Wendy's Healing Compendium (47.92): That Badass Blue Flower That'll Chill You The Fuck Out

Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) is one hell of a powerful herb that's been kicking ass in traditional medicine for centuries. This tall, majestic bastard can grow up to 5 feet tall, showing off its gorgeous blue-purple flowers like it's nobody's damn business. Native Americans weren't messing around when they discovered this herb's potential - they used it for everything from calming their nerves to dealing with that awful monthly cramping. The plant belongs to the Verbenaceae family, and let me tell you, it's the black sheep that actually does something useful. Found growing wild in North America's wet meadows and waste places, this persistent little fucker will grow pretty much anywhere it can get its roots into moist soil. Fun fact: medieval Europeans thought this plant had magical powers and used it in their rituals - guess they weren't totally full of shit after all, considering its proven medicinal properties.

Identifying This Bad Boy

This plant ain't hard to spot if you know what you're looking for. Look for:

• Tall, branching stems with a square cross-section (yeah, it's weird like that)

• Lance-shaped leaves that grow opposite each other and have toothed edges

• Tiny but numerous blue-purple flowers growing in dense, branched spikes

• The whole plant has a rough, hairy texture that feels like your uncle's beard

Cultivation (AKA How Not to Kill It)

Growing this hardy SOB is pretty straightforward. It likes:

• Full sun to partial shade

• Moist, well-draining soil (don't drown the damn thing)

• Space to spread out - give it at least 2 feet of personal space

• Regular watering, but don't get too crazy with it

Growing Tips

Listen up, because this is the good shit:

• Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost

• Don't cover the seeds - they need light to germinate

• Keep soil consistently moist until germination

• Thin seedlings when they're about 3 inches tall

Usage

Here's how to make this plant your new best friend:

• Dried herb can be used for tea (1-2 teaspoons per cup)

• Tincture: 2-4 mL up to 3 times daily

• Fresh plant poultice for skin issues

• Infused oil for topical use