A Detailed Guide to the Benefits, Effects and Contraindications of Vervain Hydrosol and Vervain Tea

When it comes to verbena, many people may only know it for its ornamental value, while few understand its medicinal value. In fact, verbena is a perennial herbaceous plant, generally growing wild, mainly at the edges of forests or in wild grasslands. It originated in Europe, and is widely distributed and cultivated in East China, South China and Southwest China. Although verbena is a herb, it is also a Chinese herbal medicine with high medicinal value. What are the benefits and effects and contraindications of verbena itself, as well as the verbena hydrosol and verbena tea made from it?

I. The Benefits, Effects and Contraindications of Verbena

Verbena contains verbenalin (i.e. cornin), cardiac glycosides, tannins and volatile oil. The rhizome contains stachyose. The leaves contain adenosine and β-carotene. Its main benefits and effects are:

1. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects

Both the water and alcohol extracts have anti-inflammatory effects on inflammation caused by mustard oil instilled into the conjunctival sac of rabbits, with the latter having a better anti-inflammatory effect than the former. Within the latter, the water-soluble fraction is also better than the water-insoluble fraction. The water extract has an analgesic effect on pain caused by electrical stimulation of the dental pulp in rabbits, beginning 1h after administration and disappearing at 3h; the analgesic effect of the alcohol extract is still not completely gone after 6h, with the water-soluble fraction having a greater effect, while the water-insoluble fraction has no analgesic effect.

2. Detoxifying and antitussive effects

Verbena decoction has a detoxifying effect and can reduce swelling and promote urination. It has a certain cough-suppressing and antitussive effect on coughs caused by various reasons, and was often used in ancient China to treat the cold and heat symptoms caused by malaria. Its effective antitussive components are β-sitosterol and verbenin.

3. Effects on the uterus

At a concentration of 1.6×10-2g/ml, verbena has a certain excitatory effect on rat uterine muscle strips and non-pregnant human uterine muscle strips. In rat uterine muscle strips, specimens in the estrous stage are most sensitive to verbena, and adding verbena often causes a simultaneous increase in tension and contraction amplitude; while specimens in other stages often only show an increase in contraction amplitude. Human uterine muscle strips respond weakly to verbena, generally only showing changes in tension. In rat uterine muscle strip experiments, verbena and PGE2 have a mutually enhancing effect, while with PGF2a there is only an additive effect. At concentrations sufficient to excite uterine smooth muscle, verbena has no obvious effect on jejunal smooth muscle, nor can it enhance the effect of PGE2 on jejunal smooth muscle.

Verbena has many other benefits and effects. For example, using 10 jin of verbena and sage, boiling them in water, straining out the residue, and making pills, taking two to three pills a day can treat abdominal distension and abdominal pain. Verbena can also treat tympanites with thirst. In addition, verbena can excite the sympathetic nerves and promote milk secretion.

Verbena's indications: clearing heat and detoxifying, activating blood and dispersing stasis, promoting urination and reducing swelling. Treats exogenous fever, damp-heat jaundice, edema, dysentery, malaria, diphtheria, throat impediment, gonorrhea, amenorrhea, abdominal masses, carbuncles, sores and toxins, and infantile gingivitis.

Contraindications of verbena: pregnant women should take it with caution.

① "Ben Cao Jing Shu": "Although the patient has damp-heat and blood-heat patterns, those with spleen yin deficiency and weak stomach qi should not take it."

② "Ben Cao Cong Xin": "For sore patterns that have lasted long and are deficient, use it after careful consideration."

Side effects of verbena:

If after taking it you experience dry mouth and tongue, or slight warmth or aching in the thighs, this is a normal reaction, and you can drink more water to replenish fluids. Drinking this tea will not cause diarrhea, and it can be drunk like water, with a total of 2,000cc per day being optimal.

II. The Benefits and Effects of Verbena Hydrosol

Hydrosol is a product of the essential oil distillation process. Its components are all molecular structures of the plant itself, with no other additives. Its main components include: pinene, camphor, verbenone, bornyl acetate, camphene, linalool, myrcene and eucalyptol. Its main benefits and effects are:

Skin benefits: Verbenone is a ketone molecule that needs no worry, and it is very useful and safe for people of any age. Verbenone rosemary is one of the hydrosols most favored by beauticians. This is because it can act on the dermis of the skin and can soothe irritation and discomfort of the skin, acne and facial blemishes, lumps, and even skin that is rough from the inside out.

Using verbenone rosemary hydrosol by steaming the face or applying a hot compress can help the skin bring dirt to the surface, clear blocked pores, cleanse deeply, and give the skin a firming effect and increased fineness.

It also has an outstanding effect of brightening the complexion. This is partly due to its deep-cleansing effect, and partly because it has very good antioxidant properties. Compared with several other rosemary hydrosols, verbenone rosemary hydrosol has a more obvious ability to scavenge free radicals.

