Postpartum blues represents a common postpartum mood disorder, which can give way to chronic depression. It thus seems vital to prevent this disorder. A study, published in the Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, was conducted to determine the effect of Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) on the incidence of postpartum blues.

This was a triple-blinded placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 60 women with cesarean section (C- section) in 2016-2017. The participants were randomized to case and placebo groups. The case group was given lemon balm capsules (500 mg) from the first day after C-section thrice daily for a period of 10 days. All participants completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at three stages - 3rd-5th, 10th, and 14th days after C-section. The data were analyzed with SPSS software (version 16) using independent t-test, as well as Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square, Fishers exact tests and Friedman test. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

According to the Fishers exact test, the incidence rates of postpartum blues on the 3rd-5th, 10th, and 14th days after C-section were 3.3% and 43.3% (P<0.00), 3.3% and 50% (P<0.00), and 0% and 33.3%  (P<0.00) in the case and placebo groups, respectively. The study thus revealed that the use of lemon balm could reduce the incidence of postpartum blues, a common postpartum psychiatric disorder, without the development of possible side effects.