Blue Vervain. fresh plant tincture 2oz

Blue Vervain, Verbena hastata, is one of those plants that has increasingly made themselves known in my life over the last two years. Two summers ago I purchased a small Vervain from a local plant nursery and tended to them in my garden, and they provided a small amount of medicine that year which is when I formulated my Hold Your Heart tincture! That tincture was extremely popular {for good reason}, and made me fall in love with VH. 

Fast forward to the summer that just passed and my plant unfortunately did not come back to life in its pot after winter. I was sad, I checked the same nursery but they did not have it, and I {sadly} gave up. A few weeks into summer I was walking with a friend along the Kichi Zibi and I found them, in all their glory! I was BEYOND excited, I love meeting plants in the wild and I had never seen them growing wild before in Ottawa. 

I went back to the path a couple weeks later, went a little further off the trail and came to a beautiful meadow full of them. I brought my offering of tobacco, asked their permission, and harvested enough to make lots of medicine for us for the seasons ahead. I also found some growing wild along my house, which they hadn't in previous seasons either. I believe that when a plant shows up repeatedly in our lives and we are present enough to NOTICE (this is a big one!), they are offering themselves to us knowing that they are needed. 

I wanted to offer them in a single-plant tincture for those wishing to work with their medicine on its own. Here are some qualities/virtues of Verbena hastata: 

• Strong nervine
• Bitter hepatic tonic (liver tonic)
• Mild antispasmodic & muscle relaxant (softens smooth muscle, which is why they are indicated for those carrying physical tension)
• Helpful where emotional tension produces physical rigidity (tension headaches/migraines, jaw pain/TMJ, etc.) 
  

They are also very helpful for women in their perimenopausal transition, especially those that experience excess heat in the body (hot flashes). They are bitter, cooling, and drying. Note that if you already have a very dry constitution (Vata dosha, have dry skin, hair, nails, feel cold etc), that this might not be the plant for you unless you can balance out those qualities with other herbs, diet, and lifestyle practices. 

Verbena hastata is for the perfectionist that has difficulty softening, letting go of control, and letting her/himself rest. The high achievers, passionate, driven people that carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. 

What's Inside?

fresh wildcrafted Verbena hastata, filtered water, ethanol

How to use: 

Take 1 squeeze of the dropper bottle 1-2x daily for general support. Can be taken as-needed for hot flashes. Dose can be increased to 3x daily during the luteal phase of the cycle (if menstruating) for liver, hormone, and mood support.