Lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora) tea is made from a herbal plan, lemon verbena, which possesses a refreshing fragrance. It is native to Europe, South America, and North Africa, but can be grown in tropical regions as well. The plant can grow up five feet tall and six feet wide. In South Europe it is usually administered to patients with diarrhea, insomnia, and rheumatism.
The herbal plant is also known as bee brush or lemon-scented verbena. The leaves are usually plucked, allowed to dry and used as herbal tea. It can be used in flavoring pepper soup, and in making deserts.
What are the benefits of lemon verbena tea?
Lemon verbena is an important herbal plant that is used in treating a variety of health conditions such as colds, insomnia, and stress. In this article we shall discuss in details the very many health benefits of lemon verbena tea.
Lemon verbena detoxify and boosts your immunity
The body is constantly detoxifying the body, mopping up free radicals, and maintaining healthy functioning. However, most times, the natural detoxifying agent, such as glutathione, can be overwhelmed, in which case the toxic agents, which we ingested by omission or commission, and the free radicals now attack our body components.
One of the reasons why you should make lemon verbena tea a regular supplement is because research has shown that it is a rich source of phenolic compounds. These compounds are powerful antioxidants, which aid the work of glutathione by mopping up free radicals, detoxifying toxic agents that would otherwise cause serious ill health like cancer growth.
The antioxidant effect of lemon verbena tea is comparable green tea, but unlike green tea, do not taste bitter and may be an alternative drink for those who hate drinking anything that’s bitter. Also unlike coffee, lemon verbena tea does not contain caffeine. So individuals who are allergic to caffeine may drink lemon verbena tea any time of the day, but especially at night.
Verbena tea fights cancer cells
Lemon verbena tea may be beneficial for cancer patients. The plant is well fortified with several anticancer compounds such as flavonoids, tannins and phenols.
With the high incidents of cancer proliferation and cancer related deaths, verbena tea, like Soursop leaves and roots, and pigeon pea roots. Both the roots, stems, and leaves of soursop, and the leaves and roots of pigeon pea are other examples of cancer herbal remedies.
Three herbs are also used in treating a variety of cancer cell lines like the breast, colon, and prostate cancer cells. The anticancer compounds present in lemon verbena tea may work synergistically to inhibit cancer either by a direct effect on cancer cells, or by an indirect effect through their anti-oxidative activities, and other mechanisms that may not yet be fully studied.
Verbena tea is a good remedy for insomnia
Cortisol has been associated with increased risk of depression and insomnia. According to a study, Cortisol plays a multifaceted role in major depression disorder (MDD). If you are suffering insomnia, you would find it difficult to fall asleep, or stay asleep. The sleep disorder affects millions of people world over. Luckily, there are certain herbal remedies that will ease depression, anxiety disorder and insomnia.
Lemon verbena tea is one if such herbal remedy with tested results. The plant is rich in polyphenols that suppress cortisol secretion, thereby suppressing the effects of depression and anxiety disorder.
Lemon verbena tea is best served at night, as it encourages good sleep, suppresses depression and stress. It also soothes your nervous system.
Lemon verbena tea may boost memory and cognition
Although there are conflicting results about this, most studies have shown that verbena tea can boost memory, cognition and learning. According to a study conducted on the effect of lemon verbena tea on Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it was shown that a regular intake of freshly prepared lemon verbena tea has a marked treatment effect on ADHD patients.
The tea has inhibitory effects on dopamine and noradrenalin reuptake. Dopamine has been associated with memory impairment. This is in line with literature data which show that dopamine receptor stimulation may be detrimental to spatial working memory functions in lab animals. Aside dopamine, lemon verbena tea also exhibited an inhibitory effect on serotonin reuptake, making it a good herbal remedy for not only ADHD patients but also for Parkinson’s disease patients.
Lemon verbena tea may well be classed among spearmint tea, and corn silk tea. These herbal teas have overtime been used to treat depression and memory disorders among traditional healers.
Aids digestion
Indigestion can cause a discomfort and make you hate eating a wonderful meal. One of the causes of indigestion is fiber deficiency. When our meals lack fiber, it becomes hard to pass them through the alimentary canal to the anus for egestion. Fiber is very important to our health, especially our gastrointestinal tract. When there is lack of fiber in your food, it may cause constipation and flatulence.
Taking a cup of lemon verbena tea, which is rich in soluble fiber, will ensure your food is digested and done fast. It will also protect you from gastritis and other gastrointestinal diseases such as diarrhea.
May ease asthmatic condition
Asthma can be triggered as a result of exposure to allergens, viruses, air pollutants, oxidants, certain drugs, chemicals, changes in temperature and pressure of the environment, emotional disturbances (panic attacks), hyperventilation and hypocapnia (laughter, crying, screaming), exercise, gastroesophageal reflux, food additives and endocrine factors (menstrual cycle, pregnancy, thyroid disease).
Lemon verbena tea contains vitexin and isovitexins, which suppress.
