The leaves also add a tangy flavor to pound cake, cheesecake, yellow cake, custard, fruit tarts, ice cream or frozen yogurt. Hibiscus and lemon verbena polyphenols modulate appetite-related biomarkers in overweight subjects: a randomized controlled trial. Lemon verbena combines well with other dried herbs, such as mint, lavender, chamomile and dried rosebuds. The leaves in the main picture are young leaves, the mature leaves are long and pointed (mine shed). While green tea is often suggested for those on a diet, lemon verbena is effective too. This survey is being conducted by the WebMD marketing sciences department. The leaves have a surprising number of uses in the kitchen and around the house. J Altern Complement Med 2011;17:1051. View abstract. Dried lemon zest -- made from the outer peel of a fresh lemon -- and a few drops of lemon essential oil add an extra lemony scent to the potpourri. Lemon verbena is used for digestive disorders including indigestion, gas, colic, diarrhea, and constipation.It is also used for agitation, joint pain, trouble sleeping (), asthma, colds, fever, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, skin conditions, and chills. Other common names include lemon beebrush. To make iced tea, chill the tea and pour it over ice cubes. It was a nice addition to fish and poultry dishes, beverages, dressings, jams, salads, and jams. common herb with many popular culinary uses due to its lovely citrus smell and flavor Non-food use for lemon verbena ~ Use it to scent a DIY glass and surface cleaner! Its fragrance is used in perfumery.1, 4, 5 Organic lemon verbena hydrosol has a much softer scent than the herb and may be used in place of water in any body care formulation. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Multiple sclerosis (MS). In the ground, it forms a luxuriously lemony shrub. … Lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora) is a hardy, easy-to-grow herb with a refreshing lemony scent and attractive, bright green leaves. Both vervain and lemon verbena are in the same plant family, but there are many plants in the Verbena family. Alternatively, strip off the leaves and place them in a dehydrator. It is thought that Lemon Verbena tea can be used to reduce phlegm and mucus, which is perfect for eliminating congestion in the respiratory tracts. Take one cup unsalted butter, one-fourth cup of fresh lemon juice, one tablespoon powdered sugar and six lemon verbena leaves and put them in the food processor. It is actually a tropical shrub that is native to Argentina and Chile. She writes about a variety of topics, with a focus on sustainable, pesticide- and herbicide-free gardening. Lemon verbena is a plant. ~ Blend the leaves into a vinaigrette. Join the conversation! Caturla N, Funes L, Perez-Fons L, Micol V. A randomized, double-blindcd, placebo-controlled study of the effect of a combination of lemon verbena extract and fish oil omega 3 fatty acid on joint management. Crushed fresh leaves also add flavor to cola, seltzer, or mixed drinks. Add it to your household cleaning routine, your beauty regimen, or use lemon verbena to freshen the air in your space. Lemon verbena is perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 and 10. A handful of fresh lemon verbena leaves turns yogurt and mayonnaise into a flavorful dressing for salads, meat or fish. Add the lemon verbena to hot dishes at the end of cooking, as the flavor dissipates if exposed to heat for too long. Traditional uses . ~ Add it to a marinade for a ceviche. Drinking tea, sugar-free of course, is generally beneficial as part of … How to Make Homemade Non-Plant-Killing Pest Repellent, Washington State University Skagit County Extension: Part Two: Growing Herbal Tea, Reader's Digest: Homemade Lemon Verbena Potpourri, Mother Earth Living: The Herbal Harvest: Three Lemon Verbena Recipes, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: Edible Flowers Recipes, Ingredients for Making Natural Insect Repellents for Outdoor Plants.