Blue Vervain

Eastern Deciduous Forest, Tall Grass Prairie

Blue Vervain 

Verbena hastate

http://www.freeflowerpictures.net/image/flowers/blue-vervain/verbena-hastata_9.jpg

 

 Habitat: fields and thickets. Most of our area. Moist meadows, roadsides, waste places

Active Chemical Ingredient: Aucubin C₁₅H₂₂O₉

• _{Anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory.}
• _{promotes dermal wound healing}  

http://www.rdchemicals.com/molimg/big/7536.gif

Parts Used: roots (more active than leaves), flowers, leaves

Use of Specimen:

• Treatment of Malaria (leaf preparation, antimalarial leaf extract)
• Treatment of Diarrhea  (infusion of root, leaves, or flowers)
• Used as emetic
• Treatment of snakebites and heals wounds/sores (tea applied externally or an ointment)
• Used as a anti-inflammatory (for sprained ankle/wrist)
• Treatment of insect bites (poultice)
• Treatment of sore throat

Resources: 

Foster, S., & Duke, J. (2014). A field guide to medicinal plants and herbs of eastern and central North America (3rd ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 

DeVries, L. (n.d.). Vervain - Medicinal Herb Info. Retrieved August 28, 2015, from http://medicinalherbinfo.org/herbs/Vervain.html 

Jackson, D., & Bergeron, K. (n.d.). Blue Vervain. Retrieved August 28, 2015, from http://altnature.com/gallery/vervain.htm

Vervain. (2010, December 30). Retrieved August 28, 2015, from http://www.cloverleaffarmherbs.com/vervain/