Verbena: Uses, folk medicine, Synonyms, Effects, and Side Effects

Vervain probably originally comes from the Mediterranean area. Today, however, the plant is widespread throughout the northern hemisphere and in all temperate climate zones on Earth. The material used for medical purposes comes from wild collections in south-eastern Europe.

The aerial parts of verbena (Verbena herba) collected during flowering are used in herbal medicine.

Vervain: characteristics of the plant

Vervain is a perennial, herbaceous plant up to one meter high. The four-edged stems are woody at the base. The sparse leaves are opposite and unevenly crenate. The plant also bears small, pale purple flowers in slender spikes 10 to 25 centimetres long.

The medicinally helpful material consists of four-edged, rough stems, ovate leaves and leaf fragments with notched tips, spiked flowers, and brown split fruits, quickly breaking into four smaller parts.

 

smell and taste of verbena

Vervain does not give off a particular smell. The taste of the herb is tart and bitter.

Verbena – application

Vervain is only used in folk medicine for diseases of the upper respiratory tract, among other things. The plant was rated negatively by Commission E because its effectiveness in the claimed application areas has yet to be scientifically proven. A therapeutic application can, therefore, not be approved. However, since there are no risks when taking it, using it in combination with other plants that have been positively evaluated is justifiable.

Vervain in folk medicine

Known early on as an anti-inflammatory and diuretic, verbena is now used in folk medicine for various diseases and complaints. The herb relieves mouth and throat mucosa and upper respiratory tract disorders, such as inflamed mucous membranes (catarrh), tonsillitis (angina), sore throat, cough, whooping cough and asthma.

In addition, verbena treats cramps, tiredness, states of exhaustion, nervous disorders, digestive problems, jaundice, liver diseases, bile, kidneys and urinary tract, pain, rheumatic diseases, gout and metabolic diseases.

In women, the plant is said to have a positive effect on menopausal symptoms, irregular periods and problems with breastfeeding. Finally, the herb is also used externally for poorly healing wounds, burns and ulcers.

 

Homeopathic use of Vervain

In homoeopathy, the fresh, above-ground sprouts of verbena collected during flowering are used to treat bruising and cerebral seizures.

Constituents of verbena

The main active ingredients in verbena are iridoid glycosides such as verbenine, verbenaline and hastatoside. Caffeic acid derivatives such as verbascoside, flavonoids, stachyose, ursolic acid and traces of essential oil also occur.

 

Vervain: For which indication?

Vervain is only used in folk medicine for the following indications:

• Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the airways (catarrh), tonsillitis, sore throat, cough, whooping cough, asthma
• cramps
• exhaustion, tiredness
• nervous disorders
• indigestion
• jaundice
• Diseases of the liver, bile, kidneys, urinary tract
• rheumatism
• gout
• metabolic diseases
• menopausal symptoms
• irregular period
• wounds
• Burns
• ulcers

Vervain – Dosage

Vervain, for example, is contained in some tea mixtures for milk production. In addition, the herb is also available as an herbal medicine, for instance, in the form of drops or dragees.

Average daily dose

Unless otherwise prescribed, the average daily dose is four to five grams of the drug.

 

Vervain: Preparation as a tea or poultices

To prepare a verbena tea, 1.5 grams of the finely chopped herb (a teaspoon is about 1.4 grams) can be poured over with boiling water and then strained through a tea strainer after five to ten minutes. The tea should be drunk three times a day.

For external use, five to ten grams of the herb can be added to a litre of water and poultices, or something similar can be made from it.

You should note that!

The areas of application mentioned have yet to be scientifically substantiated, which is why a therapeutic application cannot be advocated at this time. However, since a pectolytic effect is likely, the combination with other herbal remedies can positively impact the treatment of inflammation of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract.

Vervain should be stored dry and protected from light.

Vervain synonyms

German plant name: Verbena

German synonyms of the plant: Vervain, Common Vervain, Iron Beard, Iron Hard, Holy Herb, Legendary Herb, Pigeon Herb, Cat’s Blood, Druid’s Herb, Cock’s Head, Juno’s Tears, Mercury’s Blood, Richard’s Herb, Steel Herb, Venus Vein, Verbena, Wound Herb, Wishing Herb

Latin plant name: Verbena officinalis L.

Latin synonyms of the plant: Verbena soria, Verbena spuria, Verbena domingensis

German drug name: Verbena

German synonyms of the drug: Pigeon herb, cat’s blood herb, legendary herb

Latin drug name: verbena herb

Latin synonyms of the drug: Herb Verbena, Herb Columbaria, Herb Sanguinalis

English name: Marshmallow leaf bzw. Marshmallow root (Droge); Althaea, Sweet Weed, Mallards, Hock Herb, Schloss Tea, Marsh Mallow, Marsh Mellow, White mallow, Mortification Root (Pflanze)

Plant family Latin: Verbenaceae

Plant family German: Verbena family

 

Verbena – effect

Vervain has an extensive range of effects, probably due to the iridoid glycosides, their metabolites and verbascoside. The plant extract has antimicrobial, antiviral, antitussive, secretolytic (liquefying the bronchial secretion), immune-stimulating and anti-inflammatory effects.

The bitter taste of the herb and the associated use as a digestive agent is probably due to the iridoids. However, the effectiveness of verbena has yet to be proven by clinical studies.

Vervain: interactions and side effects

There are currently no known side effects or interactions with other drugs when taking verbena preparations. Contraindications have also not been proven to date.