Verbena officinalis

Verbena officinalis, Verbenaceae, Vervenalini, Vervenalini (glycosides), essential oil, alkaloids, tannins, mucus, bitter substance.
Verbena officinalis, Verbenaceae, Vervenalini, Vervenalini (glycosides), essential oil, alkaloids, tannins, mucus, bitter substance.Verbena officinalis, Verbenaceae, Vervenalini, Vervenalini (glycosides), essential oil, alkaloids, tannins, mucus, bitter substance.Verbena officinalis, Verbenaceae, Vervenalini, Vervenalini (glycosides), essential oil, alkaloids, tannins, mucus, bitter substance.Verbena officinalis, Verbenaceae, Vervenalini, Vervenalini (glycosides), essential oil, alkaloids, tannins, mucus, bitter substance.Verbena officinalis, Verbenaceae, Vervenalini, Vervenalini (glycosides), essential oil, alkaloids, tannins, mucus, bitter substance.
Botanical Nomenclature Verbena officinalis
Common Name Blue Vervain, Holy Herb, Mosquito Plant, Simpler's Joy, Wild Hyssop
Taxonomy- Family Verbenaceae
Distinguishing Features of the Plant Verbena officinalis is a perennial plant, growing by 40 to 80cm. The leaves are toothed and lanceolate and the violet or blue flowers form a wreath of five petals. It blossoms in summer and the harvesting takes place mainly in July, just before flowering. The selected parts of the plant need to be dried as soon as possible.
Region Found Epirus
Part of the Plant with Active Substances Aboveground plant parts
Active Substances Vervenalini, Vervenalini (glycosides), essential oil, alkaloids, tannins, mucus, bitter substance.
Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications The whole plant has sedative, tonic, sudorific and antiinflammatory properties. Verbena is used for the treatment of depression, melancholia, stress and fever in the early stages of onset. Also, it is administered in the form of a compress against eczema, golden, itching, gingivitis, tooth decay and tonsillitis. The dried leaves of the plant can be used as stomach emollients, antidiarrheal and emmenagogue, while they are considered as galactagogue.
Method of Administration The plant is administered in the form of infusion (1 or 2 spoons of dried herb into a cup of boiling water) or in the form of herbal tea (3 times daily). It can also be consumed as tincture (extract of the herb in ethyl alcohol 70%, 1: 5 , 2-4 ml, 3 times a day) or can be applied on the skin as a compress.
Warning: The use of herb preparations is not recommended without seeking advice from your physician or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with the subscribed drugs that the patient already takes, thus eliminating their therapeutic efficacy or inducing toxicity. They may also burden further weakened vital functions of the body thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life threatened conditions.
Toxicity- Adverse Effects When the plant is taken at the indicated doses, it may cause reduction in mucus secretion, while at higher doses can cause nausea, vomiting and paralysis of the central nervous system. The plant shouldn't be administered to pregnant women, as it causes strong uterine contractions and premature birth.
References 1) Bιβλίο: Τα φαρμακευτικά βότανα και οι θεραπευτικές τους ιδιότητες, Λάμπρου Π. Σπύρου, Αγροτικός εκδοτικός οίκος, Αθήνα 1981, A' τόμος, σελίδες: 147-148 2) Βιβλίο: Οδηγός των φαρμακευτικών φυτών, Paul Schauenberg, Ferdinand Paris, Εκδότης Μ. Γκιούρδας, Αθήνα 1981, σελίδες 320-321, 3)http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-88-verbena.aspx?activeingredientid=88&activeingredientname=verbena 4)http://health-from-nature.net/Common_Vervain.html 5)http://entheology.com/plants/verbena-officinalis-vervain/ 6)http://www.herb.gr/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/659/s/ierovotani/ 7)http://votanakaifisi.blogspot.gr/2013/02/verbena-officinalis.html