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Bee balm

Cây ong (Bee Balm, Bergamot Monarda)

Monarda didyma

Oswego tea, Scarlet monarda, Red bergamot

Lamiaceae · Toàn cây có hoa · Flowering plant · Steam-distilled

Botanical illustration of Monarda didyma; whole flowering plant used to extract Bee balm essential oil
Bee balm essential oil, extracted from the whole flowering plant of Monarda didyma. Botanical illustration, Lê Mai Library.

Safety

No specific contraindications in available data.

Approximately 83 percent of constituents are in the low-toxicity range.

Oxidation products of linalool may sensitize skin. Store in dark, sealed, refrigerated container; add an antioxidant to preparations containing bee balm.


Usage guidelines

Storage
Dark, sealed, refrigerated; add BHT or α-tocopherol

Chemistry

Volatile constituents
Linalool64.5 – 74.2 %
p-Cymene2.1 – 11.0 %
Bornyl acetate1.5 – 5.7 %
Germacrene D3.2 – 5.3 %
γ-Terpinene0.9 – 5.3 %
Sabinene1.4 – 5.0 %
1-Octen-3-ol0.3 – 2.8 %
Camphene0.3 – 1.3 %

Botanical source

Monarda didyma is a perennial herb with vivid red flowers, native to North America. The name 'Oswego tea' recalls the Oswego people of upstate New York who brewed the leaves as tea.

'Red bergamot' is a folk name that misleads, as the scent recalls bergamot citrus but the plant is unrelated.

The oil is steam-distilled from the flowering plant. Family Lamiaceae.