Vervain is one of those herbs with a very long history of magic, healing, and connection to the divine. It was said to be used to staunch the wounds of Christ on the Cross. It has associations with Isis, Juno, and repelling evil. It is an herb of many uses, both magical and medicinal.
There are a multitude of varieties of this herb, though the one we most commonly see in witchcraft is “blue vervain”. It grows about 70 cm tall with toothed, lobed leaves, and delicate, spiky clusters of flowers in white, pink, or purple. There is another variety that grows with toothed, oval leaves, and clusters of 5 petal flowers in similar colors. It seems both of these are called vervain, and seem to be considered to have the same attributes as well.
Magically, it is a feminine herb, associated with Cerridwen, Venus, Aradia, Jupiter, Thor, and Juno. It was said to be a favorite of the Druids who gathered it when Sirius was rising on the dark moon. They used it for divination, consecration, shapeshifting, and initiation. Other cultures have also used it for fertility, purification, protection, and it is said to help with astral work as well. It is also used in love spells, healing work, dream enhancement, and to enhance the properties of other herbs in use in your work. In fact, in the old language of flowers, Vervain stood for enchantment.
Medicinally, it is said to be a good tonic for nerves. It acts as a diuretic, stimulates the liver, and helps with gallbladder issues. It is said to assist women during labor, however it should not be given to pregnant women besides that. It is analgesic, antibacterial, anticoagulant, antispasmodic, astringent, birthing aid, diuretic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, stimulant, tonic, and many more. Mostly, medicinal use is done as a tea, though external use is helpful as well.
Vervain is said to be the herb of poets, singers, and bards. It inspires artistry, and instills a love of learning. The plant will attract both bees and butterflies to your garden as well. With its multitude of uses, Vervain is definitely an herb to keep on hand in your stash.
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