Lippia citriodora
Medicinal Uses
A valued medicinal herb, lemon verbena contains a strong lemon-scented essential oil that has calming and digestive qualities. The plant has a gentle sedative action and a reputation for soothing abdominal discomfort. It has a mildly tonic effect upon the nervous system and helps to lift the spirits and counter depression. The leaves and the flowering tops are antispasmodic, febrifuge, sedative and stomachic. A tea made from the leaves has a deliciously refreshing lemon flavour and is used mainly in treating digestive disorders such as flatulence, indigestion and acidity. Some caution is advisable though, since prolonged use or large internal doses can cause gastric irritation. The herb is also useful as a stimulant for treating lethargy or depression whilst it is also used to treat feverish colds. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy in the treatment of nervous and digestive problems and also for acne, boils and cysts.Traditional medicine in Corrientes Province (Argentina) uses herbs preparations in the form of infusions and cataplasms as an alternative medication for the treatment of bites from venomous animals. Aloysia citriodora is widely used in folk medicine to treat different disorders, but only few authors cite this Verbenaceae as antivenom against snake bites.
Food Uses
Lemon verbena is used for digestive disorders such as gas or diarrhea, muscle damage caused by exercise, multiple sclerosis (MS), insomnia, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.In foods and manufacturing, lemon verbena is used as an ingredient in herbal teas, as a fragrance in perfumes, and as an ingredient in alcoholic beverages. An essential oil obtained from the leaves is extensively used in perfumery.An average yield of 0.5% is obtained. There is some evidence that the use of this oil can sensitise the skin to sunlight and so its use has been largely replaced by the tropical plant lemongrass, Cymbopogon spp.The dried leaves retain their fragrance well and so are used in potpourri.The growing plant repels midges, flies and other insects.The essential oil is an effective insecticide in 1 – 2% concentration.Landscape: Flower borders and beds Wall-side Borders City & Courtyard Gardens Cottage & Informal Garden.
Uses & Effectiveness
- Muscle damage caused by exercise. Early research shows that taking lemon verbena extract daily for 14 days can decrease muscle soreness and shorten the time to recovering full muscle strength after exercise.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS). Early research shows that taking lemon verbena extract daily for 1 month does not alter the symptoms of MS.
- Insomnia. Early research shows that taking lemon verbena essential oil for 4 weeks can improve sleep quality in healthy adults with insomnia.
- Joint pain.
- Obesity.
- Anxiety.
- Insomnia.
- Asthma.
- Common cold.
- Gas (flatulence).
- Excessive crying in infants (colic).
- Diarrhea.
- Indigestion (dyspepsia).
- Hemorrhoids.
- Varicose veins.
- Osteoarthritis.
- Constipation.
- Other conditions.
