Verbena officinalis: use, properties, and tradition

Verbena officinalis is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Verbenaceae family, commonly known as vervain or columbine herb.

It thrives on roadside edges and uncultivated areas, reaching altitudes of up to 1200 meters.

This plant has a stem that can grow to be 30-40 cm tall but may exceed this height. The stem is quadrangular, rough, pubescent, lignified, ascending, and either branched at the base or erect and branched upwards. The rhizome is short and spindle-shaped.

The leaves are opposite; the lower ones are stalked with a crenate blade, the upper ones are sessile, crenate, or entire. The intermediate leaves are larger (4-6 cm long), pinnately lobed or pinnatifid, with two large lobes at the base, giving the leaf a tripartite appearance.

All leaves are leathery, grayish-green, and endowed with hairs and protruding veins on the lower surface.

The lilac-colored flowers are grouped in terminal spikes formed in the axil of small bracts; the calyx is tubular and divided into 4-5 teeth, and the corolla is pentamerous.

The fruit is a tetrachene, consisting of 4 chambers, each with one seed.

Flowering occurs between May and October, and the medicinal part consists of the flowering aerial parts.

The herbal remedy contains iridoid glycosides (imparting a bitter taste), verbascoside, isoverbascoside, martynoside, verbenin, aucubin; essential oil (characterized by citral, limonene, geraniol, verbenone), flavonoids, triterpenes, and phytosterols (beta-sitosterol, ursolic acid, lupeol), polyphenols, and mucilages.

Verbena has multiple properties: expectorant, fluidifying, emmenagogic, galactagogue, digestive, antipyretic, antineuralgic, and calming for the nervous system.

It can be taken in various forms: as a powder (1-2 grams, 3-5 times a day) as an emmenagogue and galactagogue; in infusion (3 grams per 100 ml of water, 2-4 cups a day) for expectorant, antipyretic, and antineuralgic effects. Mother tincture, 30-60 drops 3 times a day as an emmenagogue and to promote lactation in postpartum women, 5-6 times a day as an expectorant, and 100 drops 1-2 times a day as a nervous system tonic in cases of depression. It is also used topically for bruises, wounds, and rheumatism, applying fresh leaves crushed on the affected area.

Verbena is part of the extensive group of “magic herbs” of St. John. Its traditional use was associated with other plants (Marjoram, Valerian, and Sage) collected on St. John’s Eve, June 24th, believed to help win the heart of a reluctant woman. It was enough to throw a handful of these dried herbs towards the beloved’s dwelling to overcome her resistance. This is why Verbena is also called “herba veneris“, meaning Venus’s herb.

It was also considered a symbol of peace in ancient Roman times, explaining why Roman ambassadors presented themselves with a sprig of Verbena in hand to demonstrate conciliation and diplomacy.

In Christian mythology, Verbena was referred to as the “cross herb“. It was believed to have been used on the wounds of the crucified Christ to stop the bleeding, hence the belief that those who collect this plant must first bless it.

ANJA LATINI

 Registered Herbalist at RNEP No. GLT0018S