Bee Balm / Wild Bergamot

A familiar mountain dweller in our area, bee balm or wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is recognizable at this time of year by the subtle violet coloring in its petioles and by its strong oregano-like scent when crushed. As its scent suggests, it shares compounds in common with oregano essential oil, such as thymol and carvacrol. This plant is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial and can be used for bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections. It’s also a tasty cultinary herb and tea, spicy and flavorful. Because the plan is both delicious and has a history of use in treating burns, it is a natural choice for the kitchen herb cabinet.