Blue Vervain

Blue Vervain, scientifically known as Verbena hastata, is a flowering plant that belongs to the Verbena family. The plant has either a green or red hairy stalk, with blue-purple petals that develop in clusters on the stalk. Found naturally in worldwide wetlands, or in areas close to water, Egyptian mythology explained that whenever the goddess Isis (goddess of healing and magic) cried, Vervain would grow in the place where her tears fell to earth. Blue vervain is native to the northern United States and Canada, while other members of the Verbena family grow worldwide.

Blue Vervain is a nervine, which is defined as an herbal medicine that is used to nourish and strengthen the central nervous system. One of the many benefits of nervines is that the more you use them, the more effective they become in helping to restore and energize a stressed or anxious nervous system.  Blue vervain is also classified as an adaptogen, specifically targeting anxiety.  This means Blue Vervain can be used to calm anxiety, relieve depression, and counter a sense of feeling overwhelmed.

Traditionally used as an antibiotic and anti-tuberculosis remedy, Blue Vervain has also been used to treat fevers, as a general tonic, as a diuretic (water pill) to reduce swelling, and when combined with chamomile and other herbs, to treat diarrhea in children. The leaves and flowers contain verbascoside, verbenalin, beta-sitosterol, ursolic and oleanolic acids. 

In a recent review, Blue Vervain was listed as having anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, neuroprotective, analgesic, antioxidant and antifungal properties, as well as showing efficacy in the treatment of GI disorders linked with diarrhea and irregular periods in women. Some traditional herbalists employ Blue Vervain for upper respiratory infections and as an expectorant. 

Healing properties can be found in nearly every part of the plant, including the leaves, flowers, and roots.

In the United States, Verbena has been given GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) designation.