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Lemon Verbena
Aloysia triphylla
Lemon Verbena native to South America, got its name from the Princess of
Parma, Maria Louisa, who died in 1819. The plant traveled from Chile to
Spain in the 18 th century. The Spanish
cultivated Lemon Verbena for its use in PERFUMERY, especially the citrus
cologne eau de verveine. In the Victorian era it was called "THE LEMON
PLANT". I like to describe the scent as "lemon lollipop".
Popular in conservatories and sitting rooms, at first it was mostly used as
a stomach-soothing tea.
The LEAVES of the plant is what is used: they retain their scent well in
potpourris, and the FRESH
LEAVES flavor tea, jelly, stuffing, salad and dressing.
MEDICINALLY, its action is similar to that of Lemon Balm. Lemon Verbena is
known to calm digestive upset and is a very mild sedative. It is a tonic for
the nervous system and helps to alleviate depression.
COSMETIC USES --
Soak the leaves in almond oil to use in massage. Try adding lavender or
rosemary for added therapy. Easier yet, use the essential oil of Lemon
Verbena and/or the other two, in combination.
Use this same oil to make lotions and creams. To help get rid of puffy eyes
- make a tea of the Lemon Verbena leaves, let it cool, soak cotton pads with
the tea, and lay on your closed eyes for 15 minutes. Make a strong tea,
strain and put about 2 cups into your bath water, for its help for the
nerves and mood. Make a vinegar that is skin softening and refreshing.
AROMATIC USES --
Besides using the leaves in a potpourri, try different types of herbal
sachets, for the linen drawer, sofa and bed pillow. Use the essential oil in
your own personal perfume blend.
(Joanie has the essential oils and will help you make a personalized perfume
- just ask!)
MEDICINAL USES --
Make a tea that is good for calming, and also soothes bronchial and nasal
congestion. It can also help take away indigestion, gas, stomach cramps,
nausea.
If you have a Lemon Verbena PLANT, you know that it had gone to "sleep" over
the winter, right there in its pot. But now, with the warming and sunny
days, the leaves have begun to sprout out of the stems. Sometimes, not being
outside in the sun and warmth makes the plants somewhat stressed, and it may
get aphids or mealybugs. Use the Neem spray I told you about in my blog
on 1/19/08 (it's archived under "Herbs"). Spray it about twice a week,
keeping it out of direct sun
for a day after you spray it with the neem mixture (which could burn the
leaves if you put it in full sun right away). Do this for a week or two, and
soon you will find a healthy plant. You can also begin fertilizing the plant
when you see that it has resumed full growth. A good 20-20-20 fertilizer,
with a small amount of seaweed emulsion, makes the plant grow lustily. Owing
to its tenderness, of course the plant must be kept indoors until at least
the end of May, here in western Pennsylvania.
At that point, it's a good idea to "pot up" the plant to a bigger pot,
adding compost and some pelleted 20-20-20 fertilizer. When planting in your
garden, give it a sunny to semi-sunny location - it loves the warmth, but
keep it moist.
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