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Contents:
Common Names
Parts Usually Used
Plant(s) & Culture
Where Found
Medicinal Properties
Biochemical Information Legends, Myths and Stories
Uses
Formulas or Dosages
How Sold
Warning
Bibliography
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Common Names
American vervain
False vervain
Indian hyssop
Purvain
Simpler's joy
Traveler's joy
Vervain
Wild hyssop
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Parts Usually Used
Roots, leaves, stems
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Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Blue vervain is a bristly, erect, perennial; the quadrangular stem reaches a
height of 2-5 feet and bears leaves that are oblong-lanceolate, gradually acuminate,
serrate, and 3-6 inches long. Some of the lower leaves are lobed at the base,
making good on the botanical name. The small, deep blue or purplish-blue flowers
are sessile in dense spikes, 2-3 inches long, which are arranged in a panicle.
The fruit consists of 4 nutlets which ripen soon after the plant flowers. Blooms
in July and seed ripen soon after.
Another variety: Verbena officinalis L., known also as vervain, was used by the Druids, Egyptians, Persians, and British herbalists for a vast range of ailments, but vervain is no longer considered to have healing properties. It is grown as an ornamental for its small purple flowers. An old legend reputes vervain to have been used to staunch the wounds of Christ on Calvary. (The legend not clear on whether this statement referred to V. officinalis or V. hastata).
Lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla L.) of the verbena family, sometimes called "queen of the lemons", is a tropical shrub native to Central and South America introduced to Europe by Spanish explorers. Not considered a medicinal herb, but rather valued for its unparalleled fresh lemony scent and essential oils. Also called Lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora, Kunth.) is a native of the Americas that has spread throughout the world. Not found medicinally helpful.
The Chinese use Verbena officinalis, called
vervain. The Chinese name is Ma-pien-ts'ao. Used for dropsy, malaria, dysentery.
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Where Found
Native to the northern United States and Canada, found also in England. Fields,
thickets, waste places, in dry hard soils, along roadsides.
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Medicinal Properties
Antiperiodic, diaphoretic, emetic, expectorant, tonic, vermifuge, vulnerary,
sudorific, nervine, emmenagogue
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Biochemical Information
Essential oil, mucilage, tannin, verbenaline, and verbenine
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Legends, Myths and Stories
Historically, blue vervain has been associated with sorcerers, witches, and
magic. In ancient times, it was bruised and worn about the neck as a charm against
headaches and venomous bites. An old legend reputes vervain to have been used
to staunch the wounds of Christ on Calvary.
It was the divine weed that was sprinkled
on the altars of Jupiter, the herba veneris employed in rites of love and a
sacred plant (hiera botane) of the Druids. Latter-day magicians wear a crown
of vervain as protection during the evocation of demons. Blue vervain, an ancient
herb used by Druids, Egyptians, Persians, and British herbalists for a vast
range of ailments, is no longer considered to have healing properties. Grown
today for ornamental purposes.
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Uses
Used for fever, colds, flu, pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, consumption, chronic
ague, canker sores, eyedrops strengthens the optic nerve and clears vision,
scrofula, will increase menstrual flow, good for malaria, jaundice, excellent
for shortness of breath and wheezing, inflammation, dysentery, diarrhea, douche
for leukorrhea, expels worms, nerves, migraines, epilepsy, delirium, headaches,
plague, insomnia, skin disorders, female disorders, and stomach, bowel, cystitis,
and colon problems. Helps expel phlegm from throat and chest. Considered a blood
tonic. Externally, the tea heals sores, wounds, neuralgia, snakebite, vaginal
itching, and ulcers.
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Formulas or Dosages
Infusion: use 2 tsp. rootstock or herb with 1 pint of boiling water. For a tonic,
take 2-3 tsp., 6 times a day, cold.
Tincture: take 10-20 drops at a time.
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How Sold
Capsules
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Warning
Avoid blue vervain during pregnancy; it is a uterine stimulant; may be taken
during labor.
