Verbena

Verbena was claimed by some to spring from the tears of the Egyptian goddess Isis… Verbena was associated with Venus in classical Rome, whilst Celtic druids used it to purify their altars.

There are two kinds of verbena.
Verbena officinalis – also known as “herbe de sang" in French – is a plant some 30 to 70 cm tall with upright and branched stalks. It is harvested in July during its flowering period. The entire flowering branch is used. Among other ingredients, it contains iridoids, which are known for their anti-spasm and anti-inflammatory properties.

Scented Verbena – Lippia citriodora – grows to a height of 1.50 and originated in South America. It is grown in the hot regions of Southern Europe and North Africa. Only the leaves are used and are harvested twice yearly in July and October. In herbal medicine scented verbena leaves are used to ease difficult digestion.