Verbena, Vervain, Ma Bian Cao 马鞭草

Sacra Herba, Sideritis, Herba Sanguinalis, Columbina
Ma Bian Cao (TCM)

Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Flora von Deutschland (19), Kohler, 1884

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Botanical name:
Verbena officinalis
Several different varieties were noted including 'Male' and 'Female'

Parts used:
Root, herb in flower

Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Bitter

Classifications:
2D ATTENUATERS OF CONGEALED BLOOD.    2F. PURIFYING.    2T. GLUTINATE
4b. OPTHALMIC

ADVERTISEMENT:

Uses:
1. Clears Wind and Heat, Resists Poison, Promotes Sweat: (West, TCM)
-Colds, Flu, as well as Epidemic, Malignant and Pestilential Fevers
-Sore Throat, Diphtheria
-Measles, Small Pox, other Eruptive Fevers

2. Clears Heat and Toxin, Resolves Swellings: (West, TCM):
-abscess of the Breast, Mastitis, Scrofula
-Cholecystitis, Jaundice, abdominal Tumors, Hepatitis, Liver Cirrhosis, Ascites and Splenomegaly

3. Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation: (West, TCM)
-‘Excellent for the Womb’ (Culpeper)
-Amenorrhea and Dysmenorrhea.
-during Menopause to relieve symptoms

4. Clears Wind, Calms the Liver, Moves the Blood:
-specific for Headaches; used for Tension Headaches, Liver Headaches, Headaches from Blood Stagnation and Migraines
-Toothache, Facial Neuralgia

5. Kills Worms: (West, TCM)
-kills and expels Worms.

6. Promotes Urine, Clears Gravel and Stones: (West, TCM)
-nephritic Edema, Oliguria.
-Gout, Gravel and Stones.
-used as an auxiliary for Diabetes

7. Clears Phlegm and Heat, Stops Cough and Wheezing: (West, TCM)
-heat-types of Coughs including Whooping Cough;
-Wheezing, shortness of Breath, Asthma

8. Externally:
-poultices or plasters for Headache, Toothache, Rheumatic pain
-topically to move the Blood, ease Pain, and clear Bruising
-poultices, plasters, compress and washes for Sprains, Swellings, Sores, Wounds, Abscesses, Boils, Skin Inflammations and Tumors.
-applied with honey to Ulcers of the Leg
-gargle for Sores and Ulcers of the Mouth and Throat.
-ointment with Lard is applied to pain and swelling of the Genitals, especially in women.
-fresh herb is stamped with Oil of Roses and vinegar and applied to stop Falling Hair. The juice has been massaged into the scalp for all
-diseases of the hair including baldness and thinning.
-decoction or distilled water as as eye drops for weak, red, sore Eyes, and poor Eyesight.

Dose:
INFUSION or BRIEF DECOCTION: 3–9 grams
POWDER: 500mg–3 or 4 grams.
Used externally in washes, baths, plasters, poultices, enemas, douches etc.

Main Combinations:
Betony & Vervain

1. Fever:
i. Vervain with Willow bark
ii. Vervain with  ... available in PRO version
2. Spotted Fevers, Small Pox, Vervain with  ... available in PRO version
3. Scarlet Fever, Vervain with  ... available in PRO version
4. Viral Infections, Vervain with  ... available in PRO version
5. Headache, Migraine:
i. Vervain with  ... available in PRO version
ii. Vervain with  ... available in PRO version
iii. Vervain with  ... available in PRO version
6. Epilepsy, Vervain with Peony, Mistletoe
7. Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea, Vervain with  ... available in PRO version
8. Anemia, Chlorosis, Vervain with  ... available in PRO version
9. Jaundice with spleen congestion, Vervain with  ... available in PRO version
10. Diabetes from Heat, Vervain with  ... available in PRO version
11. Ulcers and Abscesses, Vervain with  ... available in PRO version
12. Breast Swellings, Vervain with  ... available in PRO version
13. Wounds, Trauma, Vervain with  ... available in PRO version
14. Poor and Weak Eyesight:
i. Vervain with  ... available in PRO version
ii. Vervain with  ... available in PRO version

Major Formula:
Betony Infusion Compound
Decoction for the Womb
Decoction for Diabetes from Heat
Decoction to Cleanse the Sight (Riverius)
Powder Against Rabies
Powder to Cleanse the Sight
Powder Against Rabies
Universal Vulnerary Decoction
Water of Emperor Frederick for the Sight

ADVERTISEMENT:

Cautions:
1. Not used during Pregnancy
2. Use cautiously in weak and blood-deficient patients.

Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water of the Herb, Ointment of Vervain

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From HERBARIUM of APULEIUS.
i. For Wounds and Carbuncles and Glandular Swellings
ii. Again, for kernels or Glandular Swellings
iii. For those that have obstructed veins so that the blood cannot have its natural course, and for those that may not retain their food.
iv. For sore of Liver
v. For the infirmity in which Stones grow in the Bladder
vi. For Head sore
vii. For bite of Snakes
viii. For bite of attorcrop (type of flying insect)
ix. For bite of Mad Dog
x. For new Wounds
xi. For bite of Adder
(Herbarium of Apuleius c. 1050, taken out of Leechdoms, Wortcunning, and Starcraft of Early England, Rev. O. Cockayne, 1864)