Verbena tea benefits

What is Verbena tea?

Verbena tea comes from the verbena plant. It is well known for its powerful medicinal effects and qualities as a food additive. Its scientific name is known as Aloysia citrodora. The plant is a shrub with a powerful lemony scent that intensifies when the leaves and flowers are touched or bruised. The shrub can stand 2-3 meters high and has small purple and white flowers. At first, its purpose was flavoring additives. However, it changed to a medicinal herb.

The verbena tea contains high concentration antioxidant compounds, including verbascoside, nerol, geraniol, and citral. It is an alternative to the herbal pill; the leaves can be dried to boost organs and metabolic processes.

Verbena tea is a herbal tea that produces a bright, yellow color with a rich citrus lemon aroma. The lemon flavor does not make it sour as it is sweeter than any other citrus herb. It gives a creamy lemon taste. The aromatic lemon gives you a balanced cup of tea you can enjoy at any time.

You need a few dried leaves of lemon verbena. That is around 5 – 6 leaves for a cup, warm water, and 3 to 5 minutes for soaking. Add hot water to the leaves for a few minutes. Below are the chemical properties of Verbena tea.

Chemical properties of Verbena tea benefits

Verbena contains chemicals that might kill mites and bacteria, as well as chemicals that may reduce swelling. Verbena tea is caffeine-free, meaning more healthy benefits (sundayriley.com). It has natural properties that relax the body’s nervous system. Verbena contains multiple plant compounds that provide unique health benefits. 

It has been in the medical systems to treat respiratory conditions and digestive issues. It contains several plant compounds, including terpenoids and phenolic compounds, with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The Verbena group has higher blood levels of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase and lower levels of the inflammatory protein interleukin. Taking verbena might reduce oxidative stress and protect against muscle damage.

Supplementing with lemon verbena protected cells against oxidative stress and reduced exercise-induced muscle damage in healthy users who engage in intense, long-distance runs (ncbi.nlm).

Verbena contains multiple compounds that protect your cells from damage. If you are an athlete, that may be beneficial. It helps in exercise that causes stress and muscle damage in your body. It leads to less muscle damage, faster recovery, less pain, and higher antioxidant enzyme levels.

Nutritional Facts of Verbena tea benefits

Verbena is one of the effective teas for weight loss due to the numerous organic compounds in this herb(webmd.com). They help you reduce your appetite by affecting certain hormones. It reduces the desire to grab a snack between meals. 

Benefits of Verbena tea benefits

It reduces oxidative stress, protects against muscle damage, improves sleep quality, and has anti-obesity effects. It contains several plant compounds, including terpenoids and phenolic compounds, with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

It protects people from cell damage and improves your body’s antioxidant defenses. Due to its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, it helps reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in your body. Oxidative stress is an imbalance between your body’s antioxidant defenses and the production of harmful free radicals, thereby increasing disease risk.

If you are an athlete, Verbena tea also protects against muscle damage(apa.org). Exercise causes stress and muscle damage in your body. Taking 400 mg of verbena extract before, during, and after an exhaustive test for 15 days reduces the chance of muscle damage. You experience faster recovery and less pain.

Verbena supplements may improve recovery and protect against exercise-induced muscle damage in athletes. The tea improves sleep quality. If you have sleep issues like insomnia, try the verbena tea. It also induces sedation.

Take 10 mL of a verbena syrup before bedtime to improve your ability to fall asleep, total sleep time, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness. Verbena may have anti-anxiety and calming effects, and these properties could also benefit those with insomnia.

Verbena is for digestive disorders such as gas or diarrhea and works as a digestive aid. That makes it ideal for drinking after dinner. The tea’s relaxant qualities allow it to soothe stomach cramps and period pain. Verbena tea is also calming for the mind and the body. It relieves stress and nervousness.

Verbena tea benefits treat symptoms of menopause, irregular menstruation, and increasing milk flow if breastfeeding. You can also use it as a gargle for cold symptoms and other mouth and throat, maintaining healthy sinuses, and treating inflamed or swollen sinuses.

Potential downsides

Verbena tea can cause skin irritation in some people (healthline.com). There is no record of side effects on pregnant and breastfeeding people, but stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Large amounts of lemon verbena may irritate the kidneys and worsen kidney disease. Avoid using large amounts if you have kidney problems. Expect the digestive system to be upset. 

How to make Verbena tea benefits

Take two teaspoons of leaves and 200ml of boiling water (98˚C), brewed for four minutes. You can also have it with iced tea. A small leaf of fresh mint gives you a sugary lemonade. It can also be used as an ingredient to add a lemony twist to classic recipes in your cocktail. It adds aromatic flair to cake sponges and icing, and the dried leaves make a good decoration.

How many cups of Verbena tea can you drink?

Use ½ -1 teaspoon of dried leaves per person, per cup of boiling water. Let the tea brew for 5 – 15 minutes. Strain and drink. 

The dose of verbena depends on the user’s age, health, and other conditions. Natural products are not always safe since there is no standard dosage. Follow directions on the package and consult your pharmacist or other healthcare professional before using (guardian.ng).

FAQs

Does verbena tea help lose weight?

Yes, it is for weight loss. It can subside your appetite and prevent you from eating and snacking between meals. It supports a healthy metabolism which helps the body in its natural fat-burning processes.

Does verbena tea make you sleepy?

Yes, verbena tea can give you a good night’s sleep. Its natural properties can relax the body’s nervous system and reduce stress and anxiety.

Is lemon verbena tea safe?

Yes, verbena is safe when consumed in amounts found in alcoholic beverages. Take appropriate amounts as a medicine, short-term. It can also cause skin irritation in some people.

Is verbena toxic to humans?

Verbena plants are not poisonous to people, although some varieties are toxic to animals, such as purple top verbena.