Verbena hastata Origin-USA

Also known as

Verbena officinalis, verbena, Common Verbena, Common Vervain, Eisenkraut, Enchanter's Plant, European Vervain, Herb of Grace, Herb of the Cross, Holywort, Juno's Tears, Pigeon's Grass, Pigeonweed, Simpler's Joy, Turkey Grass, Verbenae herba, Vervain, Yerba de Santa Ana.

Introduction

The blue vervain or verbena is a creeping perennial of the mint family, growing close to ground and bearing numerous, small lilac-blue flowers. The term vervain comes from the Celtic ferfaen, from fer (to drive away) and faen (a stone), referring to the plant?s historical use in treating kidney stones.

Constituents

Mucilages, bitters, iridoid glycosides (hastatoside, verbenalin), caffeic acid, essential oil.

Parts Used

The above-ground parts of the plant gathered before flowering, dried.

Typical Preparations

Traditionally used as a tea, sometimes available in tea bags; also used in herbal teas. Traditional herbal medicines use equal amounts of vervain and sugar. May also be taken as an extract.

Summary

Blue vervain is a diuretic used to treat bladder infections, an analgesic tea for hemorrhoid sufferers (usually drunk but also useful as a wash), an expectorant used to treat chronic bronchitis, and an antirheumatic used to relive joint pain.

Precautions

Since the herb can stimulate uterine contractions, avoid during pregnancy.

For educational purposes only

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Information Obtained from mountain rose herbs @ http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/

Folklore Information