| Verbena officinalis
Part Used: Aerial parts.
Constituents:
- Iridoids, verbenin, verbenalin and bastatoside
- Miscellaneous; essential oil, mucilage and others.
Actions: Nervine tonic, sedative, anti-spasmodic, diaphoretic,
hypotensive, galactagogue, hepatic.
Indications: Vervain is a herb that will strengthen the
nervous system whilst relaxing any tension and stress. It can
be used to ease depression and melancholia, especially
when this follows illness such as influenza. Vervain may be used
to help in seizure and hysteria. As a diaphoretic it can be used
in the early stages of fevers. As a hepatic remedy it will
be found of help in inflammation of the gall-bladder and jaundice. It may be used as a mouthwash against caries and gum disease.
King's Dispensatory gives these uses: "Vervain is
tonic, emetic, expectorant, and sudorific it has proved beneficial
in intermittent fever, given in warm infusion or in powder.
In all cases of colds and obstructed menstruation it may
be used as a sudorific. Taken, the infusion forms a good tonic
in some cases of debility, anorexia, and during convalescence from acute diseases. It has been reputed
valuablein scrofula, visceral obstructions, gravel
and worms. The following application has been recommended
as effectual in promoting the absorption of the blood effused in
bruises, and in allaying the attendant pain: Take of vervain,
senna and white pepper, of each, equal parts. Make a cataplasm
by mixing with the white of eggs."
Preparations & Dosage: Infusion: pour a cup of boiling
water onto l-3 teaspoonfuls of the dried herb and leave to infuse
for l0-l5 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day. Tincture:
take 2-4 ml of the tincture three times a day.
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Whilst working in conservation and lecturing in ecology and the eco-crisis for the University of Wales, David Hoffman became convinced that to heal the world, to embrace planetary wholeness and responsibility for it 
