Description
Vervain Verbena Officinalis Leaves And Root
100% Pure Dried Herbs Leaves Root Jamaica Vervain Verbena Officinalis 8 oz
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Vervain Verbena Officinalis Leaves And Root 100% Pure Dried Herbs Jamaica 8oz
Vervain Verbena Officinalis Leaves And Root
Are vervain and Verbena the same?
All You Need to Know. Vervain, also known as verbena, Verbena Officinalis, and herb of the cross, is a perennial herb native to Europe and Asia (1). The plant belongs to the Verbenaceae family and has lobed, toothed leaves, and silky, pale-purple flowers.
What is vervain used for?
The aerial parts have been used traditionally for many conditions, including stimulation of lactation and treatment of dysmenorrhea, jaundice, gout, kidney stones, headache, depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Vervain is also considered an astringent, a bitter digestive tonic, and a diuretic.
Is vervain poisonous to humans?
Vervain should be avoided in people with kidney disease. The verbenalin found in the plant can irritate the kidneys if overused, causing inflammation and a potential worsening of the condition. Little is known about the long-term safety of vervain supplements.
Vervain Verbena Officinalis
Potential benefits
Vervain contains over 20 beneficial plant compounds, including iridoid glycosides, flavonoids, and triterpenoids, which may be responsible for its purported benefits (2Trusted Source).
May possess antitumor effects
Test-tube and animal studies suggest that vervain’s glycosides, triterpenoids, and essential oils may help inhibit tumor growth and induce the death of cancerous cells (3Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source).
In a mouse study, high doses of vervain extract of 18 grams per pound (40 grams per kg) of body weight inhibited tumor growth by more than 30%, compared with controls.
Researchers attributed this anti-tumor activity to verbenosides A and B — two types of glycosides — and triterpenoids (3Trusted Source).
Additionally, citral — a key component in vervain essential oil — possesses proven anticancer effects that cause programmed cell death (5Trusted Source).
One test-tube study found that a concentration of 0.01% vervain essential oil increased the death of rogue immune cells obtained from those with chronic lymphocytic leukemia from 15–52%, suggesting that it may be useful for the development of new therapeutic agents (4Trusted Source).
Vervain Verbena Officinalis Leaves And Root
Nonetheless, human research is needed to verify these claims.
May protect nerve cells
Vervain extract may benefit certain neurological or brain-related conditions.
Studies in rats show that vervain’s glycoside verbenalin — also known as cornin — may significantly improve brain damage after a stroke (6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source).
The studies explain that the compound promotes the development of new blood vessels in the brain — which supply it with oxygen — and improves its mitochondrial function.
Mitochondria are in charge of energy production in your cells, and they need oxygen to do so. Without oxygen, energy production decreases, leading to issues in regular cellular activity and potentially the development of many diseases of the nervous system (9).
Thus, verbenalin ensures sufficient energy and blood supply to the brain, improving function after a stroke.
What’s more, the extract may protect against the loss of brain cells or neurons in Alzheimer’s disease.
Research suggests that it may reduce the toxicity of beta-amyloid, or Abeta, peptides. The accumulation of this compound is an important toxic factor involved in the development of the disease (10Trusted Source).
Vervain Verbena Officinalis Leaves And Root
It May help reduce anxiety and convulsions
Vervain has long been used in folk medicine as a relaxant or nerve tonic, and animal research currently backs up this use.
A study in rats determined that doses of 0.04–0.22 grams per pound (0.1–0.5 grams per kg) of body weight of vervain extract had an anxiety-reducing effect comparable to diazepam, a popular drug used to reduce anxiety (11Trusted Source).
Researchers linked this to the plant’s content of flavonoids and tannins, both of which are known to possess anti-anxiety and sedative properties.
Other studies in rats have concluded that the extract may help manage convulsions or seizures in those with neurological diseases such as epilepsy by prolonging their onset time and shortening their duration (11Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source).
This was attributed to verbenin, an essential component in vervain. Verbenin was even favored over bromide, a compound usually used in epilepsy treatment (11Trusted Source).
It May have antimicrobial activity
Antibiotic resistance is a growing global concern. Promisingly, studies show that vervain may protect against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi.
In one test-tube study, vervain essential oil was tested against two fungi and seven bacteria. It inhibited the growth of all microorganisms in a dose-dependent manner — meaning that the higher the dose, the higher the antimicrobial effect (13Trusted Source).
