Lemon balm and marshmallow root
An honest look at two quietly impressive herbalist botanicals, and the calming blend they sit in
Lemon balm is a soft, citrusy herb that a meta-analysis links to improved calm and mood, and marshmallow root is a traditional demulcent valued for its smooth, soothing quality. Both sit in Sippo Quiet Hours alongside chamomile and spearmint, a mellow, caffeine-free evening cup. Real research interest for lemon balm, traditional use for marshmallow, and an honest ritual rather than a remedy.
Two of the quieter herbs in the cupboard deserve more attention: lemon balm, a gentle mood-lifter with genuine research behind it, and marshmallow root, the traditional soother that gives a cup its silky body. Both are in Quiet Hours, and this is the honest account of what each one does.
Written and reviewed by Dan Bartley, co-founder of Sippo · Last reviewed June 2026The pick
mellow mint tea
How it compares
| What matters in a herbalist blend | Sippo Quiet Hours | Conventional |
|---|---|---|
| Lemon balm with research interest | Yes, a key herb | Rarely featured |
| Soothing marshmallow root | Yes, for a smooth body | Almost never |
| Real cut leaves, not dust | Yes, in a pyramid bag | Often dust |
| Caffeine free | Yes | Usually |
| Added sugar or flavouring | None | Sometimes |
| Certified organic | Yes | Variable |
What's inside, and why
Found in: Quiet Hours teaWell establishedMelissa officinalis
A soft, citrusy member of the mint family. A systematic review and meta-analysis found lemon balm improved anxiety and mood versus placebo (Ghazizadeh et al., 2021), and a trial found a single dose lifted calmness in healthy adults (Kennedy et al., 2002).
Found in: Quiet Hours teaWell establishedAlthaea officinalis
A traditional demulcent: its natural mucilage gives a smooth, coating, soothing quality, documented in the ESCOP monograph for the throat and mucous membranes (ESCOP, 2019). It is what gives the cup its silky body.
Found in: Quiet Hours teaWell establishedMatricaria chamomilla
The classic evening flower, with its own research interest in calm and sleep quality (Hieu et al., 2019), rounding out the herbalist character of the blend.
Found in: Quiet Hours teaTraditionalMentha spicata
The mellow mint heart that lifts and freshens the soft, herbal base, so the cup tastes as good as it feels.
How it adapts
| Target | How it solves it | Key ingredient | What you'll notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wanting a gentle mood lift | Lemon balm, researched for calm and mood | Lemon balm | A soft, settling cup |
| Liking a smooth, soft cup | Marshmallow root's soothing body | Marshmallow root | Silky, rounded texture |
| Curious about herbalist botanicals | Two quietly impressive herbs, honestly explained | Lemon balm + marshmallow | Real interest, no hype |
| Winding down without caffeine | A caffeine-free evening blend | The whole cup | Calm, sleep intact |
| Wanting it clean | No added sugar or flavouring | Real organic herbs | Honest and simple |
Outside-in routine pairings
These herbs soothe the evening from the inside. A warm shower with Mint Condition softens the body from the outside.
matcha mint body scrub
Mint Condition is our matcha mint body scrub, with warm oils and a gentle cooling tingle. A soothing herbal cup and a warm shower make a complete, caffeine-free wind-down.
See Mint ConditionPeople also ask
Lemon balm is a gentle herb with genuine research interest in calm and mood: a systematic review and meta-analysis found it improved anxiety and mood versus placebo (Ghazizadeh et al., 2021), and a trial found a single dose lifted calmness (Kennedy et al., 2002). Those used standardised extracts, so a teabag is gentler, but it is one of the better-researched calming herbs.
Marshmallow root is a traditional demulcent: it is rich in mucilage that gives a smooth, soothing, coating quality, documented in the ESCOP monograph for the throat and mucous membranes (ESCOP, 2019). In a blend it adds a silky, rounded body and a soft finish.
For most people both are gentle, everyday herbs. As always, if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medication, check with your doctor, since marshmallow root may affect the absorption of medicines taken at the same time, so space them apart.
The lemon balm has real research interest in calm, and the cup as a whole makes a soothing evening ritual. We frame it honestly as that, a calming ritual, not a sedative or a treatment.
