Lemon verbena
Lemon verbena is a flowering plant. It grows in South America, northern Africa, southern Europe, and Iran. The leaves and flowering tops are used to make medicine.
Lemon verbena is used for
Digestive disorders such as gas or
Diarrhea,
Muscle damage caused by exercise,
Multiple Sclerosis (MS),
Insomnia, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
In foods and manufacturing, lemon verbena is used as an ingredient in herbal teas, as a fragrance in perfumes, and as an ingredient in alcoholic beverages
How does it work ?
Lemon verbena contains chemicals that might kill mites and
Bacteria, as well as chemicals that may reduce
Swelling (
Inflammation) and cause
Sleepiness.
Uses & Effectiveness
Insufficient Evidence for
Muscle damage caused by exercise. Early research shows that taking lemon verbena extract daily for 14 days can decrease
Muscle soreness and shorten the time to recovering full
Muscle strength after exercise.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Early research shows that taking lemon verbena extract daily for 1 month does not alter the symptoms of MS.
Insomnia. Early research shows that taking lemon verbena essential oil for 4 weeks can improve
Sleep quality in healthy adults with
Insomnia.
Joint
Pain. Obesity.
Anxiety.
Insomnia.
Asthma. Common cold. Gas (
Flatulence). Excessive crying in infants (
Colic).
Diarrhea. In
Digestion (dyspepsia).
Hemorrhoids.
Varicose veins. Osteo
Arthritis.
Constipation. Other conditions. More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of lemon verbena for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Lemon verbena is LIKELY SAFE for most people when consumed in amounts found in alcoholic beverages. It is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken in appropriate amounts as a medicine, short-term. It can cause
Skin irritation (
Dermatitis) in some people.
When applied to the
Skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if lemon verbena is safe when applied to the
Skin. Contact with lemon verbena may cause red, itchy
SkinRash in some people.
Special Precautions and Warnings
When taken by mouth: Lemon verbena is LIKELY SAFE for most people when consumed in amounts found in alcoholic beverages. It is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken in appropriate amounts as a medicine, short-term. It can cause
Skin irritation (
Dermatitis) in some people.
When applied to the
Skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if lemon verbena is safe when applied to the
Skin. Contact with lemon verbena may cause red, itchy
SkinRash in some people.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if lemon verbena is safe to use when
Pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Kidney disease: Large amounts of lemon verbena may irritate the
Kidneys and make
Kidney disease worse. Avoid using large amounts if you have
Kidney problems.
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
Sedative medications (Benzodiazepines) interacts with LEMON VERBENA
Lemon verbena might cause
Sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause
Sleepiness and drowsiness are called
Sedatives. Taking lemon verbena along with
Sedative medications might cause too much
Sleepiness and trouble breathing. Some of these
Sedative medications include lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), midazolam (Versed), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), and others.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of lemon verbena depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for lemon verbena. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-632/lemon-verbena
9 Amazing Benefits of Lemon Verbena
by John Staughton (BASc, BFA) last updated - July 09, 2021 Medically reviewed by Emily Borth(MS, RDN)
The fascinating health benefits of lemon verbena may include its potential ability to protect
Muscles, reduce
Inflammation, boost the
Immune system, calm the
Stomach, reduce
Fevers, soothe
Nerves, and clear up
Congestion. It is also popularly used for weight loss.
What is Lemon Verbena?
Although lemon verbena is native to South America, it has largely become a globally accessible plant and herb due to its powerful medicinal effects and qualities as a food additive. Scientifically known as Aloysia citrodora, another common name besides lemon verbena is lemon beebrush. The plant is a perennial shrub that has a powerful lemony scent, which intensifies when the leaves and flowers are touched or bruised. The shrub can stand 2-3 meters high and has small purple and white flowers. Its initial widespread use was as a food and flavoring additive, particularly being added to poultry and fish dishes, as well as salads, dressings, jams, and various beverages. However, the traditional uses of lemon verbena as a medicinal herb have come back into fashion, especially since modern research has revealed a wealth of unique components that make this plant very important for human health.
