Vervain

Verbena officinalis

Family: Verbenaceae

Tribus: Anthemideae

Related genera: Verbena

Names: Common Vervain, Simpler's Joy, Holy Herb, mosquito plant, wild hyssop, Devil's Bane, Tears of Isis, Echtes Eisenkraut (German: "true ironherb"), IJzerhard (Dutch: "iron-hard"), Læge-Jernurt (Danish: "medical ironwort"), Železník lekársky (Slovak: "medical ironherb"), Rohtorautayrtti (Finnish: "medical ironherb")

The scientific name references the Ancient Roman term verbena, used for any sacrificial herb considered very powerful (as described e.g. by Pliny the Elder). Officinalis, meanwhile, is Latin for "used in medicine or herbalism".

Other German names include Taubenkraut, Katzenblutkraut, Sagenkraut and Wunschkraut.

History and Folklore: The name Ironherb indicates the belief the herb was able to protect from being wounded by weapons made of iron, and was used in the melting of iron ore. As part of Indogermanic rituals vervain was used to cleanse sacrificial stone altars. Egyptians called the herb Tears of Isis and used it in ceremonies. Similar the Romans, who called it Tears of Juno and placed the herb in bundles on the altars of Jove (brother to Juno). In ancient Greece the herb was sacred to Eos Erigineia, Titan goddess of the dawn. Up till the Middle Ages vervain was used in conjurations, and is still in use in ritual cleansings, for protection and also as a 'vision enhancer'. E.g. some Native American tribes use it as entheogen enhancer and in oneiromancy, similar to Calea Zachtechichi. In Christian faith vervain was used to staunch Jesus's wounds when he was taken down from the cross. Vervain is believed to drive out demons (illnesses) and so Vervain flowers are engraved on cimaruta, Italian anti-stregheria charms. According to Jean Baptiste Pitois vervain was employed in a Mandragora charm.

Hazlitt's Faiths and Folklore (1905) quotes Aubrey's Miscellanies (1721), to wit:

Vervain and Dill / Hinder witches from their will.
Medicinal Uses: Vervain has been considered a medicinal plant since antiquity. Aside the supernatural attributions vervain may act as an abortificiant as it contains sex steroid analogues. It is also said to ease nervousness and insomnia and is prescribed against "over-enthusiasm".

Sources

Wikipedia English, Wikipedia German

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