Blue Vervain Herbal Tea
Blue vervain can be consumed in the form of a warm infusion of leaves, roots, or flowers. You can also have its tincture for therapeutic effects.
Here is a simple way to make its tea at home.
Ingredients
4 tbsp Divine Alkaline Blue Vervain Tea
4 cups water
Aguave (optional)
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 - add agauve or any other sweetener to your taste. You can also have the tea on its own if you prefer to appreciate the natural taste of the herbs.
What is Blue Vervain?
Description of the Blue Vervain.
Rich in plant-based compounds known as flavonoids, vervain is thought to have potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antispasmodic, and analgesic (pain-relieving) effects. Vervain has anti-tumor properties that can help fight cancer.
Perennial Height: Blue Vervains are about 1-7 feet tall. Stem: Their stems are coarse, erect, stout, 4-sided, grooved, dull green to purplish, and branched. The branches are nearly opposite.
Leaves: Their leaves are simple, opposite, lanceolate or oblong, about 1½-7 inches long, about 2 inches wide, and short-petioled. The lower and larger leaves may have 2 smaller sharp-toothed lobes located upon each side near their base. These leaves are dark green, rough-textured, strongly veined, and finely rough-haired. Their margins are coarsely double-toothed or serrated.
Flowers: The flowers are densely and spirally arranged upon numerous, slender, erect, stiff, pencil-like spikes located atop the plant. These spikes are about 2-6 inches long but can elongate up to 8 inches. These spiked flowers bloom a few at a time, in small whorls, and begin at the base and end at the tip. A single spike can have flower buds, blooming flowers, and the fruit all at the same time. Each flower is bilaterally symmetrical, irregular, sessile, blue or violet-blue (rarely pink, lavender, or white), and about 1/8-1/3 inch wide. The petals are united into a tubular corolla with 5 abruptly flaring, rounded, and unequal lobes. The upper lobes are smaller than the lower outer lobes. The sepals are united into a hairy, green calyx with 5 teeth, but with 1 tooth shorter than the others. There are 2 pairs of stamens of unequal
Blue Vervain or Verbena officinalis is a perennial plant believed to originate from the Mediterranean region.
That species is the Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata L.). Blue Vervains are members of the Vervain or the Verbena Family (Verbenaceae). The generic name, Verbena, has several origins. It may be Latin for “holy plant” or “sacred herb”. It may also have been a corruption of the Latin names Herba veneris, or “herb of Venus”, which was an aphrodisiac used to rekindle the flames of dying love; from Herba bona, which is “good plant”; from verberi, which is “rod”, “stick”, or “stem”; or from herbena or herbous, which both mean “green”. Nowadays, it grows wild in various other parts of the world including most of Europe, North Africa, Japan and China.
American Blue Vervain or Verbena hastata is another type of the same plant and is a native of Canada and parts of northern USA.
11 Health Benefits of Blue Vervain
May Help Relieve Depression
Blue vervain has commonly been used for depression and anxiety.
An animal study published in 2016 suggests that this anxiolytic effect of the herb was maximum when a dose of 100mg per kg was administered. 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.
May Help Promote Restful Sleep
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.
Promotion of cellular apoptosis in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).
A research study demonstrated that an essential oil of blue vervain, and a constituent of blue vervain, citral, were an effective agent in inducing cellular apoptosis in lymphocytes collected from normal blood donors and patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The number of apoptotic cells was greater in CLL patients than in healthy subjects at all different times of incubation (4, 8 and 24 hours) for samples treated with Verbena officinalis essential oil (A) and citral (B) as well vs. controls at different concentrations (0.1% and 0.01%). Patients carrying deletion 17p13 (p53 mutation) showed a reduced ability to undergo apoptosis with respect to patients with other genomic aberrations or normal karyotype. The proapoptotic activity of Verbena officinalis essential oil and a constituent citral is thought to be due to a direct procaspase 3 activation. These data further support evidence that indicate this warrants further study in both cell lines and human trials in the quest to develop new therapeutic agents that are effective in apoptosis in cancer cells, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
May Reduce Pain & Inflammation
Researchers used carrageenan, an additive to thicken and preserve foods, to induce inflammation in test subjects. One group was tested with blue vervain extracts, while the other was tested with methyl salicylate ointment, which is used for muscle and joint pain and cramps.
