What does blue vervain look like?
It has purple flowers and simple leaves with double-serrate margins. The scientific name of blue vervain is Verbena hastata and it is also known by other names like American vervain, simpler’s joy, and swamp verbena. It is a hardy and drought-resistant plant found across North America and used as an herb by many people.
What does vervain tea taste like?
Classic verbena can taste decidedly bitter, although this can easily be remedied by pairing tea leaves with sweeter or more favorable flavors. Because vervain is so versatile, it pairs flawlessly with a wide range of other herbal teas.
What is blue vervain (swamp verbena)?
Throughout North America, you can find small patches of purple flowering plants commonly known as blue vervain. However, the scientific name of this well known herb is Verbena hastata, and is also known by the name swamp verbena. These plants are quite robust, and are able to resist drought, making them very reliable sources of this powerful herb.
What is vervain?
All You Need to Know Vervain, also known as verbena, Verbena officinalis, and herb of the cross, is a perennial herb native to Europe and Asia ( 1 ). The plant belongs to the Verbenaceae family and has lobed, toothed leaves, and silky, pale-purple flowers.
What does blue vervain tea taste like?
Today, we drink Vervain Tea less for the supernatural and more for its extraordinarily complex yet delicious taste. When brewed, it has earthy, herbaceous notes with bold astringent undertones. Additionally, many health-conscious individuals choose this beverage for its well-documented benefits.
Is blue vervain tea bitter?
Tea-since Blue vervain is bitter, it is helpful to pair it with more tasteful nervine plants such as Tulsi and Rose.
Does vervain have a taste?
You can find vervain in tincture form, as a powder, or ointment. You can also drink it as an herbal infusion, although it's said to have a bitter taste. The flowers are also used as a garnish in cocktails and alcoholic beverages.
How does blue vervain make you feel?
Alternative practitioners tout vervain's anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antispasmodic, and analgesic (pain-relieving) properties. People use vervain to relieve anxiety and depression, aches and pains, sleep issues, and reduce cancer risk.
What does blue vervain do for the body?
It's typically used as a tea for stress relief, anxiety, mood swings, and sometimes symptoms of depression. The benefits of blue vervain for your mood are thought to come from a compound called verbenalin. It has calming and sleep-promoting properties that ease stress and frayed nerves.
How often should you drink vervain tea?
Vervain tea can also be made from the flower and leaves by adding 1 to 2 teaspoons (2 to 4 grams) to a pint of boiled water. To get the most from this herbal tea, you should allow it to steep covered for 10 to 15 minutes. When using it for medicinal purposes, the common recommendation is 1 to 3 cups of tea per day.
Can I eat blue vervain?
Blue vervain had many uses in First Nation's culture as food and medicine. The seed are edible when roasted and is ground into a powder (although they are somewhat bitter to taste). Leaves can be made into a tea or tossed into salads, soups, etc. The root can be collected all year round.
What is the difference between vervain and blue vervain?
Vervain is also known as American Blue Vervain and Simpler's Joy. This plant is in the Plant Family Verbenacea, but not to be confused with Lemon Verbena (Aloysia triphylla). These are two different plants only belonging to the same Plant Family.
How do you drink blue vervain tea?
Blue vervain tea can help calm you down and sort of mellow the whole system out....InstructionsAdd 1-3 teaspoons of the dried herb to a heat-proof jar.Pour 8-10 oz. of hot water over them.Cover the jar and let your tea steep for at least 15 minutes.Strain out the herbs.
What part of blue vervain is medicinal?
The root was said to be tonic, emetic, expectorant, and sudorific used for intermittent fever, colds, obstructed menstruation, taken cold as an infusion for debility, anorexia, and convalescence from acute diseases (King, 1852).
What is Blue Vervain?
Blue vervain is a flowering plant that belongs to the vervain family, Verbenaceae. It has purple flowers and simple leaves with double-serrate margins. The scientific name of blue vervain is Verbena hastata and it is also known by other names like American vervain, simpler’s joy, and swamp verbena. It is a hardy and drought-resistant plant found across North America and used as an herb by many people.