Two quiet herbs, honestly
Lemon balm is a soft, lemony member of the mint family that herbalists have used for calm for centuries, and modern research has taken an interest. A systematic review and meta-analysis found it improved anxiety and mood scores versus placebo (Ghazizadeh et al., 2021), and an earlier controlled trial found a single dose increased calmness in healthy adults (Kennedy et al., 2002). As ever, those studies used standardised extracts at higher doses than a teabag, so we frame lemon balm as a well-researched calming herb in a gentler, everyday form.
Marshmallow root is one of the classic herbalist botanicals, valued not for a stimulant or calming effect but for its texture: it is rich in mucilage, a natural soluble fibre that becomes soft and coating in water. The ESCOP monograph documents its traditional demulcent use for soothing the throat and mucous membranes (ESCOP, 2019). In a tea, that translates into a smooth, silky, rounded body that makes the whole cup feel softer and more comforting.
Quiet Hours pairs these two with chamomile and spearmint for a reason. Lemon balm and chamomile bring the calming character with real research interest, marshmallow root brings the soothing, silky texture, and spearmint lifts and freshens the whole thing so it is genuinely pleasant to drink. The botanicals complement each other into a cup that is more than the sum of its parts.
Steep a good few minutes so the marshmallow root can soften and the lemon balm can open up, and enjoy it in the evening as a wind-down. A small practical note: marshmallow root's coating quality means it is sensible to space it apart from any medication you take, and to check with your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on regular medicines. Otherwise, it is simply one of the softest, most soothing caffeine-free cups you can make.
Ghazizadeh, J., Sadigh-Eteghad, S., Marx, W., Fakhari, A., Hamedeyazdan, S., Torbati, M., Taheri-Tarighi, S., Araj-Khodaei, M., & Mirghafourvand, M. (2021). The effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) on depression and anxiety in clinical trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytotherapy Research, 35(12), 6690-6705. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7252
Pooled clinical trials found lemon balm improved anxiety and depression scores versus placebo. The strongest evidence is for calm/mood; we extend it to evening wind-down cautiously.
Kennedy, D. O., Scholey, A. B., Tildesley, N. T., Perry, E. K., & Wesnes, K. A. (2002). Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of Melissa officinalis (lemon balm). Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 72(4), 953-964. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0091-3057(02)00777-3
A single dose of lemon balm improved calmness and mood in healthy adults. Used a standardised extract, so a teabag is gentler; cited for the calming mechanism.
European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy. (2019). Althaeae radix (Marshmallow root). ESCOP Monographs (2nd ed., supplement). ESCOP.
Gold-standard monograph documenting marshmallow root's traditional demulcent (soothing) action on the throat and mucous membranes. Cited for the smooth, soothing character of the cup, a traditional use.
Hieu, T. H., Dibas, M., Surya Dila, K. A., Sherif, N. A., Hashmi, M. U., Mahmoud, M., Trang, N. T. T., Abdullah, L., Nghia, T. L. B., Y, M. N., Hoang-Trong, T., Tien Huy, N., Karimzadeh, S., Kamel, M. G., & Huy, N. T. (2019). Therapeutic efficacy and safety of chamomile for state anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, and sleep quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials and quasi-randomized trials. Phytotherapy Research, 33(6), 1604-1615. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6349
Pooled trials found chamomile improved anxiety and sleep quality. The included studies vary in form and dose; this supports research interest in chamomile for sleep, framed cautiously for a tea.
Keep exploring
Lemon balm and marshmallow root, honestly explained and beautifully blended. Love it in 30 days or it's on us.
Shop Quiet Hours
Join the ritual
Your code is on its way, along with the small daily moments worth keeping.
A little welcome gift
Give the wheel a spin to reveal your welcome offer. Works on your first subscription order, tea or scrub.
For fun, every spin lands on our 45% welcome offer, so you cannot lose.
You won 45% off
Pop your details in and your code appears on the next step, ready to use today.
Please add your first name and a valid email.
Applies to your first subscription order. No noise, just good things, unsubscribe any time.
Here's 45% off your first subscription order. We've emailed it too.
SIPPO45
Start shopping