The results of this study showed that these extracts show anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties but they are less than that of the ointment.
Progesterone (PR) and estradiol (ER) receptor binding promotion
This study reported on the content and bioactivity of plant (phyto) estrogens and progestins in various foods, herbs, botanical agents, and spices, before and after human consumption. Over 150 herbs traditionally used by herbalists for treating a variety of health problems were extracted and tested for their relative capacity to compete with estradiol and progesterone binding to intracellular receptors for progesterone (PR) and estradiol (ER) in intact human breast cancer cells. The six highest PR-binding herbs and spices commonly consumed were oregano, verbena, thyme, clover and damiana. Some of the herbs and spices found to contain high phytoestrogens and phyto-progestins were further tested for bioactivity based on their ability to regulate cell growth rate in ER (+) and ER (-) breast cancer cell lines and to induce or inhibit the synthesis of alkaline phosphatase, an end product of progesterone action, in PR (+) cells. In general, the study found that ER binding herbal extracts were agonists, much like estradiol, whereas PR-binding extracts, were neutral or antagonists.
Headaches
Most people suffering from migraines find difficulty in managing them. But thanks to the analgesic properties of blue vervain, this could be a thing of the past. Blue vervain soothes the nerves and relaxes your mind – which is why it can help you deal with migraine headaches better.
Boosts Heart Health We are sure you want to keep your heart healthy. Apart from a healthy diet and regular exercise, taking blue vervain can also help.
A naturally occurring glycoside in blue vervain, called cornin, was found to have cardioprotective effects. In one study, animal subjects treated with cornin showed recovery from myocardial ischemia (partial or complete blockage of the arteries). Cornin increases the expression of certain pathways that benefit the heart. Sources suggest blue vervain even helps treat chest pain (also called angina) and fluid retention due to heart failure. Treats Menstrual Pain The analgesic properties of vervain play a role again – these treat menstrual cramps and the associated muscle cramps. Vervain can also reduce the unpleasant menstrual symptoms by offering relaxation.
Blue Vervain Boosts Oral Health Blue Vervain has been used for several centuries to boost gum health. Reports show that even the Celtic people had used blue vervain as a mouthwash to treat their oral problems. Chewing the plant’s roots was believed to strengthen one’s gums and teeth.
A 2016 study validates the importance of vervain for oral health. Patients with chronic gingivitis (a gum disease) were asked to brush and floss their teeth and rinse their mouths with a vervain mouthwash. Results showed those who used the mouthwash had lower scores of Gingival Index and Plaque Index. This indicates the improvement in the condition after using the vervain mouthwash.
Some sources suggest that vervain can also treat halitosis (bad breath), mouth ulcers, and even tonsilitis.
Improves Digestive Health Blue Vervain can stimulate your appetite and promote digestive health as well.
And thanks to the ant parasitic properties of the herb, it can rid the body of intestinal worms.
The diuretic properties of blue vervain also play a role in digestive health. The herb promotes the release of urine and water from the body, thereby assisting diarrhea relief.
Protects The Liver And Kidneys
Several herbalists consider vervain to boost the functioning of a sluggish liver. This, in turn, has a positive effect on hormonal metabolism and balance.
Vervain was also found to cleanse the kidneys and the bladder, thereby cutting the risk of stones. In one report, vervain, along with other herbs like betony and yarrow, was found to treat kidney stones. The antimicrobial properties of vervain help cleanse the liver and kidneys of toxins and prevent infections. The active ingredients – aucubin and oleanolic acid – in vervain also have hepatoprotective effects.
Great post.
Great read! thank you for the information. i hope to read more blogs with information about these herbs!