Verbena lemon or lemon verbena. It is a plant native to South America. This aromatic herb has leaves and flowers that have been used throughout history for multiple purposes. Due to its exquisite fragrance it is used to cook both meat and desserts. Very pleasant infusions are also prepared with it and it is said that it can reduce inflammation under the eyes.
Summary
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- 1 History
- 2 Properties
- 1 Uses
- 3 Source
History
It is a plant native to South America . This aromatic herb has leaves and flowers that have been used throughout history for multiple purposes.
Deciduous shrub, 3-7 m tall, with woody or woody stems on top. It has whorled leaves of up to 7 cm, lanceolate, stacked, with a smooth or jagged margin and a very short petiole , they are light green on the upper part, with the underside marked by well-visible oil glands.
They give off a strong lemon fragrance. Flowers small white or whitish-purple, grouped in spikes also pink flowers, flowers in summer , forming inflorescences in loose pins, up to 10 cm long, pale or purple. The calyx has two lateral lips; the corolla is flared, sympathetic, with overlapping lobes. The gynecium is made up of two joined carpels. The fruit is a drupe that is divided into two monoseminated nutlets.
Properties
- This plant provides various benefits to human health. Being sedative and relaxing, it is used in essential oils and balms with which massages or therapeutic baths are performed. The odor given off considerably reduces stress and provides a feeling of tranquility.
- Some people use the verbena to combat depression. The compresses of this herb can calm the senses and, at the same time, refresh the skin giving it a better appearance.
- A good teaof verbena facilitates the digestive process and reduces stomach and colon spasms. It helps to relieve colic, diarrhea , vomiting , flatulence, intestinal pain and stomach upset in general.
- It is an excellent antipyretic, so it reduces feverin cases of colds. It is used to treat asthma and respiratory congestion. It is also a very good expectorant, and the hot infusion of lemon verbena calms the coughing fits.
- It is used for headaches, neuralgia, rheumatism, for insect bites . A lemon verbena ointment is used to heal eczema, wounds , bedsores, and other skin lesions.
- Traditionally, it is used to treat infected gums, halitosis, and tooth problems. It is also said to promote the flow of breast milk, although it should not be taken during pregnancy .
Applications
- Medicinal: In herbalism, the leaves and stems of the lemon verbena are rich in an essential oil, whose main component is citral, responsible for its aroma, and which also contains limonene, linalol, cineol, terpineol, and karyophyllene, a sesquiterpene aldehyde that is attributes eupptic and spasmolytic action. Its infusion made with between 5 and 20 g per liter is used as a digestive, carminative and antispasmodic, in cases of dyspepsia or stomachpain . It is also consumed as a light sedative. It has a significant amount of melatonin, a substance that is used as a natural relaxant and that favors night sleep. The items used in infusion are collected twice a year, in late spring and early . Young leaves and flowering tops are used.
- Ornamental: It is commonly used in gardens as an ornamental plant. It prefers a constant warm climate and sunny exposure, it does not resist frost well, at temperatures below 0 ° C it loses the leaves, although the wood is hard enough to withstand up to 10 ° C. It requires well-drained soil, preferably loamy, quite fertile and humid in summer . It easily multiplies by seed ; In cooler climates than desirable, it can be reproduced by cutting. It is a phytophilic plant (it spoils the plants that grow around it).
- Antioxidant capacity: Supplementation with Lippia citriodora extract protects neutrophils from oxidative damage, decreasing markers of muscle damage caused by physical exercise. The extract of Lippia citriodora PLX shows antioxidant properties that can play an important role in protecting against oxidative stress caused by the practice of intense physical exercise.
- In gastronomy: Dried and chopped leaves are used in marinades, dressings and sauces to give a touch of citrus aroma. An aromatic sorbet is also made with it.
