Thinking about this new label for the 2014 batch

What can verveine do for you?

Verveine has been used since Egyptian times for a variety of symptoms, and in modern South of France, almost every traditional cafe offers une infusion de verveine as a relaxing drink.

From http://www.herbs-info.com/vervain.html:

"Brewed as a mild tisane via infusion (in this case, dried leaves are employed), it makes for a perfect relaxing drink as well as a general tonic said to strengthen the immune system. Despite having a somewhat inferior aroma to its relative lemon verbena, vervain possesses some, if not all of the medicinal properties of the former. When used in combination with mint or dill, it makes for a perfect pick-me-up, especially during, and after suffering from a bout of flu. Its expectorant properties make it useful for individuals who experience whooping or wheezing coughs, while moderate consumption of vervain tisanes help to settle the stomach and soothe frayed or overstressed nerves."

English spelling is typically vervain, but I choose the French way of spelling: verveine.
Either way is grammatically correct.

Here you can see the verveine bits added to the soap for the healing properties, the fragrance, and the scrubby-dubby exfoliation action:

Starting in November, I will have soap from this year's batch available in my Etsy Shop.

Lemon Verveine Soap for the holidays

I have started production for the holidays of my lemon verveine soap.
The studio is now filled with the fragrance of verveine, lemon, olive and avocado oils, and shea butter.
As I test each batch, I wash my hands with the sample end, and my hands are becoming magically soft and healthy with the rich shea butter-infused soap.  In this dry Colorado climate, moisturizing is so essential, this soap does it best for me.

Someone told me it looks good enough to eat!
I agree:

This soap will be available in my Etsy Shop starting in November.

endorsement

I got a nice note from a fan about our lemon vervein soap, I wanted to share it here:

"Our Doctor recommended soap that left my skin so flakey that I could write the word 'dry' on it!  But with your soap, oh my gosh, my skin is so soft and plush and my wife can't keep her hands off my skin!  I love it!"
--Shiloh

Thanks!  I love hearing how healing this soap is, I know it saved my skin.
I am glad to know it's helping.

soap = crime???

Going to jail for soap possession.
This couple was detained for a month in a Pennsylvania prison when their soap tested false positive for cocaine.
InJustice.

http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/16/one-month-in-jail-for-soap-possession

VERVAIN!

Great news, I have finally found a supplier of verbena officianalis seeds.
Verbena officianalis is true vervain, the variety that was used by Egyptians and Romans all the way into the modern time as a medicinal.
It is the exact plant I discovered in the South of France sold as Infusion de Verveine in many cafes, known as a powerful ancient folk remedy.

There is so much confusion now about what vervain is, often lemon verbena is mistaken for this sacred herb, yet verbena originated in the new world, so is just a distant cousin of true vervain.  I have even seen verbena sold as vervain on ebay, and since there is no regulation of herbs, it's not possible to let the public know they are buying an imposter.

This is what true vervain looks like, there is no woody bark or sticks.  Blue vervain, native to the New World, is harvested with woody stalks and is a different plant.

Look here in the spring for exciting updates with this potent and healthful herb.  Soaps, lotions, tinctures, and more will be available after my first harvest.

Blessed Be!

Soap!

 

I am working on the holiday batch of Vervain Soap.

It's gonna be good!