Herbs & Herbal Remedies @ Green Papaya

Joy of a Healer

Family: Verbenaceae; (includes Teak, Lantana)

Genus and Species: Verbena Officinalis (European); V. Hastata (American)

Also known as: Simpler’s Joy, Blue Vervain, Verbena, Herb-of-the-cross, Enchanter’s Herb, Indian Hyssop

Parts used: Leaves, flowers, roots

During the Middle Ages, Healing herbs were often called simples, and herbalists simplers. Vervain was prescribed so frequently for so many conditions, it became known as simpler’s joy. The name has some basis in fact. Vervain appears to act like a mild aspirin, helping to relieve minor pains and inflammations.

Herb-of-the-Cross

In Egyptian mythology, vervain grew from the tears of Isis, goddess of fertility, as she grieved for her murdered brother-husband, Osiris. A thousand years later, vervain entered Christian mythology as the herb pressed into Christ’s wounds to stanch his bleeding, hence its name herb-of-the-cross.

Hippocrates recommended vervain for fever and plague.

The court physician to Roman Emperor Theodosius the Great prescribed it for tumors of the throat (probably goiters). His fanciful prescription advised cutting vervain root into two pieces, tying one around the patient’s throat and hanging the other over a fire. As the heat and smoke shriveled the hanging root, the tumor was supposed to shrink.

The Romans spread vervain throughout Europe, where it became especially popular among the Druids of pre-Christian England, who used it in magic spells, hence its name enchanter’s herb.

German abbess/herbalist Hildegard of Bingen prescribed a decoction of vervain and vermouth for “toxic blood [infections], toothache, [and] discharges from the brain to the teeth.”

Our word vervain comes from the Celtic ferfaen-from fer, to drive away, and faen, a stone-a reference to its traditional use in treating kidney stones.

Medieval Acne Treatment

During the Middle Ages, vervain became a popular acne remedy. Those with pimples stood outside at night holding a handful of the herb wrapped in a cloth. When a shooting star passed, they rubbed the cloth over their pimples and the blemishes were supposed to disappear.

From acne, vervain evolved into a treatment for other skin problems. Seventeenth-century herbalist Nicholas Culpeper wrote: “The leaves bruised, or the juice mixed with vinegar, does wonderfully cleanse the skin, and take away morphew [dandruff).” Culpeper also recommended vervain to treat jaundice, gout, cough, wheezing, bleeding gums, shortness of breath, fever, plague, gravel (kidney stones), dropsy (congestive heart failure), and “used with hog grease, it helps with swellings and pains of the secret parts [genitals].”

Remedy for War Wounds

Colonists introduced European vervain into North America, and it quickly went wild. They also found the Indians using native American vervain, also known as Indian hyssop, to treat fever and gastrointestinal complaints and to clear cloudy urine.

During the Revolutionary War, military physicians used vervain extensively to relieve pain, loosen bronchial mucus, and induce vomiting. More than a century later, the Eclectics recommended it for fever, colds, cough, intestinal worms, menstrual irregularity, bruises, and as a tonic “during convalescence from acute diseases.”

Contemporary herbalists recommend vervain as a tranquilizer, expectorant, menstruation promoter, and treatment for headache, fever, depression, seizures, wounds, dental cavities, and gum disease.

When in doubt, physicians often say, “Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.” An herbalist might say the same thing, substituting vervain for aspirin. No wonder they called this herb simpler’s joy.

Pain and Inflammation Relief - Chemically, vervain is quite different from aspirin, but German and Japanese studies suggest it has similar effects, combining mild pain relief with some ability to reduce inflammation. These findings support its traditional use in treating headache, toothache, and wounds.

Laxative - One study suggests the herb also has a mild laxative effect.

Myth - Vervain has never been shown to treat dandruff, induce vomiting, promote menstruation, remove a kidney stone, or do anything except provide mild pain relief.

Rx for Vervain

For a very bitter infusion to help treat headache, mild arthritis, and other minor pains, use 2 teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water. Steep 10 to 15 minutes. Drink up to 3 cups a day. Mask vervain’s bitterness with sugar, honey, and lemon, or mix it with an herbal beverage tea.

In a tincture, use ½ to 1 teaspoon up to three times a day. Medicinal doses of these herbs should not be given to children under age 2. For older children and people over 65, start with a low-strength preparation and increase strength if necessary.

European animal studies show vervain depresses heart rate, constricts the bronchial passages, and stimulates the intestine and uterus. Because it may depress heart rate, anyone with congestive heart failure or a history of heart disease should not use it. The possibility of bronchial constriction might cause problems for asthmatics and those with other respiratory conditions. Intestinal stimulation might aggravate chronic gastrointestinal conditions, for example, colitis. And pregnant women should steer clear of vervain because of its possible stimulating effect on the uterus-except possibly at term and under the supervision of a physician to help induce labor.

Other Cautions

Although both vervain species have similar effects, the Food and Drug Administration includes V. officinalis among herbs generally regarded as safe but considers V. hastata an herb of “undefined safety.” For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults who do not have a history of heart disease or asthma, both vervains are considered relatively safe in amounts typically recommended.

Vervain should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If vervain causes minor discomforts, such as stomach or intestinal distress, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.

Pain-Free Harvest

Vervain is a 3-foot perennial with thin, erect, stiff stems. its opposite leaves are oblong and toothed near the ground and lance-shaped and deeply lobed higher up. The plant develops slender flower spikes that bear small blue or lilac flowers from early summer through midautumn. The herb’s bluish flowers gave it the name blue vervain.

Vervain grows easily from seeds planted in spring after frost danger has passed. Although it’s a perennial, this herb is rather short-lived; however, it self-sows. Vervain prefers rich, moist loam under full sun.

Harvest the leaves and flower tops as the plants flower.