Witnessed by: TCM · Western
Vervain (Verbena officinalis), of the Verbenaceae family. Slender wiry perennial with stiff, branched, whip-like flowering spikes; native range: Europe, north Africa and Asia, on dry roadsides and waste ground. Globally recognized as ma bian cao (馬鞭草) in Chinese, and common vervain, holy herb, herb of the cross, herb of grace, simpler's joy in English. The part used is whole herb in flower. Tough square stems and tiny pale-lilac flowers along thin spikes, the taste bitter and faintly acrid, with little scent.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
VERVAIN
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Vervain
- Scientific name
- Verbena officinalis L.
- Family
- Verbenaceae
Form
- Part used
- whole herb in flower
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- bitter · pungent
- Western
- bitter (astringent, acrid)
Temperature
TCM: cool (slightly cold)
Western: cool
convergence: both witnesses ({witness_count}) name a bitter coolness
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Liver · Spleen
- Western
- liver · nerves · nervous system · uterus
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- activates the blood and dispels stasis, clears heat and resolves toxicity, promotes urination and reduces swelling, checks malarial disorders
- Western
- nervine, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, hepatic, emmenagogue, galactagogue, febrifuge, mild sedative
Cautions
- Contraindications
- pregnancy, as it moves the blood and stirs the womb; also in Spleen-Stomach deficiency, which its cold, draining nature may weaken
- Toxicity
- low; large doses may cause nausea and vomiting
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