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Verbena, Vervain

Sacra Herba, Sideritis, Herba Sanguinalis, Columbina; Ma Bin Cao (TCM)
New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563


Male Vervain (left) and Female Vervain (above)
Herbarum Vivae Eicones, Otto Brunfels, 1530
Flora von Deutschland (19), Kohler, 1884
Botanical name:
Verbena officinalis
Several different varieties are used 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

Uses:
1. Clears Wind and Heat, Resists Poison, Promotes Sweat: (West, TCM)
-Colds, Flu, as well as Epidemic, Malignant and Pestilential Fevers
-Measles, Small Pox, other Eruptive Fevers
-various types of Fever including Intermittent and Malarial Fevers; Gerard said it is of ‘singular force against the Tertian and Quartan fevers’
-chronic Malaria and Diphtheria in modern TCM.
-Abscesses, Toxic Sores, Gingivitis
-various Poisons, but especially against Venomous bites.

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

3. Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation: (West, TCM)
-‘Excellent for the Womb’ (Culpeper)
-Amenorrhea and Dysmenorrhea.
-promote Labor, taken in wine
-promote Fertility, and has traditionally been said to have Aphrodisiac qualities.
-during Menopause to relieve symptoms
-TCM has used it for morbid Leukorrhea.

4. Clears Heat and 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
-calms and promotes rest in Insomnia and is effective for Depression and Nervousness.
-Traditionally used for Epilepsy, Apoplexy, Paralysis and Insanity.

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

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

8. Clears Phlegm and Heat, Stops Cough and Wheezing: (West, TCM)
-heat-types of Coughs including Whooping Cough;
-Wheezing, shortness of Breath, Asthma
-'Lung Ulcers', Spitting of Blood, Pneumonia and Consumption.

9. 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.
-wash or water for weak, red, sore Eyes, and poor Eyesight.


DOSE:
In INFUSION or BRIEF DECOCTION: 3–9 grams, up to 15 or 20 grams daily. In TCM, up to 30 grams is sometimes used in Decoction in stubborn or severe conditions, and 60–150 grams of the fresh herb is decocted for use in Malaria;
Of the TINCTURE (1:5 in 40% alcohol): 2–5, 7, to 10 mls, up to 12 or 15 mls, 2–3 times daily;
Of the FLUID EXTRACT (25%): 1–4 mls;
Of the 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. Fever, Vervain with China root, Bitter Orange, Cinnamon (Inverni)
2. Spotted Fevers, Small Pox, Vervain with Sage, Safflower, Peppermint, Pitchers Plant, Calendula (The Medical Herbalist)
3. Scarlet Fever, Vervain with Ground Ivy, Sage, Centaury
4. Viral Infections, Vervain with Rue, Vervain, Plantain, Sage, Wormwood, Balm, Betony, Centaury, St. John's Wort (as in Powder Against Rabies)
5. Headache, Migraine:
i. Vervain with Betony
ii. Vervain with Betony, Feverfew, Balm, St Johns wort
iii. Vervain with Betony, Horehound and Hyssop
6. Epilepsy, Vervain with Peony (Albertus)
7. Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea, Vervain with Motherwort, Pennyroyal, Mugwort, Balm (as in Decoction for the Womb)
8. Anemia, Chlorosis, Vervain with Chicory, Dandelion, Shepherds Purse, Centuary, Walnut leaf (Finsterwalder)
9. Jaundice with spleen congestion, Vervain with Veronica, Wormwood, Agrimony, Horsetail, Chicory, Dandelion (Görgens)
10. Diabetes from Heat, Vervain with Nettle root and Caraway (as in Decoction for Diabetes from Heat)
11. Ulcers and Abscesses, Vervain with Dandelion and Violet
12. Breast Swellings, Vervain with Agrimony and Betony (The Physicians of Myddvai)
13. Wounds, Trauma, Vervain with Tormentil, Comfrey, Shilajit, Wintergreen, St. Johns wort (as in Universal Vulnerary Decoction)
14. Poor and Weak Eyesight:
i. Vervain with Celandine, Eyebright, Aloe and Zinc oxide as eye drops (Riverius)
ii. Vervain with Senna, Fennel, Betony, Eyebright, Rosemary (as in Powder to Cleanse the Sight)

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
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)