The essential oil of lemon verbena, when extracted, contains a high
Concentration of powerful
Antioxidant compounds, including verbascoside, nerol, geraniol, and citral. The most common use of lemon verbena outside of herbal pill supplementation is as an herbal tea. The leaves can be dried and
Let's take a closer look at the impressive health benefits of lemon verbena.
May Aid in Weight Loss
While green tea is often suggested for those on a diet, lem on verbena is effective too. There are only 2 calories per serving and the rich mix of organic compounds has an effect on the body that may reduce the munchies, thereby preventing you from snacking between meals and compromising your diet. One study showed that lemon verbena helped reduce
Appetite by affecting certain
Hormones (ghrelin and glucagon-like peptide-1) that control
Appetite.
May Strengthen
Muscles
This is one of the unique qualities of this herb and one that you don't often find in simple teas. When you use lemon verbena tea as an exercise supplement, research has shown that the high
Antioxidant properties decrease damage done to the
Muscles during the workout, without inhibiting your body's development of additional
Muscle mass and increased stamina. This makes lemon verbena the perfect pre or post-workout companion!
May Reduce
Inflammation
Arthritis and injuries can both wreak havoc on our joints and mobility. As we age, or when we get injured, it can be difficult to ever feel whole again because our joints are in constant use and rarely have time to heal properly. Lemon verbena has been directly linked to reducing joint
Pain and faster recovery for joint related injuries. This is primarily due to the impressive levels of
Antioxidants and
Anti-inflammatory compounds in this little herb. One study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine showed that after 9 weeks of treatment with lemon verbena and omega 3, subjects experienced significant reduction of
Pain and stiffness as well as improved physical function.
May Boost Immunity
Oxidative
Stress is a result of free radical activity and their presence throughout our body's organs, which weakens the
Immune system by stretching it too thin and distracting it with cellular mutation and chronic diseases. Research has connected lemon verbena to lower oxidative
Stress levels and better overall health of the body, evidenced by accelerated
Antioxidant Enzyme activity, while markers for inflammatory
Vascular damage decreased.
May Aid in
Digestion
Lemon verbena tea also has certain soothing qualities that have been traditionally relied on to relieve
Stomach issues and in
Digestion in different cultures. This herbal preparation may have potentially anti-spasmodic qualities that can help it calm the
Stomach and eliminate cramping and
Bloating, which can lead to discomfort and
Gastrointestinal issues. As mentioned previously, lemon verbena tea helps to regulate the
Appetite by affecting certain
Hormones that control
Appetite, which helps prevent the discomfort associated with overeating.
May Reduce
Fevers
In traditional South American medicine, lemon verbena was trusted as a diaphoretic, meaning that it stimulated sweating, and was, therefore, used to break
Fevers and speed healing for those suffering from inflammatory illnesses.
May Relieve
Anxiety
The
Antioxidant compounds found in lemon verbena can also have an impact on the
Hormonal balance in the body. While this effect isn't dramatic, it has been known as a calming beverage and is prescribed for those with
Nervous afflictions or chronic
Stress, as it can ease the mind and calm the body.
May Help Treat
Congestion
The final beneficial attribute of lemon verbena is its
Expectorant properties. This means that drinking the tea can loosen up
Congestion in the
Respiratory tracts and help eliminate the phlegm and mucous in that system. Phlegm can be a breeding ground for
Bacteria and other pathogens, so drinking a tea that can help get rid of that unwanted material is definitely a good way to improve your
Immune system.
Word of Caution: Despite this generally positive portrayal of lemon verbena, some people do suffer from mild
Dermatitis as a mild allergic response. Also, if you suffer from
Kidney disease, its active ingredients could potentially worsen the condition, so avoid its use. Consult a trained medical professional before changing your health regimen or replacing a pharmaceutical drug with an herbal remedy.
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/lemon-verbena.html
