What is lemon verbena?

Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora)is a perennial herb that belongs to the mint family. Though native to South America, the plant is now widely cultivated in Europe and North America. Its leaves are most often used for medicinal and culinary purposes. Lemon verbena has a strong lemon scent and is often used as a flavoring agent in teas, jams, jellies and other food products.

How does it work?

Lemon Verbena contains compounds like verbascoside, citral, and geraniol, which have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. These properties make it useful in treating various health conditions such as digestive problems, anxiety, and skin problems.

When was it first used for medicinal purposes?

Lemon Verbena has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, with the earliest records of its use dating back to the 16th century in South America.

What are the active ingredients?

The active ingredients that contribute to the medicinal properties of Lemon Verbena include verbascoside, citral, and geraniol.

What forms does it come in?

• Dried leaves
• Essential oil
• Tea
• Tinctures

Summary:

Lemon Verbena is a plant that has been used for its medicinal properties and as a culinary herb for centuries. It contains active ingredients such as verbascoside, citral, and geraniol, which have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Lemon Verbena is available in various forms including dried leaves, essential oil, tea, and tinctures and is commonly used to treat conditions such as digestive problems, anxiety, and skin problems. It is generally considered safe, but some people may experience side effects such as nausea, headaches, or allergic reactions. The recommended daily dose of lemon Verbena is not well established and it is best to speak with a healthcare provider to determine the appropriate dose.

What does Lemon verbena help with?

Lemon verbena is a lemon-scented shrub from South America. Its leaves have been brewed as a tea for hundreds of years, in South America and around the Mediterranean. It is also sold as a leaf extract in capsules.

• Sore muscles after hard exercise
  Early evidence — small human studies in active adults; trial sizes and doses not recorded in our file. This use has the most human study behind it. In studies of active adults, blood markers of muscle damage went down. Some people also reported less soreness between hard sessions.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T2
• High oxidative stress in the body
  Early evidence — human trials that measured oxidative stress markers in blood. Verbascoside is one of the plant compounds most studied for antioxidant effects in people. In clinical trials, markers of oxidative stress dropped. Our file does not record how large those trials were, or the doses used.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T2
• Stiff, tender or aching joints
  Early evidence — some clinical work in people with joint discomfort, part of it using fish oil as well. Some human studies gave lemon verbena extract to people with joint discomfort. Over several weeks, stiffness and tenderness went down. Part of that work mixed the extract with fish oil, so the leaf alone is hard to judge.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T2
• Catching colds during heavy training
  Early evidence — research in athletes only; no study on file in the general public. Hard training can lower immune defences for a while. Some research in athletes found fewer upper airway symptoms while they took lemon verbena. Researchers link this to lower oxidative stress and swelling, but that link is not proven.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T2
• Appetite and weight management
  Early evidence — preliminary human research only, alongside diet and exercise. Early human research looked at appetite and at how the body burns fat. It suggests the extract may curb appetite when paired with healthy habits. The work is preliminary, and sizes and doses are not on file.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T2
• Feeling anxious, tense or wound up
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — centuries of traditional use plus lab work; no human trial on file. People have long sipped the tea to settle their nerves. In lab studies, its flavonoid apigenin acts on calming receptors in the brain, much as chamomile does. We hold no human trial, so any calming effect stays unmeasured.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T2
• Bloating, cramping and an unsettled stomach
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — traditional use and lab reasoning; no human trial on file. This is one of the oldest uses of the tea. Tradition holds that it relaxes the gut muscle and eases cramping. Lab work points to its oils, such as limonene, but no human study is on file.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T2
• Trouble winding down at bedtime
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — traditional evening tea; no human sleep study on file. An evening cup is a long-standing custom in both traditions. It was used to wind down, not as a knock-out drink. No human sleep study is on file here, so we cannot say what it does.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T2

What Lemon verbena has not been shown to do

• No human trial on file shows it eases anxiety, so it is not a stand-in for anxiety care.
• It has not been shown to cause weight loss on its own, without changes to diet and exercise.
• The cold research on file was in hard-training athletes, so it has not been shown to prevent colds in other people.
• No study on file compares it with medicines for joint disease, so it has not been shown to replace them.

How to read this:

Each use gets its own grade, based on the study behind that use. A and B mean good trials in people. C means small or early human work. D means weak or mixed human results. Insufficient means no human study at all, just lab work or long custom. The overall grade for lemon verbena is C. This page lists options, not advice, and it is not a plan of care. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about who should avoid it, above all if you are pregnant, nursing or taking medicine.

What can it help prevent?

• Digestive problems
• Bloating
• Gas
• Constipation
• Anxiety
• High blood pressure
• Cardiovascular disease
• Cancer
• Inflammation
• Diabetes
• Stress
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Digestive issues

Which foods are rich in it?

Lemon Verbena is not commonly found in foods, but it is commonly used as a flavoring in teas, syrups, and desserts.

What are possible side effects?

Lemon Verbena is generally considered safe when used as directed. However, some people may experience the following side effects:

• Nausea
• Headaches
• Allergic reactions
• kidney irritations during excretion.

Overdose:

• Skin irritation

Recommended Daily Dose:

The recommended daily dose of Lemon Verbena is not well established. It is best to speak with a healthcare provider to determine the appropriate dose for your specific needs.

How long does it take to work?

The length of time it takes for Lemon Verbena to work can vary depending on the individual and the condition being treated. Some people may experience relief within a few days, while others may take several weeks to see results.

What time of day is best to take it?

It can be taken at any time of day.

Should I take it with food?

It is generally recommended to take Lemon Verbena with food, as this may help to prevent any potential stomach upset.

Recommended use for insomnia:

• 18 yrs old and up: Dosage: 2 gram to 4 gram Frequency: 3 times per day.
• 13-17 yrs old: Dosage: 1 gram to 2 gram Frequency: 3 times per day.
• Time it takes to work: approximately 8 weeks.