A plant such as medicinal verbena is quite common and familiar to everyone. Where is it growing? What is it used for? Verbena is found throughout Russia and Europe, from the Arctic Circle to the Mediterranean coast. It grows along roadsides, next to fields and forest belts, and therefore is considered a weed. But at the same time, it is also considered a cure for many diseases. In ancient times, healing and magical properties were attributed to her, it was believed that verbena officinalis could heal any disease. It was used as a talisman in battle and to protect the house from evil spirits, was given to those who wished good, laid on the altar, bringing unbreakable vows. Verbena officinalis, the photo of which you see in the article, did not go unnoticed in modern medicine.
Description of Verbena officinalis
Verbena chemist's (verbena officinalis, verbena officinalis) is a perennial herb. The stem is erect, its height can reach 80 cm, sometimes it branches, has a tetrahedral shape, along the faces it is covered with thin hairs pressed against the stem. The leaves are located opposite (in pairs on opposite sides) along the entire stem, their shape changes depending on the location on the stem.
Verbena inflorescences are similar to spikelets, located at the ends of branches, and consist of small light violet (less often - purple) flowers. The fruits are dark brown in color, look like small nuts. Verbena blooms in central Russia in July-August, fruiting in August-September, in other climatic regions, these periods may vary.
The roots are yellowish, fusiform, branched (fibrous root system).
Dried grass is greenish-gray, with a faint odor (the later the grass is collected, the weaker the smell, but at the same time the content of nutrients is higher).
Verbena officinalis: research
Studies have shown that various parts of verbena contain various active substances that have a versatile effect on the body, among them:
- Bitterness - substances that stimulate appetite, salivation, increase acidity and the amount of gastric juice.
- Essential oil with a stimulating effect on the nervous system, analgesic, antispasmodic effect, it is also choleretic, expectorant, diuretic and laxative.
- Sitosterol is a plant-based analogue of human steroid hormones, has anti-inflammatory, wound healing and absorbable effects.
- Carotene, flavonoids, trace elements.
- Glycosides that have a contracting effect on smooth muscle.
Verbena also contains salicylic acid, vitamin C and other vitamins, on which its restorative and tonic effect is based. It has a beneficial effect on the mental state of a person, harmonizing mood, reducing feelings of fatigue and tension, improving sleep.
Verbena officinalis: application
The range of diseases in which drugs are used verbena officinalis is quite wide:
- Nervous system - relieves headaches, overwork, facilitates the course of chronic fatigue syndrome, and improves sleep with insomnia.
- Gastrointestinal tract - enhances secretion in case of hypacid gastritis, has a choleretic effect, prevents the formation of stones in gallstone disease and cholecystitis, increases intestinal motility in case of constipation.
- Respiratory system - expectorant action for colds, laryngitis, bronchitis, a slight bronchodilator effect in chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma.
- Cardiovascular system - increases blood pressure with hypotension, eases the condition with anemia. Medicinal verbena is effective in atherosclerosis. It can sometimes be used as a weak cardiotonic agent for heart failure.
- Joints - relieves pain and reduces the intensity of inflammation in rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, pain in the muscles and joints of various origins.
- The immune system - has an anti-allergic effect.
- The kidneys and urinary system are a diuretic effect in urolithiasis. The plant prevents the formation of stones. Verbena officinalis treat cystitis, urethritis.
- Skin - facilitates the condition with furunculosis, relieves irritation and itching with neurodermatitis, promotes the speedy healing of bruises, cuts, abrasions and bruises.
Also, verbena officinalis has a positive effect on male sexual function and enhances lactation in women. But at the same time, it should be remembered that it is worthwhile to use verbena during breastfeeding. Traditional medicine recommends lotions from this plant for psoriasis, erysipelas, as well as an antitumor agent.
It is important to clarify that treatment with verbena drug will bring a positive effect only in combination therapy in combination with other, more powerful drugs. Attempts to treat exclusively folk methods for serious diseases such as erysipelas, heart failure, and especially tumors are dangerous to health and are strictly unacceptable.
