Overview

Lemon verbena is a flowering plant. It grows in South America, northern Africa, southern Europe, and Iran. The leaves and flowering tops are used to make medicine.

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.

How does it work ?

Lemon verbena contains chemicals that might kill mites and bacteria, as well as chemicals that may reduce swelling (inflammation) and cause sleepiness.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Insufficient Evidence for

  • 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.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of lemon verbena for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Lemon verbena is LIKELY SAFE for most people when consumed in amounts found in alcoholic beverages. It is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken in appropriate amounts as a medicine, short-term. It can cause skin irritation (dermatitis) in some people.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if lemon verbena is safe when applied to the skin. Contact with lemon verbena may cause red, itchy skinrash in some people.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Lemon verbena is LIKELY SAFE for most people when consumed in amounts found in alcoholic beverages. It is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken in appropriate amounts as a medicine, short-term. It can cause skin irritation (dermatitis) in some people.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if lemon verbena is safe when applied to the skin. Contact with lemon verbena may cause red, itchy skinrash in some people. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if lemon verbena is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Kidney disease: Large amounts of lemon verbena may irritate the kidneys and make kidney disease worse. Avoid using large amounts if you have kidney problems.

Interactions ?

    Moderate Interaction

    Be cautious with this combination

  • Sedative medications (Benzodiazepines) interacts with LEMON VERBENA

    Lemon verbena might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleepiness and drowsiness are called sedatives. Taking lemon verbena along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness and trouble breathing. Some of these sedative medications include lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), midazolam (Versed), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), and others.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of lemon verbena depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for lemon verbena. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.