How to make blue vervain tea?
Instructions. Bring the water to a boil. Now add the blue vervain and lemon balm into the water and let it steep for about 10 minutes. Once done, strain the tea into a cup and add honey or any other sweetener to your taste. You can also have the tea on its own if you don't mind the bitter taste.
Does vervain have flavonoids?
As the dose increased, the effect decreased. The study also mentions that vervain is rich in flavonoids like apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, kaempferol, and tannins, which help in relieving depression. [3]
Does Vervain have anti-tumor properties?
Antitumor activity: In vivo studies show that vervain extracts have an anti-tumor potential. More studies are required to ascertain this benefit. [12]
Does blue vervain help with sleep?
Research published in the Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences journal indicated that blue vervain has hypnotic effects. It helps in reducing sleep latency, which means that it can minimize the time a person takes to fall asleep and improve the duration of sleep. [6]
Does blue vervain cause nausea?
The side effects of blue vervain or verbena supplements are mentioned below: [17] When taken in large amounts, it may cause an upset stomach and nausea. Allergic reactions like mild skin rashes may also appear. Blue vervain can interact with certain medications used for blood pressure.
Does blue vervain tea help with insomnia?
Anecdotal evidence suggests that blue vervain tea was used for insomnia. Studies conducted on vervain show that these effects of the plant are possible due to the presence of iridoids like hastatoside and verbenalin, and the polyphenol verbascoside in it. [5]
What is a purple plant?
The plant forms clumps of stiff upright stems with lanced-shaped leaves with toothed margins. The purple flowers occur in a candelabra-shaped panicle and are a high-value nectar plant with a long bloom season. Blooms open bottom to top with only a few open at one time in mid to late summer.
What animals eat the leaves of a junco?
Wildlife Value: Cardinals, sparrows, and juncos eat the seeds. Cottontail rabbits eat the foliage, however, most mammals avoid its bitter taste. Larval host plant for verbena moth and the common buckeye butterfly. Long and short-tongued bees collect the nectar and sometimes the pollen.
Does swamp vervain help with blood pressure?
Externally, it has been applied to wounds, ulcers and acne. Swamp vervain can, however, interfere with blood pressure medication and hormone therapy, and large doses cause vomiting and diarrhea.
What Does Verbena Tea Taste Like?
Verbena, particularly lemon verbena tea, offers tea mavens a delicate fresh taste that is really incomparable to other citrus teas. Often compared to chamomile, verbena offers a slightly grassy undertone that is neither sweet nor sour, but falls nicely in the middle of the two extremes. Frequently used as a base for other teas or as a tea blend, verbena is undoubtedly subtle, while still offering a well-defined clean-cut flavor and slightly floral scent. Classic verbena can taste decidedly bitter, although this can easily be remedied by pairing tea leaves with sweeter or more favorable flavors.
What is Verbena?
Verbena is a perennial, annual or semi-woody plant with oval shaped leaves and small flowers. Preferring a sunny patch of garden, verbena is ideal for attracting butterflies and other wildlife. The flowers of the plant range in color from blue to white, with some varieties offering rich hued purple buds. Verbena belongs to the Verbenaceae family, with roughly 250 species of the plant hailing from Europe, North America and South America.
Who Can Benefit From Verbena Tea?
Verbena is truly a wonder tea for people struggling with weakened immune systems or stomach issues. It’s also a fabulous choice for people who want to protect or improve their health, especially those who are concerned with future development of dementia, cancer, arthritis or other age related health issues. Of course, anyone can give their immune system a little more oomph with a daily cup of verbena herbal tea, making it a smart cold and flu season pick.
What is the meaning of verbena?
Verbena, which is also referred to as vervain or verveine, originates from the Celtic language, meaning to drive away. In ancient times, it was believed that verbena had the power to expel evil spirits The Romans and Egyptians held verbena to be a sacred herb, while modern uses include treating inflammation, digestive and metabolic disorders.
How many iridoids are in verbena?