What are the side effects lemon verbena tea?
When taken in the appropriate amount, lemon verbena tea do not cause any side effect, except in some occasions depending on the individual’s allergic reactions.
May cause skin irritation
Some individuals exhibit allergic reactions when they drink lemon verbena tea, especially skin irritation. So if you notice any sign of skin irritation whenever you drink lemon verbena tea, it is advisable you quit the drink immediately and consult your doctor.
May be abortifacient
There are little studies on the effect of lemon verbena tea on pregnancy and nursing mothers. A study says it stimulates the Luteinizing and follicular stimulating hormones. Despite this, it also said that the herb is abortifacient, making it unsafe for pregnant women. As a labor stimulant, it may however be a good tea for women in labor.
Do not drink herbal tea as a pregnant woman, or nursing mother unless your doctor approves it.
May be toxic to your kidney
Lemon verbena tea may cause kidney irritation and toxicity when taken in excess amount. You daily in take should not exceed a cup of the tea. Also, it is best to make the tea with other herbs that exhibit protective roles on the kidney, to ameliorate the toxic effect of lemon verbena tea.
How to make lemon verbena tea (verbena tea recipe)
Lemon verbena tea may be prepared using several methods, depending on your choice. For me, i prefer using dried and ground leaves of the plant. The reason is that dry leaves has the lowest water content, making it possible to get the nutrients in more concentrated forms. To make lemon verbena tea, follow the instructions below.
Ingredients for making verbena tea recipe
- Ground leaves of Lemon verbena
- Clean water
- Powdered ginger rhizome
- Honey
Methods
- Put the powdered leaves of lemon verbena and the ginger powder in a tea infusion bag. ( Like the lipton tea).
- Put 2 cups of clean water in a kettle of saucepan and heat until it boils.
- Put the tea bag in a clean cup that have a lid.
- Pour the boiling water into the cup and bring to 3/4 the volume.
- Cover the cup with the lid and allow the tea to infuse for 10 minutes.
- Remove the tea bag after 10 minutes.
- Add two spoonful of natural honey into your tea and stir well. (This is optional, especially for taste).
- Serve your tea warm or hot.
Note: You may exclude ginger from your herbal tea. However, i prefer always including it in my tea because of the sweet flavor it adds to the drink, and the numerous health benefits of ginger, some of which gives synergistic effect on the herbal tea.
Is lemon verbena an indoor plant?
As a wild herbal shrub, lemon verbena grows tall, and branched extensively. It is a perennial plant in tropical regions, but maybe an annual plant in regions with frost. To plant lemon verbena indoor, you would need a pot. Fill the pot with fertile soil; boost the soil nutrients by mixing it with compost organic matter.
Sow the plant in the pot and regularly feed it with water soluble food. Remember to regularly check the soil moisture, and water the soil anytime about 2 inches of the soil is dry. The roots of lemon verbena do not like being wet all the time.
Does lemon verbena grow all year round?
In cold temperate regions, lemon verbena may not grow all year round. This is because lemon verbena loves adequate full sunshine. But in tropical regions with adequate sunshine, lemon verbena grows all year round. In hot climates however, it is best to make afternoon sunshade to protect the plant from the harsh weather condition.
Do verbena plants spread?
Lemon verbena exhibits underground system of growth. Its roots can grow into a white rhizome, which spreads out in all directions and form colonies. The characteristic multiple branching growth habit helps verbena to spread up to 6 feet, and create a dense low-growing carpet of verbena plants. Some however, grow very tall and spread a few feet.
What are uses of lemon verbena?
Lemon verbena leaves are employed in a variety of herbal and culinary uses. They are can be used to make
- Lemon herbal tea
- Lemon verbena jelly
- As seasons in dishes
- Salsa verde
- Olive oil-based salad dressing
- Subtle lemon ice cream
- In cosmetics
References
Rashid HM, Mahmod AI, Afifi FU, Talib WH. Antioxidant and Antiproliferation Activities of Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora): An In Vitro and In Vivo Study. Plants (Basel). 2022 Mar 16;11(6):785.
Costa de Melo, Nayara & Sánchez Ortiz, Brenda & Ingret, Tafnis & Sampaio, Santos & César, Arlindo & Matias Pereira, Arlindo César & Luiz, Fernando & Da, Pinheiro & Neto, Silva & Silva, Heitor & Alves, Rodrigo & Cruz, Rodrigo & Keita, Hady & Maria, Ana & Pereira, Soares & Carlos, José & Carvalho, Jose Carlos. (2019). Anxiolytic and Antidepressant Effects of the Hydroethanolic Extract from the Leaves of Aloysia polystachya (Griseb.) Moldenke: A Study on Zebrafish (Danio rerio). Pharmaceuticals. 12. 106.
Herbert, J. (2013). Cortisol and depression: Three questions for psychiatry. Psychological Medicine, 43(3), 449-469.
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