A Visit to Vervain Lane
I’ve been using some of my pandemic time to do some continuing education via a webinar (isn’t it all webinar all the time now?) The herbalist (David Winston) leading the session mentioned his love for blue vervain (Verbena hastata) and said it was a little-known herb. I, as a long-time lover of blue vervain, was simultaneously heartened because I also love blue vervain and also suffered a wrinkled forehead because – little known? Blue vervain is unique. I do think it is a bit overlooked, particularly in terms of how effective it is as a nervine.
Herbs can be like that. Depending on the herbal crowd you run with there are different trends. Then we add in the difference between the Canadian herbal community and the American herbal community. Then we can add in the tradition in which you work. A TCM practitioner, an Ayurvedic practitioner, and a Traditional Western herbalist will each have herbs that are part of their practice that do not crossover. An herbalist working in Western Canada will favour plants that are local to them that may not grow here in Eastern Canada.
Blue Vervain is unique
Blue vervain is a perennial. It is quite distinctive with beautiful purple blue spikes. To me it is the candelabra herb. In flower the plant is unmistakable. In the Ottawa region where I live blue vervain usually flowers in mid-July. My harvest spot is a strip of land between 2 different not quite stream/not quite marsh areas. Even this year with many plants struggling with the ongoing drought the vervain is still happy. In dry areas the plant does not thrive and will end up looking ragged and prone to insect attack. It is a wetland lover.
The leaves are opposite, coarsely toothed with a lance shape. The leaves are about 2-3 inches long and the plant itself grows anywhere from 2 to 6 feet tall. Anywhere blue vervain was happy I would also expect to find boneset and gravel root. Perhaps also turtlehead. Blue flag. I am probably repeating myself but knowing what conditions and ecosystems individual herbs favour can help you to find other friends that you might like to harvest. Think of it as going to a party and seeing a friend and knowing that if they are at the party then chances are x and x will also at some point be at the party.
From body to mind
When I first learned about working with blue vervain the focus was on the herb as an herb for infectious conditions. It is bitter (moderately) which is a quality I really like for a person who is fighting off an infection. The body reduces digestion when fighting an infection, but digestion is critical to our health. I find a bitter herb useful to keep the digestion active.
Blue vervain is great for fevers and is a cooling diaphoretic. It is also anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, nervine, and anxiolytic. It is useful for migraines – particularly of the hormonal variety. Over time my thinking on blue vervain has changed. Now I view it as an herb that is great for disorders of the nervous system. For generalized anxiety disorder David Winston suggest using the herb in combo with motherwort in a formula of 2 parts motherwort and 1 part blue vervain. He also suggests using it for people who are fearful. Another benefit to blue vervain is that it is not very sedating. To help restore the nervous system I would use it 3-5 times a day. This is an herb that due to its bitterness is used more successfully as a tincture than a tea.
My plant photo skills are something I am working on. I do love this shot of a blue vervain leaf. The leaf was glowing. I love the prominence of the veins and how the toothed edge of the leaf can be clearly seen.
Blue vervain is a versatile herb, somewhat similar to yarrow in that there are many different applications for this herb. Also an excellent for bruises, sprains, and swelling. In these cases, it is best to use the herb both topically and internally. Blue vervain is also good for muscular tension. Sometimes a side effect of nervous system disorders is that everything is tight tight tight.
This video by 7Song is a great intro to blue vervain – I especially love that he talks about combining it with passionflower (Passiflora incarnata). His down to earth herb talk appeals to me. I’ve read his writings on herbs previously but this was there first time I actually saw him and his teaching style. His words about blue vervain for folks suffering from burnout really resonate. The herb really helps those who would be lying exhausted and still think they have to jump up and start cleaning the bathroom. Blue vervain has been used as an emetic and is best combined with a carminative to avoid tummy troubles. Not for use in pregnancy.