Vervain Verbena hastata is a medicinal plant native to America, the sister plant to the European plant Vervain Verbena Officinalis. Verbena hastata is often confused with Lemon Verbena, Aloysia citrodora. These are not the same plant. The European Officinalis and the American hastata can be utilized interchangeably.

As David Hoffmann notes in Medical Herbalism , vervain is primarily a nerve tonic, a sedative, anti-spasmodic, diaphoretic (sweat-inducing) hypotensive (lowers blood pressure) hepatic (liver health), emmenagogue (for women), and cholagogue (promotes healthy bile flow). Vervain contains iridoides, including verbenin, and verbenalin, flavanoids, volatile oils, triterpenes, mucilage, tannins and saponins.

On the whole, Vervain is considered a low-intensity, wide-spectrum medicinal, according to Peter Holmes. Its versatility is not unlike Yarrow or Meadowsweet. Vervain is perfect for the time of year when the weather is both hot and humid, since it can reduce dryness and heat from the lungs, liver, kidneys and reproductive organs, and help with bronchial asthma, fever and coughing, edema, stones, and the pain of fibromyalgia. Vervain supports those with chronic deficiency (tiredness) and conditions where there is chronic nervous tension. Vervain excels at relaxing the nerves, relieving depression. Vervain also skillfully helps to manage migraines, dizziness, and tinnitus. Vervain may be taken with oats and or St. John's Wort for nerve pain, or with Scullcap for a comprehensive nerve tonic. It’s perfect for an August reset. Please do not take this remedy without an herbalist’s or qualifed practitioner's advice. Or contact dharanihealingarts. It’s available in the Dharani Dispensary.Vervain will often be spotted in wetland areas where there is plenty of sunshine. The purple bundles of flowers enliven the landscape just as a sweeping brushstroke might. The flower bundles and the leaves are harvested in the summer when they are in full bloom. Clip the first 12" to 18" and make a tincture, chopping the plant finely to improve absorption. Pack the jar as you go. Pour your menstrum, alcohol or vinegar over the jar of Vervain plant material. Fill the jar to the top with your liquid. Label this with the name and the date that you collected the plant. Vervain is super bitter. I would not recommend that you one drink Vervain as a tea.

Vervain Verbena Hastata is growing right outside my kitchen window presently, where I can see the tall, erect purple bundle of joy moving with the wind. Legend says Vervain is the bringer of love and luck to our doors. I feel so deeply grateful for this plant medicine. OM