Posted by Franz on May 21, 2008, at 7:32:33
Hello, long ago I posted this in a thread in the medication board.
I am posting this here because I have renewed interest in lemon balm because yesterday I was feeling bad and took a tablet containing valerian and lemon balm (melissa) and felt much better (different effect than valerian alone).
I take 50 mcg levothyroxine. LB seems to interact with TSH.
Anyone know if a 80-160 mg dose of lemon balm extract can be a real problem?. I donīt know about human studies or the equivalent dose used in the study below.
Thanks.
Antithyrotropic Effect: In animal models, lyophilized extracts of lemon balm have shown antithyrotropic effects.4 Unidentified components of lemon balm have the ability to bind to thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and render it incapable of binding to its receptors in vitro.15 Immunoglobulins (IgG) obtained from nine patients with Graves' disease were shown to inhibit the interaction of TSH with its receptors in a dose-dependent manner. Circulating IgG in plasma binds to TSH receptors and thus prevents TSH from binding to its receptors. Components in lemon balm bind to TSH receptors and preclude IgG or TSH binding to receptors. Caffeic acid present in lemon balm produced similar inhibitory effect on IgG binding.4
poster:Franz
thread:830281
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20080326/msgs/830281.html