Promoting sweating, expelling intestinal gas, antiseptic, pain reduction, antifungal

Fresh or dried leaf, stem and flower can be made into an alcohol or glycerin tincture, or the dried plant can be infused for skin or eye washes.

Bee balm can be useful for relieving gastritis and spasming colon.

Bee balm’s antibacterial properties are particularly effective against mouth and gum infections, and may help in urinary tract or kidney infections.

Bee balm skin rinses can also be used to alleviate fleabites or dermatitis caused by poison ivy or nettle stings.

It can also be used in a dilute form as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory ear or eye wash, particularly in cases of fungal or bacterial infection.

For digestive relief, use a gelatin capsule or glycerin extract.

As an antibacterial for mouth and gum infections or as an antifungal agent, use a poultice made from the fresh or dried herb, or a strong infusion or tincture.

For topical fungal infections, apply a bee balm poultice, or do twice-daily rinses in cooled bee balm tea. To make the tea, pour hot water over handful of herb, allow to steep and cool. If the animal is inclined to lick off the tea, it may be better applied as a fomentation.

For suspected eye infections, make a very dilute tincture (light yellow in colour) and rinse the eye and surrounding area with an irrigation syringe.

For low-grade urinary tract infections or kidney infections, administer 12-25 drops of glycerin-based tincture per 20 pounds of animal weight, 2-3 times per day.

• Bee balm often grows in areas with livestock, so may have trace amounts of herbicides. Check for evidence of spraying, or ask, before harvesting the plant.

Wulff-Tilford, Mary, and Gregory L. Tilford. All You Ever Wanted to Know About Herbs for Pets. Irvine, CA: BowTie, 1999. Print.

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