Verveine
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
This article from the 1928–1936 Great Medical Encyclopedia describes Verbena officinalis (vervain), a herbaceous plant of the Verbenaceae family found in Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. It details the plant's botanical characteristics, active principles such as verbenalin and tannins, and its traditional use in folk medicine as a bitter stomachic tonic.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
VERBENA, Verbena officinalis L., family of Verbenaceae, a herbaceous plant (30–60 cm in height) in central and southern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, with a branching quadrangular stem, opposite dentate leaves, and small light-purple flowers gathered in long filiform spikes. It blooms from July to September. Active principles: the levorotatory non-toxic glucoside "verbenalin" C17H24O10, tannins, and bitter substances. In folk medicine, it is used as a bitter stomachic (amarum stomachicum).
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Cite this page
“Verveine.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/verveine/