Vervain Tea: Benefits & How to Make

by John Staughton (BASc, BFA) last updated -

Vervain tea has been embraced for its potentially sedative and calming properties for years. The herb was considered divine by ancient Egyptians as they believed it was born from the tears of the goddess Isis when Osiris passed away. The Aztecs used it as a diuretic and the Native American tribes used it for insomnia, blood circulation, and headache.

In this article, let us take a look at what is this made up of, its benefits, and an easy way to make it at home.

What is Vervain Tea?

Vervain tea is an herbal tea that is prepared by steeping the leaves and flowers of the vervain plant, which is also known as the verbena plant. Scientifically known as Verbena officinalis, this plant grows throughout Europe, as well as North and South AmericMa, but has also been found and used in other parts of the world dating back thousands of years. It is still widely respected and used in natural medicine practice. The taste of this tea is extremely bitter owing to the herb. So, it is commonly mixed with other herbs or is sweetened with honey. [1]

Close up of pale lilac, five-petaled flowers on shoots

Vervain herb is often confused with lemon verbena. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Vervain Tea Benefits

Vervain or verbena tea helps improve your health in the following ways:

  • May Help Relieve Anxiety: Research shows that the extracts of vervain herb have anxiolytic properties. This means that it may be helpful in relieving your mood. [2]
  • Potential Anticonvulsant: Vervain extracts have been shown to possess anticonvulsant properties, which can potentially prove helpful in fighting epilepsy. [3]
  • May Be Useful In Irregular Menses: It is also useful for women who are having trouble with irregular menses. [4]
  • May Promote Undisturbed Sleep: Vervain tea is caffeine-free. Some people prefer drinking it right before bed, as it is known to promote undisturbed sleep. [5]
  • Potentially Detoxifying properties: A research suggests that vervain can help cleanse your body of toxins as it has diuretic properties. It can also help lower inflammation. [6]
  • May Help Improve Stomach health: This tea can help keep your digestive system functioning well and help reduce abdominal pain. [7]

How to Make Vervain Tea?

You can make vervain tea in two ways. One is with readily available tea bags and the other by using leaves and flowers of the vervain plant. The tea bags are easily available in supermarkets and online stores.

Let’s take a look at the easy recipe to prepare it at home.

A girl wearing woolen holding a cup of tea in her hands

Vervain Tea Recipe

Wouldn't it be nice if you could make this tea at home? Just follow these simple instructions and enjoy your own cup of refreshing vervain tea!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Beverage, Tea Time
Cuisine: Others
Keyword: vervain tea, herbal tea
Appliance: Stove
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Author: Jinal Gangar

Ingredients

Instructions

  • To make vervain tea, bring a saucepan of water to boil. 
  • Add 4 teabags to the teapot or tea infuser. 
  • Pour over the boiling water and allow the tea to steep for 5 minutes.
  • Remove the tea bags and add honey, lemon or stevia to enhance the flavor.

Notes

You can use loose leaf vervain tea in place of tea bags. The ratio is 3 tsp per 8oz for that.
Many people also like making iced vervain tea. You can go ahead and experiment with it.

Side Effects

Vervain tea is generally considered safe like many other herbal teas.

However, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do consult with your doctor before having it. It can also impact the efficacy of other medications, so you should always speak with your doctor before adding this tea to your health regimen. As with any herbal tea, moderation is key to avoid side effects.

DMCA.com Protection Status
About the Author

John Staughton is a traveling writer, editor, publisher and photographer with English and Integrative Biology degrees from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana (USA). He co-founded the literary journal, Sheriff Nottingham, and now serves as the Content Director for Stain’d Arts, a non-profit based in Denver, Colorado. On a perpetual journey towards the idea of home, he uses words to educate, inspire, uplift and evolve.

Rate this article
Average rating 3.8 out of 5.0 based on 107 user(s).