BLUE VERVAIN
Verbena bastata
COMMON NAMES: Wild hyssop, simpler’s joy, Indian hyssop.
FEATURES: Native to temperate and tropical America, the Mediterranean region, and the Near East;
introduced elsewhere in the Old World.
This complex perennial has 352 known specific and sub-specific natural and artificial hybrids.
Numerous species have been employed medicinally in various localities. The herb reaches heights of 3 or
4 feet, usually has a four-square stalk, has branching limbs, whitish flowers, followed by long slim tassels
of seeds.
Growing usually in dry, hard soils along roadsides and fields. For medicinal purpose vervain should
be collected when in flower, from June to September.
MEDICINAL PARTS: Root, leaves, stems.
SOLVENT: Water.
BODILY INFLUENCE: Diaphoretic, expectorant, emetic, antiperiodic, nervine, tonic, sudorific,
antispasmodic.
USES: Vervain expels worms and is a capable agent for all diseases of the spleen and liver. If given in
intermittent fever in a warm infusion of powder, the results are considerable. In all cases of cold, and
obstinate menstruation, it is a most complete and advantageous sudorific.
When the circulation of the blood is weak and languid, it will increase and restore it to proper
operation. The infusion, taken cold, is a good tonic in cases of constitutional debility and during
convalescence from acute diseases. It has been found to be valuable in scrofula, visceral obstructions,
stones, gravel, etc., but its virtues are even greater in its effects upon epilepsy, or falling sickness, and
fits.
Dr. O. P. Brown in The Complete Herbalist (1875): “I found after close investigation and elaborate
experiment that prepared in a certain way and compounded with Bone-set (Eupatroium perfoliatum),
Water pepper (Polygonum punctatum), Chamomile blossoms (Anthemis nobilis) in best whiskey has no
equal for the cure of fits, or falling sickness, or anything like fits; also for indigestion, dyspepsia and
Liver complaints of every degree. A more valuable plant is not found within the whole range of the