Identity & origin
BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
A perennial associated primarily with temperate environments. Verbena officinalis is not lemon verbena, Aloysia citrodora. A fragrance or common name does not justify transferring findings between them.
Also known as: No synonyms listed.
Have the species and exact part verified; a photograph alone cannot guarantee identification for consumption.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
Uses & evidence
UNDERSTANDING THE USES
Properties & uses.
Listed part — documentary context
ANSM lists Verbena officinalis for: aerial part. This listing specifies neither a clinical indication nor a dosage.
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
Read the sourceSedative activity: mouse models
Crude Verbena officinalis extract. Sedative and anxiolytic signals were reported in animal models. No human dosage is inferred; do not use it to self-treat epilepsy.
Laboratory or animal observation. A human benefit cannot be inferred from this finding alone.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
Precautions before use
BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
Contraindications & precautions
- Insufficient dataThis targeted audit does not provide a comprehensive contraindication review; this does not mean contraindications are absent.
Medicine interactions
- Insufficient dataThis dossier cannot establish compatibility with medication. A limited study does not replace an interaction review of the exact product.
Other retained warnings · review incomplete
These existing warnings remain relevant to consult. Their exhaustive reassessment is outside this targeted review.
Restrictions and precautions
- The botanical sources cited cannot establish a complete list of contraindications. Do not self-medicate on the basis of this record.
Medicine interactions
- Compatibility with medicines is not established by the sources evaluated here; ask a pharmacist to check the exact product.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children
Insufficient information here to recommend medicinal use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
No preparation or paediatric dose is validated in this record.
“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.
Adverse effects
- The botanical inventory does not characterize adverse effects; this does not mean there is no risk.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Insufficient information here to recommend medicinal use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Children & adolescents
No preparation or paediatric dose is validated in this record.
If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
Available evidence
EXPLORE THE EVIDENCE
The available evidence.
An experimental action is described for common vervain itself. It explains a research lead without assigning an animal-study extract’s effect to an herbal tea.
Sedative activity: mouse models
Mouse behaviour in these tests cannot establish benefit for human insomnia or anxiety.
Laboratory or animal observation. A human benefit cannot be inferred from this finding alone.
Read the referenceLimitations to keep in mind.
This record explains a publication without turning it into a prescription. The studied part, process and context must remain identifiable.
Studies, findings & limitations
THE RESEARCH
What the research shows.
A laboratory or animal result alone does not demonstrate a benefit in humans. Each result must be read alongside the preparation studied and its limitations.
Sedative activity: mouse models
Laboratory or animal observation. A human benefit cannot be inferred from this finding alone.
- Type of research
- Behavioural tests and induced-sleep models in mice.
- Preparation concerned
- Crude Verbena officinalis extract.
- Observed results
- Sedative and anxiolytic signals were reported in animal models.
- Limitations to consider
- No human dosage is inferred; do not use it to self-treat epilepsy.
What can we take from this?
This summary is not an exhaustive literature review. Clinical observations, animal models and cellular tests are not interchangeable levels of evidence.
Documentary review dated 09/10/2026. The references remain available to check the context.
Sources & last review
CHECKING REFERENCES
Sources for this profile.
- ANSM — Pharmacopée française, liste A (janvier 2026), p. 38Accessed on 09/10/2026
- Kew — Plants of the World Online : Verbena officinalis L.Accessed on 09/10/2026
- Khan AW et al. (2016). Anticonvulsant, Anxiolytic, and Sedative Activities of Verbena officinalis.Accessed on 09/10/2026
Image: Patrick Hacker · CC BY 4.0. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.