Lemon Verbena

Lemon verbena, also known as aloysia triphylla, is an herb native to south america. The leaves and flowers of this plant have a variety of uses. Lemon verbena is an aromatic herb with a pleasant scent. It also has a distinct flavor that can be used with everything from fish and poultry to desserts. Lemon verbena touts several health benefits in a variety of forms.

As with all herbal remedies, consult a physician before treating any serious ailment with these methods. Lemon verbena is also particularly good for the nervous system and can help relax the nerves and muscles, calm the mind, alleviate depression, ease anxiety, and provide a general overall feeling of peace. Lemon verbena is also effective at loosening up and removing mucus from the lungs and sinus passages and can aid in providing relief from the symptoms of colds, coughs, flu, asthma, and sinus and respiratory infections.

The herb helps in reducing fever caused due to flu.

It contains expectorant properties that relieve cough and cold.

The herb is also known to treat mild symptoms of asthma.

It provides a soothing effect to people with nasal and bronchial congestion.

It helps in digesting food, strengthening the nervous system and relieving nausea and cramps.

The pleasing aroma and taste of lemon verbena relaxes the nervous system and elevates the mood in case of mild depression.

The herb is very useful in relieving the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (pms) and regulating the menstrual cycle.

It is used for treating crohnas disease, an autoimmune disease that affects the gastro-intestinal tract.

Lemon verbena has mild antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, astringent and digestive tonic properties.

It aids in reducing the symptoms of flatulence, upset stomach and diarrhea by calming stomach spasms and colon irritability.

The lemon verbena is often used as a slimming aid, since it breaks down cellulite and regulates metabolism.

Since lemon verbena contains properties that can eliminate fungus, the herb is used for treating candida (yeast overgrowth).

Lemon verbena has a very distinct scent that is both herbal and lemony.

The smell of lemon verbena is thought to have many beneficial properties.

Used in essential oils, massage oils and lotions, lemon verbena gives off a very relaxing scent.

This essential oil is often used to help de-stress and promote a sense of calm.

Lemon verbena can also be used in sachets and potpourri for the same purpose.

The ascandinavian journal of medicine and science in sportsa published a study in 2012 that found that lemon verbena extract significantly reduced overall oxidative stress in athletes.

Over the course of 21 days, participants took part in a moderate aerobic-training program, three days a week, and some consumed a 1.8-gram lemon verbena extract per day.

Researchers found that, at the end of the study, those taking the supplement had stronger white blood cells, indicating a healthier immune system, and had fewer markers of oxidative stress, both of which could be attributed to the antioxidant properties of lemon verbena.

A 2011 issue of the aeuropean journal of applied physiologya included a 21-day study where participants worked out for 90 minutes each day and took lemon verbena extract as an antioxidant supplement to their regular diet.

Researchers found that lemon verbena reduced the amount of overall muscle damage the participants experienced, while not having any effect on their ability to build endurance and speed.

Lemon verbena tea will help increase your energy, relieves fatigue and listlessness.

Lemon verbena can be used to make a tea that purports to have a myriad of health benefits.

Among these are the ability to calm colon and stomach spasms, thus reducing flatulence, diarrhea and upset stomach.

Lemon verbena tea can also help to ease colic.

Those with a bad flu or cold may benefit from lemon verbena tea for a variety of reasons.

The tea is said to help reduce fever.

It is also an expectorant and can help to relieve one of a cough.

Lemon verbena tea is also said to aid in treating asthma.(again, this is not meant to replace prescription medication or a doctor's advice.)

A compress of lemon verbena can be both calming to the senses, and refresh and rejuvenate the skin.

Use this compress with caution, though, as lemon verbena has been known to occasionally irritate sensitive skin.