Dosage Forms
From verbena officinalis get decoctions, infusions, alcohol tinctures and extracts. Essential oils obtained from it can be used orally, externally as lotions, be part of tablets, cough lozenges, sprays for tonsillitis and other diseases of the throat, ointments, creams, eye drops. They are also used for inhalation using a special inhaler or aroma lamp.
Verbena-based recipes for folk remedies
Verbena tea. Take 12.0-15.0 g of dried grass, pour them 180.0-200.0 g of boiling water. Take 1 tablespoon every hour for a month with arteriosclerosis and thrombosis.
Lotions with verbena officinalis for skin diseases. The following mixture is brewed: verbena - 10.0 g., Chamomile - 5.0 g., Rose petals - 10.0 g., Oak bark - 10.0 g., Sage leaves - 5.0 g. and horsetail herbs - 10.0 g. Apply twice a day as a means to reduce inflammation and alleviate the condition with skin diseases.
Infusion for thrombosis and atherosclerosis. 2-3 teaspoons of verbena herb pour a glass of boiling water, leave for an hour, strain. Take 1 tablespoon every hour. The same infusion helps with blockage of veins.
Contraindications
Despite its anti-allergic effect, verbena officinalis itself can be a fairly strong allergen. When using ointments and lotions, which include the oil of this plant, redness and itching of the skin, the formation of blisters are possible.
Also, verbena categorically can not be used for hyperacid gastritis, hypertension.
Taking drugs containing this medicinal plant inside can irritate the intestinal mucosa and cause enteritis, sometimes severe.
Pregnant women should use verbena with caution.
If there are signs of allergy, you should immediately stop the use of drugs based on it, in case of severe pathology, consult a doctor.
Remember, before you start treatment with any drug, even a regular medicinal plant, you need to consult a doctor, since neglecting a visit to a specialist, we can seriously harm our health!
Non-medical use of verbena
Verbena officinalis is not only treated. The roots of the plant are used in cooking - they are part of pickles and pickles, give them a characteristic tart and spicy taste. The aboveground part, collected during flowering, is added to tea or brewed independently as its substitute.
There are many decorative varieties of verbena used to decorate garden plots, flower beds and lawns.
Collection and storage
Verbena is harvested during its flowering in July-September. Cut off the upper part of the shoot with leaves and inflorescences and the lower leaves, which are collected separately. The collected grass is dried in the fresh air in the shade or at a temperature of about 30º, if artificial heat is used.
Verbena roots are harvested in spring and autumn, sooner or later flowering.
Store dried grass and roots recommended in a glass bowl with a lid, in a dry and warm place, without direct sunlight.
The use of individual parts of verbena officinalis
Most often, inflorescences, leaves and verbena grass are used for medical purposes, they are used to produce essential oil, which is part of ointments for external use, tablets and lozenges, and infusions, tinctures and decoctions are also made from it, which are taken orally.
The roots are mainly used in cooking for adding to marinades - they give the workpieces a characteristic spicy taste.
Verbena fruits are poisonous.
Verbena seeds are used for its cultivation. They have a dense shell and are placed in a refrigerator (stratification of seeds) to increase germination before planting in the soil for 4-5 days .
Growing verbena
Verbena is an unpretentious plant that can be grown in the garden. Most often it is planted for decorative purposes, but it retains its healing properties in full.
How is verbena officinalis planted? Seeds, previously subjected to cold treatment, are planted in the ground in early spring, seedlings - only after the weather is warm.
Verbena is undemanding to soil, but it is best to plant it in fertile loam. It grows well in brightly lit open areas. It tolerates drought easily, but poorly - excessive watering.
Decorative species of verbena are grown as annual flowers, and in the autumn shoots are destroyed. The collection of seeds for planting next year is not recommended - they do not preserve the varietal characteristics of the mother plant.