One study of the verbena plant, as reported in Food and Science Technology, found the presence of three iridoids, fifteen flavonoids and four phenolic acid derivatives, all of which contribute to:
What is the purpose of verbena infusion?
A verbena infusion was believed to ward off vampires, as well as rekindle love. Handy.
Is verbena good for you?
Currently being studied for everything from weight loss to improving white blood cell count, verbena is rich in vitamins, antioxidants and healing chemical compounds. At only two calories per cup of tea, verbena packs a potent vitamin C punch. The four phenolic acids found in vervain are thought to provide protection against oxidative damage such as cancer, stroke and coronary heart disease. Equally important, the many flavonoids found in the plant are vital in regard to cell signaling, which protects the body from disease and aging.
Where does Vervain grow?
The scientific name you will find is Verbena hastata, a plant native to North America that grows particularly well in some of the hotter states though grows (not as abundantly) further north. There are actually a few species of Vervain that grow in the US but unless you’re a botanist or an individual with a trained eye you may not know the difference. Here’s a tip if you find yourself getting curious- head to a grassy meadow or marshy field where you may find blue vervain and look at the stem of the plant, if it curls upwards almost like a curly magic wand, you may have spotted the Verbena hastata.
What does "nervine" mean?
Did you know that nervine just means “good for the nervous system?”
Is blue vervain good for menstrual cramps?
We mentioned earlier that blue vervain is effective for menstrual pain. As an anticonvulsant herb, blue vervain works to help ease and even evaporate cramping. We love using blue vervain with skullcap and black cohosh, but you can also take blue vervain on its own as a tincture or as a tea. Are you starting to think that blue vervain is a good match for you? Take a look at some of the best blue vervain products we have found on the market today.
Does blue vervain help with anxiety?
While blue vervain is often marketed as a plant to help aid with anxiety, like with most botanicals, blue vervain is far more multifaceted than that. In fact, blue vervain can help lower blood pressure, has been demonstrated to help you heal from coughs colds and flu, and is even useful for slowing petit mal seizure. If you get a stiff neck and head before during or after a cough cold or flu, blue vervain is a great option.
Is blue vervain good for neck pain?
Blue Vervain is also analgesic and antispasmodic. Analgesic plants are more important than ever today in a day of over-prescription of opiates. Individuals who experience constant tension in their neck and shoulders will want to add blue vervain to their pain supplement rotation. While turmeric is very effective at reducing inflammation, blue vervain can work in about 20 minutes to help release tension in the neck and elsewhere. Sometimes getting to the root source of the pain makes the greatest impact in the short term to empower you to take further actions that will benefit your long-term health.
Is blue vervain good for you?
Famous herbalist and teacher Larken Bunce adds that blue vervain is great for when it’s time to cool things down and ease hot digestion. What this means is that if you have inflammation in your gut, it feels hot and needs to relax, blue vervain could be great for you too. We strongly encourage people to examine their mind and gut connection. Are you getting really hot and bothered? Does your stomach also feel rather irritated now that you mention it? Are you getting anxious and ready to blow your top? Try blue vervain.
Is Blue Vervain stiff necked?
The herbal community has given blue vervain the reputation of the “stiff-necked herb.”
Where does Verbena officinalis come from?
Verbena officinalis, commonly known as vervain, common vervain, verbena or common verbena, is a medicinal plant native to Europe. It is a well-known herb employed by humans since ancient Roman times. Verbena officinalis is one of many varieties of the plant and the most commonly used for medicinal purposes, although there have been voices that say all varieties have about the same curative properties.
Is vervain good for you?
Overall, the biologically active compounds in the plant such as beta-sitosterol, iridoid glucosides, apigenin, aucubin, verbenalin and verbascoside are responsible for the health benefits of vervain. However, it is important not to exceed the doses recommended by your healthcare professional. Should you exceed your recommended intake, you may risk unwanted side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or convulsions. Also, considering there is limited research on the effectiveness of the plant in the treatment of certain medical conditions, you may want to first discuss with your doctor the use of vervain as an alternative treatment.
What does a vervain plant look like?
