Sometimes I like to look back at the “Leaving Death in the Dust” archives.
With June 2025 quickly coming to a close, I took a walk down Lemon Balm Lane yesterday as Hennie wandered through a clump of lemon balm still prolifically growing in my garden. I think she was seriously considering using it for nesting purposes.
I couldn’t believe it, lemon balm growing right where I had not planted it nor expected it!
And then it happened again!
As I continued my weeding, I found even more lemon balm growing on the other side of my garden, and it was growing abundantly!
I had lemon balm growing everywhere!
I found it thriving in my broccoli and cabbages. I have no earthly idea how it got there because I had it planted, in a large pot, on my deck, close to my house and far away from my garden.
My mind is still boggled over the abundance of lemon balm growing in my garden. Could it be a lemon balm miracle?
Lemon Balm Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More - Dr. Axe
Hennie is a beautiful Phoenix, a hen of a chicken, who reminds me of stories about rising beautifully from ashes. It doesn’t get much better than the smell of lemon balm on a muggy June day, unless it’s a cup of relaxing lemon balm tea to help me wind down before bed after a productive day outside in the garden.
During this month’s Lyme Warrior group meeting, our brainspotting therapist asked us to share one positive thing going on in our lives. Mine was-
I’m thankful I am tolerating this summer’s heat much better than I did last year.
The heat index (feels like temp due to high humidity) where I live can approach 110 degrees during the summer months. Better autonomic temperature regulation has been a nice improvement to the dysautonomic temperature dysregulation I have been experiencing.
Dysautonomia - autonomic dysfunction, a neurological condition in which the autonomic nervous system does not function properly that affects the heart, bladder, intestines, sweat glands, pupils, and blood vessels.
Brainspotting has been a huge blessing in regard to the regulation of my nervous system and to my mental health. I also credit the expansion work we did during one of my sessions with helping me to feel lighter and more energetic. It’s no fun trying to garden with legs that have often felt like they are filled with led and other feelings of heaviness that have had a tendency to take over my body after my frequent bouts with viral infections.
Brainspotting has helped bring more clarity to my thoughts, helped me to see past my challenges and limitations in better ways, and to bring my mind and body together in more harmonious ways. At one point this spring as I was moving topsoil around in my wheelbarrow, I realized I was trying too hard to force myself to move against the feelings of heaviness in my body, but my mind reminded me that I simply needed to slow down and stop trying to move so fast. Once I slowed my pace down, the weight lifted in my body, and I was able to move and work more comfortably. I may not be a ninja warrior, but pushing wheelbarrow loads of topsoil uphill across a significant number of feet to my garden so that I could build my potato beds this past spring felt like a ninja move to me.
The successful harvest this year is extra sweet.
My hope is that all of you will find ways to rise from the ash pile of chronic illness.
Best Wishes and many thanks to my precious supporters,
My name is Stephanie, and I can do hard things.
“Leaving Death in the Dust” was created in sickness and with hope for health and healing.
******Remember to make prayer a priority.
This publication was created to encourage the chronically ill to become more actively involved in their own health care. I’m glad you’re here, and I hope that you have found our newsletters to be helpful.
The primary purpose of “Leaving Death in the Dust” is to help beautiful human beings remain hopeful when they are feeling the despair of a chronic illness diagnosis setting in.
Ah yes, Lemon Balm. It's all over my garden. It's even crowded out my Bee Balm...
But, years ago, my first Lemon Balm plant was used in part to make a tea that calmed my nervous system. I've also used it over the years to mitigate Shingles infections. (It is a powerful anti-herpetic viral remedy.)
But a warning, I have also found that overly high level consumption can leave me with muscle and joint discomfort. A small amount goes a long way!