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Vervain - Verbena Officinalis
It has no scent, and releases no aroma when crushed - and yet this unassuming herb has long been held in reverence by cultures across Europe, the Middle and Far East.
The Egyptians believed that it had sprung from the tears of Isis, the great mother goddess, whilst the Romans held it sacred to Venus and used it in love potions for its aphrodisiac qualities. Its Latin name ‘Verbena’ means any of the alter plants that were employed during sacrifice and ‘officinalis’ means used by apothecaries. Greek priests wore vervain in their vestments and Persian Magi believed it to be a herb of prophecy. It was one of the ingredients of the ‘holy salve’ of the Anglo Saxons, and was also sacred to the Celts, both in itself and as an ingredient of lustral water. Even Christianity finds a niche for this humble herb; it is said to have grown on Calvary and to have been used to staunch the wounds of Jesus.
Its medicinal properties are many... including the use of its dried leaves in a poultice to treat wounds – especially those caused by iron. Perhaps because of this, it was often carried by soldiers to protect against injury.
It is a digestive, sedative and is also used in the treatment of liver and urinary tract problems – indeed some say its common name comes from the Celtic ‘faerfaen’ – to drive away stones... Certainly in Welsh the single ‘f’ is pronounced as a ‘v’, and I never remember mum using a ‘welsh’ name for this herb, suggesting to me that perhaps the word vervain does have a Celtic root.
In Chinese medicine it is used to treat suppressed menstruation – and for this reason this otherwise innocuous herb should not be used by pregnant women.
Gentlemen of increasing years and decreasing thatch may be interested to know that it has also been long valued as a hair tonic - often used in conjunction with rosemary - an infusion of the leaves being rubbed into the scalp daily. And when that morning –after-the-night-before feeling is beating your skull from the inside, vervain’s detoxifying properties will soothe and refresh. Its other common use in physical medicine was as a bath for tired and inflamed eyes and indeed this is the use it traditionally had in our family.
Vervain has also been used for its sedative qualities in the treatment of mental health problems, particularly stress and nervous exhaustion.
In country lore it was a favourite ingredient of love potions, even to the point of people believing it could be used to turn enemies into friends. It has variously been planted around homes for protection against witches, daemons, snakes and lightning and suspended above beds to ward off nightmares. In the Isle of Man it is still sometimes sewn into clothing before making journeys...
In Britain it is found growing wild along roadsides and on waste ground – particularly on chalk - in the south of England and in Wales. It is rare outside these areas and absent from the wild in Scotland.
What fascinates me most about this quiet herb though is the tradition that you must never, never, never request it directly. You can drop strong hints relating to your need for vervain, be given vervain as a gift – and even steal vervain, but it is said it will never thrive in your garden if you have had to ask for it!
As I said, I wonder where our vervain came from?
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