and @adrianobalan for The Contest of Petals!!

Sources & links for more great info!!
https://www.offthegridnews.com/alternative-health/many-uses-for-bee-balm/
https://altnature.com/gallery/beebalm.htm
https://growagoodlife.com/bee-balm-monarda/
https://homespunseasonalliving.com/5-ways-to-use-bee-balm/