The calm power of verbena
Its light green, elongated leaves release an intense lemon scent when crushed. The kind of smell that takes up all the space when we're brewing it.
So fresh you want to eat it.
These are the leaves we use. Mostly in infusion, sometimes in herbal medicine, and definitely in our Verbena & Lime Kombucha.
A quick profile
Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) is also known as sweet verbena or Peruvian verbena. Native to South America, it’s now also cultivated around the Mediterranean.
Its light green leaves have a sharp, citrusy aroma that’s almost impossible to ignore. Once crushed, they awaken your senses and your taste buds.
Recognised properties
Soothing the nervous system
Thanks to its high content of citral, neral, citronellal and verbascoside, lemon verbena has a naturally calming effect.
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Helps you relax and improves sleep quality
- Calms stress-related palpitations
- May lift the mood in moments of low energy
One study showed that 400 mg of standardised extract (24% verbascoside) taken over 90 days improved sleep and reduced perceived stress.
Supporting digestion
Lemon verbena is known for its benefits on the digestive system. It helps relieve cramps, bloating and gas, and improves fat digestion by stimulating bile production.
It’s often used to calm difficult digestion and support the stomach, even in cases linked to Helicobacter pylori. For temporary digestive issues like mild diarrhea or colitis, it can also bring real relief.
Traditionally, it’s used for its:
- Antispasmodic effect: relieves intestinal cramps
- Carminative effect: reduces bloating and gas
- Bile-stimulating effect: supports fat digestion
- Gastric-protective effect: helps prevent ulcers
- Astringent effect: useful for mild diarrhea
- Anti-inflammatory effect: soothes gut irritation
Antioxidant activity
Lemon verbena leaves are rich in polyphenols (again : verbascoside, luteolin and apigenin).
- They protect cells from oxidative stress
- They help support cognitive function
- They contribute to slowing down cell ageing
Anti-inflammatory and pain relief effects
Lemon verbena is rich in, guess what : citral. Which is also known for its calming properties on both body and mind.
It acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, helping to ease local inflammation that causes joint pain, muscle soreness or digestive discomfort.
It also offers a light pain-relief effect, useful for menstrual cramps, migraines or tension caused by stress.
Antimicrobial action
With its high, you-will-never-guess-it content, lemon verbena has well-documented antimicrobial properties.
It can help fight several unwanted microbes, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, certain yeasts and fungi.
One thing that makes it special: it acts selectively. It targets harmful bacteria while preserving the balance of your good gut flora.
Fun and practical uses
- Infusion: the simple, comforting version
- In your Verbena & Lime Kombucha: fizzy, citrusy, soothing. Every bubble says “relax”
- In cooking or cosmetics: desserts, marinades, homemade bath blends. Yes, even your skin can smile
In short
Soothing, digestive, antioxidant, antimicrobial. And yes, delicious.
Lemon verbena is the kind of plant that quietly does everything right.
No wonder it made its way into our kombucha.
Sources :
Martínez-Rodríguez, A., Martínez-Olcina, M., Mora, J., Navarro, P., Caturla, N., & Jones, J. (2022). Anxiolytic Effect and Improved Sleep Quality in Individuals Taking Lippia citriodora Extract. Nutrients, 14(1), 218.
Buchwald-Werner, S., Naka, I., Wilhelm, M., Schütz, E., Schoen, C., & Reule, C. (2018). Effects of lemon verbena extract (Recoverben®) supplementation on muscle strength and recovery after exhaustive exercise: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 15, 5.
Caturla, N., Funes, L., Pérez-Fons, L., & Micol, V. (2011). A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of the effect of a combination of lemon verbena extract and fish oil omega-3 fatty acid on joint management. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 17(11), 1051–1063.
Mauriz, E., Vallejo, D., Tuñón, M. J., Rodriguez-López, J. M., Rodríguez-Pérez, R., Sanz-Gómez, J., & García-Fernández, M.delC. (2014). Effects of dietary supplementation with lemon verbena extracts on serum inflammatory markers of multiple sclerosis patients. Nutricion hospitalaria, 31(2), 764–771.
