Vervain

Botanical Name: Verbena officinalis

Family: Verbenaceae

Other Names: Enchanter's plant, herb of the cross, holy herb, herb of grace, juno's tears, simpler’s joy

Habitat: Footpaths, roadsides, meadows, waste grounds

Description: Herbaceous hairy perennial. Bushy. Stiff, square stems Height 60-90cm/2-3ft.Leaves: opposite grey/green spear shaped, pinnately lobed, rough, toothed, upper unstalked Flowers: 5 lobed petals, 2 lipped lilac small June-October

Native to: Britain, Europe

Cultivation:  Well drained moist soil Full sun

Part Used: Whole herb

Actions: Antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, emetic, nervine, sudorific, tonic

Constituents:  Bitters, tannins

Iridoids, verbenin, verbenalin, verbascoside, eukovoside, hastatoside

Volatile oil: verbenone, citral, geraniol, limonene

Triterpene: ursolic and oleanolic cids, beta-sitosterol

Flavonoids: luteolin-7-glucuronide

Saponins, mucilage

Nervous System: Nerve tonic

Energetics: Smell: damp

                    Fire, throat, nose, stress, wisp of light, urinary tract

Other Notes: Was scattered on the Roman altars. Named Herba veneris by them and sacred to the goddess of love Venus

The Romans held feasts called Verbenalia in honour of this plant

In Anglo-Saxon and medieval times it was worn as amulet against evil

Used by Druids to cure the plague and to wash their stone altars  

Said to possess the power to unlock doors

Used in love potions in the middle ages