Mental benefits: invigorates the spirit and helps with concentration.

Internal benefits: The drinking taste is sweet and cooling. Taken as a 21-day intensive course, it can address problems of the respiratory system as well as nasal congestion and mucous membranes. It has the effect of clearing dust and mucus from the lungs, and can promote liver function and aid digestion.

Taste and aroma: It does not have the pungent taste of rosemary. The top note is sweet and soft, with a faint green stem note, followed by the classic sharp note rising, but very light.

How to use:

1. Facial compress and scalp care

It has a strong astringent effect, firms sagging skin, and has a very good effect on acne, especially closed comedones; it can also improve dandruff and stimulate hair growth. After washing the hair, it can be directly massaged into the scalp to reduce scalp oiliness and clear blocked scalp follicles. Those with seborrheic hair loss can use it, and the effect is quite obvious.

2. Replenishing the body's energy

Having heard some excellent teachers' views on hydrosols and the body's energy, I firmly believe that the power of nature has a healing effect. When a person feels tired, stressed or low on energy, the hydrosol can be warmed and slowly poured in sequence along the forehead into the hair, which can regulate and replenish the body's energy. It calms the body and mind and relaxes them.

3. Internal use for detoxification

One of the best hydrosols for nourishing and protecting the liver. Personally, I feel it has a more obvious effect in clearing the respiratory system and mucous substances. After dilution, the aroma has a faint grassy note. The verbenone contained in this rosemary has a very good liver-detoxifying ability and can also very well help promote wound healing, so verbenone rosemary is often used for liver care.

Add 15ML to 1L of cold water and drink it slowly throughout the day. It can improve the feeling of unclear respiratory tract and promote liver function, protecting the liver of those who often stay up late. The stability of verbenone rosemary hydrosol is average. Its average lifespan is between 14 and 16 months, and for internal use it is recommended to store it refrigerated.

III. The Benefits and Effects of Verbena Tea

1. It has a sedative effect and has a very good therapeutic effect on indigestion and bronchitis.

2. It has a weight-loss effect. Drinking verbena tea before bed over the long term can regulate the gastrointestinal system and help with weight loss.

3. It can treat migraine (neurology) and also has the effect of detoxifying and nourishing liver qi.

Preparation method: Wash the verbena clean, cut it into moderate lengths, put it into a stewing cup, then add water and use

a high heat to bring it to a boil, then simmer over low heat for 25 minutes, remove the herb residue, add white sugar and stir well.

Verbena tea can also be combined like this:

1. Rosemary Verbena Tea

Materials needed: 10 grams of rosemary, 10 grams of verbena, 6 grams of mint, 6 grams of Tieguanyin.

Method:

(1) Wrap the rosemary, verbena, mint and Tieguanyin in cotton cloth and rinse with water.

(2) Brew all the materials with 70°c~~80°c hot water for about 15 minutes before drinking, and it can be re-brewed.

Drinking method: This recipe is for 1 day's portion, to be taken once every 3 days, with 10 times as one cycle.

2. Chamomile Verbena Tea

Materials needed: 7 grams of rosemary, 10 grams of chamomile, 10 grams of verbena, 7 grams of roselle, a little honey.

Method:

(1) Rinse all the herbs with water.

(2) Brew all the medicinal materials with 450 milliliters of hot water for 10~20 minutes, then pour out the decoction, strain it and drink.

(3) Add a little honey according to your own taste for sweetness.

3. Lemon Verbena Tea

Materials to prepare: 1 slice of lemon, 5g of verbena, 2 sprigs of rosemary, 1 tablespoon of honey.

Method:

(1) Wash the rosemary with cold water, drain the water and set aside, and put the verbena into a tea bag and set aside.

(2) Put the verbena tea bag and rosemary into a pot, pour in an appropriate amount of boiling hot water and steep for 5 minutes.

(3) When the water temperature drops below 80°C, add the lemon slice and honey, mix well and drink.

Who verbena tea is suitable for:

1. Female friends who have excess nutrition, do not like to exercise, yet want to maintain a perfect figure.

2. Office workers who sit for long periods.

3. People who gain weight in middle age.

Who should not drink verbena tea:

1. Pregnant women are prohibited from using it.

2. Those with blood-heat patterns and spleen deficiency are prohibited from taking it.

Two common mistakes with verbena tea:

1. Brewing verbena tea in a thermos

It is best to use ceramic pots or cups for brewing tea, not thermoses. Because when tea leaves are brewed in a thermos, the tea must be kept at a high temperature for a long time, which reduces the aroma; too much tannic acid and theophylline are extracted, giving a bitter taste and also causing the loss of some nutrients.

2. Brewing tea with boiling water

Brewing tea with boiling water will destroy many nutrients. Therefore, the water temperature for brewing tea should generally be kept at 70℃-80℃.