Lemon Verbena Tea

Lemon verbena tea has been in the consciousness of many traditional Herbal practitioners as being potent for disorders in the nervous and digestive systems. Lemon verbena also known by its official name of aloysia tryphilla lemon verbena is a perennial shrub native to South America particularly Argentina Brazil Peru and Paraguay. Lemon verbena grows to a height of about 1 to 3 meters. It has lancet-shaped green leaves and has tiny white or lavender-coloured flowers.

Lemon verbena is grown for medicinal commercial and culinary purposes. The Herb has a very strong lemony scent. Thus it has been favoured as a base material for perfumes. Its flavour on the other hand has been likened to a Blend of liquorice and camphor and is widely used as an Herbal flavouring to replace oregano particularly in fish and poultry dishes.

The active constituent of lemon verbena is the oil of verbena which contains such compounds as methyl heptenone borneol geraniol dipentene and others.

The health benefits of lemon verbena can be derived through an infusion of the Herb. Lemon verbena tea can be made by immersing about 2 teaspoons of dried lemon verbena Herbs or a teaspoon of fresh leaves and tops into one cup of boiling water. Let soak and steep for about 5 minutes then drink. The taste of lemon verbena tea may be enhanced by the addition of honey.
Lemon verbena tea health benefits are the following:

• Lemon verbena tea may alleviate colon and stomach spasms.
• Lemon verbena tea may aid in calming and relaxing the nervous system.
• Lemon verbena tea may help reduce fever.
• Lemon verbena tea may help ease colic.
• Lemon verbena Tea may help in expelling cough.
• Lemon verbena Tea may help calm itching.