Americans have embraced modern medicine, and in the process, we've relegated to folklore the cures our grandparents depended on. But the remarkable effectiveness of many of those remedies has been confirmed by new research.

1. Lemon Balm.

Tradition says: Melissa officinalis, a lemon-scented member of the mint family, has long been used to banish anxiety, boost memory, and aid sleep and digestion.

Research proves: Got a presentation or other stress-filled occasion? As in days of old, a tea made of lemon balm may help you sleep soundly the night before and keep you calm and focused, says a 2003 article in Neuropsychopharmacology.

Research suggests this plant is effective in extreme situations, too. Four weeks of lemon balm aromatherapy cut agitation in patients with severe dementia, reports a 2002 study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

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