What does the vervain plant look like? Verbena Officinalis is a perennial plant with delicate jagged leaves and small, pale lilac five-petaled flowers on shoots. The vervain flower can bloom light blue to purple flowers, but some vervain will bloom with pink or white flowers. Although pretty, vervain flowers have no fragrance.
What is Vervain tea?
As a medicinal plant vervain has been largely forgotten, and is often confused in German homeopathy for the fragrant Lemon Beebrush ( aloysia citrodora ), which is often included in herbal teas. We have a vervain tea (also called blue vervain tea) recipe for you from Hildegard. But first, how vervain works.
How does Vervain work?
The vervain herb, however, contains no iron. Therefore, it is believed the word derives from the plant’s use in the smelting process as means to help harden and improve longevity of steel.The herb was also frequently used to treat cuts and puncture wounds.
What is the plant that Hildegard of Bingen uses to treat swelling and inflammation in the throat?
Hildegard of Bingen’s synopsis. Hildegard von Bingen generally classifies the plant as “cooling.”. Within Hildegard medicine she references vervain and verbena to treat swelling and inflammation in the throat, to heal ulcers, to treat jaundice, tooth and gum infections, and to reduce gum inflammation.
Why is Vervain called the herb of the cross?
In Christian lore, vervain was used to treat Christ’s wounds on the cross , which is why vervain is sometimes called the herb of the cross. The Aztecs and other Native American tribes used vervain roots and vervain flowers as a diuretic and as a natural treatment for headaches, circulatory issues, and insomnia.
Why did the Greeks use the Vervain plant?
They used the sacred vervain branches to purify their temples. The Greeks called it hierobotane, “holy plant”, while the Roman version of the name was herba sacra or “sacred herb.”. The Romans also used the vervain plant to bless their altars.
How tall does Vervain grow?
The vervain plant will grow wild in most soils. Most varieties will mature at 12” to 36” tall. Vervain will spread slowly, staying low to the ground until blooming mid-summer through early fall.
Where does Vervain come from?
Vervain, also known as verbena, Verbena officinalis, and herb of the cross, is a perennial herb native to Europe and Asia ( 1 ). The plant belongs to the Verbenaceae family and has lobed, toothed leaves, and silky, pale-purple flowers. It’s used throughout the world as an herbal remedy because of the multiple beneficial compounds it contains.
What is Vervain essential oil?
Vervain’s extract and essential oils may provide other potential health benefits, such as: 1 Anti-inflammatory activity. The topical use of vervain extract seems to have an anti-inflammatory effect on swelling caused by fluid retention ( 17 ). 2 Supports gum health. One study in 260 people suggests that a vervain decoction (herbal infusion) may benefit the management of chronic gingivitis or gum inflammation ( 18 ). 3 Supports heart health. A study in rats determined that treatment with verbenalin, or cornin, reduced heart tissue death and damage from inadequate blood supply ( 19 ). 4 Antidiarrheal activity. One animal study concluded that vervain root extract significantly delayed the volume and frequency of diarrhea, compared with a control ( 20 ).
What is Vervain used for?
Summary. Vervain is used in traditional medicine to treat infections and abdominal pain and to promote milk production in breastfeeding women.
How many compounds are in Vervain?
Vervain contains over 20 beneficial plant compounds, including iridoid glycosides, flavonoids, and triterpenoids, which may be responsible for its purported benefits ( 2. Trusted Source.
What is the compound that is used in vervain?
This was attributed to verbenin, an essential component in vervain. Verbenin was even favored over bromide , a compound usually used in epilepsy treatment ( 11 ).
Does Vervain oil inhibit bacteria?
In one test-tube study, vervain essential oil was tested against two fungi and seven bacteria. It inhibited the growth of all microorganisms in a dose-dependent manner — meaning that the higher the dose, the higher the antimicrobial effect ( 13. Trusted Source. ).
Does Vervain oil kill rogue cells?
One test-tube study found that a concentration of 0.01% vervain essential oil increased the death of rogue immune cells obtained from those with chronic lymphocytic leukemia from 15–52%, suggesting that it may be useful for the development of new therapeutic agents ( 4 ).
