5 Top Health Benefits Of Lemon Verbena

Lemon verbena not only has an amazing smell but it also has amazing medicinal uses as well. The tea made by boiling the leaves is one of the best soothing teas I have had!  Since I end up in nurseries and herb gardens wherever I travel, I also get to know the herbalists in the area and some of them become good friends.

One such herbalist friend is a dear old aunty who is well into her seventies but still, her enthusiasm for herbs is amazing. The last time I met her, she introduced me to a herb called lemon verbena and she told me that it has a wonderful fresh lemony fragrance and that the tea made with the leaves is very refreshing.

Later when I was researching it, I was amazed to learn that this fragrant plant has wonderful anti-inflammatory properties and has been used in some countries as a remedy for gout.

Lemon Verbena Plant:

Lemon verbena is native to South America but it is widely grown all over the world for its culinary uses. In cooking, it is added to sorbets, drinks, and ice creams. Its botanical name is Aloysia Triphylla | Aloysia Citrodora. The leaves in the main picture are young, and the mature leaves are long and pointed (mine shed).

Though this plant is not commonly found in nurseries in India, you can order it through them. The plant shed its leaves when in stress or when there is a drastic temperature change, but with regular care, the leaves will grow back.

Lemon Verbena Medicinal Properties:

Lemon Verbena Health Benefits:

1. For Skin Care:

2. For Anxiety & Sleep:

3. For Cold & Flu:

4. For Weight Loss:

5. For Inflammation:

6. For Flatulence:

Lemon Verbena Side Effects:

4 Top Medicinal Uses Of Lemon Verbena:

 1. Lemon Verbena Tea Recipe:

I used fresh leaves for making the tea but you can use dried leaves too. I boiled the fresh leaves with a small piece of ginger till the color of the water changed and then strained it. A wonderfully fragrant refreshing tea that is very calming, one of the best teas to take before bedtime. This tea also can be taken for colds, flu, stomach cramps, indigestion, and flatulence!

2. For Chest Congestion: 

It is great for steaming, just add a few leaves to boiling water and inhale the steam for treating headaches, congestion, and sinus due to cold.

3. For Throat Infection:

Gargling with a mixture of lemon verbena tea and crystal salt is one of the best remedies for throat inflammation.

4. Lemon Verbena Steeped in Vinegar:

Lemon verbena releases its wonderful citrusy fragrance very easily so it can be used to infuse vinegar. I added slightly bruised leaves to white vinegar and let it steep for a week. You can use this fragrant vinegar as a cleaning agent in the house.