Lippia Javanica Steam distilled from the herb, from South Africa.
Aroma: Some have compared it to a combination of mint and vanilla. It has floral notes with a slightly green base.
History: Wild Verbena Essential Oil is also commonly referred to as "Fever Tea". Historically, Zulu Warriors drank an infusion of the leaf for medicinal purposes. The Tswana use the tea to treat scabies and heads lice.
Description: Also known as Lippia Oil, this is a woody shrub which can reach a height of two meters. The leaves have stiff hairs, with veins. The small white and yellow flowers form heads of dense clusters.
Colour: Yellowish to golden liquid.
Common Uses: African Verbena Essential Oil is probably Africa's most under rated fragrant medicinal plant. It is widely credited as being antiseptic and is believed to be useful as a gargle for sore throats and for treating abscesses. The essential oil is high in ipsdienone, which has been shown to repel European tree insect pests.
chemical constituents: Ipsenone:25 – 35 %, Mercene: 10.0 – 15 % 1,8-cineol: 5 – 10 %, Ipsodionol: 7.0 – 12 %, b-caryophyllene,etc.
Consistency: Thick
Note: Medium
Strength of Aroma: Medium
Blends well with: Other essential oils from the spice and herb family.
Cautions: No known toxicity Avoid high concentration in pregnancy.
Photo thanks to JMK, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
