Verbena officinalis
(Vervain)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Antidepressant
• Antispasmodic
• Alterative
• Astringent
• Calms irregularities in digestion
• Diaphoretic
• Estrogen-receptor binding acting as an agonist similar to estradiol in animal studies
• Hepatic
• Galactagogue due to the glycosides
• Hypnotic/sedative
• Nervine - strengthens the nervous system especially when there is mental exhaustion due to overexertion

Clinical Indications:

• Amenorrhea
• Dysmenorrhea
• Gallstones
• Gallbladder disease
• Bronchitis, for acute spasms
• Depression, especially following an illness
• Early stages of a fever caused by an infectious condition
• Coughing associated with asthma
• Dyspepsia
• Jaundice
• Mild purgative in animals due to verbenalin
• Seizure
• Uterine problems due to nervous fatigue

Contraindications:

• Pregnancy due to the emmenagogue effect

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Limited data

Chemical Constituents:

• Glycoside iridoide monoterpenes including verbenalin, verbenin and bastatoside
• Tannin
• Flavonoids including hispidulin, jaceosidin and nepetin
• Mucilage
• Essential oil, beta-myrcene

Toxicity:

• A glycoside in vervain may cause vomiting

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).