Back to School Lemon Balm and Chamomile Security Stuffie! Whether you are returning to traditional school or starting up homeschool again, this time of year always seems to be a bit fraught with anxiety. As I was researching lemon balm (melissa officinalis) one day, it’s abilities to calm and improve focus jumped out at me right away. What could be better for back to school?
Lemon balm is a member of the mint family and is considered a calming herb. It was used as far back as the Middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety, and improve cognitive function. Study after study has confirmed that smelling lemon balm has a powerful and positive impact on feelings of nervousness and anxiety. Chamomile is another long used herb to relax and de-stress. (And according to my boys the two together smell like jellybeans…)
In addition to stress relief lemon balm has been shown to improve focus and cognitive function. A 2014 study had participants do cognitive tasks involving memory, mathematics, and concentration. The results suggest that participants who used lemon balm performed better than those who didn’t.
So I made these little hearts for each of my boys in their favorite colors. When they were in preschool I used to draw a heart on their hands and read the Kissing Hand to them so that they wouldn’t be nervous. This seemed like the next level up– a heart you can put in your pocket! I was worried that they might consider themselves too grown up for a heart from mommy, but they both loved them and have taken them everywhere since. (One heart had an unfortunate run in with our cat and I had to immediately remake it… side note cats love lemon balm also.)
Lemon Balm & Chamomile Hearts
These little hearts took me about 15 minutes each to make and would be great for kids, teachers or anyone heading back to school (or work.) You could leave out the polyfill, but it makes them soft and squishy which was important to me. If you don’t grow these herbs they are easy to purchase dried or even in tea form.
Materials:
- felt
- polyfill
- dried lemon balm
- dried chamomile
- embroidery floss
- sewing needle
- scissors
Method:
Start by cutting 2 smallish heart shapes out of felt. Mine were around two inches but you can make whatever size works for you.
Mix approximately 50% polyfill with 50% dried herbs. Tear the polyfill up into little bits and really rub the herbs into it so it’s quite fragrant. Gauge how much polyfill you need based on how big you cut yours hearts, but it won’t be a ton.
Blanket stitch (see diagram) around the outside of the heart leaving a small opening to put the stuffing into. You can use a chopstick to really push it in
Once the heart is full of stuffing, stitch up the little hole you filled it with.
Squish and sniff!