Speedwell

Speedwell, also known as wood speedwell and by its Latin name Veronica officinalis, is a plant whose parts growing above the ground are used to make medicine. Speedwell is used to treat problems in the lungs and respiratory tract, stomach and intestinal problems and problems in the bladder and urinary tract. Speedwell is also used for gout, arthritis, rheumatic muscle and joint pain, loss of appetite, liver problems and diseases of the spleen. Speedwell is also used as a tonic, to stimulate sweating, to purify the blood and to stimulate the metabolic rate. Some people gargle with speedwell to treat inflammation around the mouth and throat. Speedwell is sometimes applied directly to the skin to reduce sweating of the feet, to help heal wounds and to treat persistent skin problems and itching.

How does speedwell work?

Speedwell may help the stomach lining to regenerate and heal.

How effective is speedwell?

There is not enough scientific data to say how effective oral speedwell is for loss of appetite, arthritis, gout, liver disease, lung disease, spleen disease, stomach and intestinal problems and kidney and bladder problems, and how effective skin applied speedwell is for itching and skin problems and to help heal wounds. There is also insufficient scientific information on the effectiveness of verbena in the form of a gargle solution for treating inflammation in the mouth and throat.

Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of speedwell in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Speedwell is safe and harmless when taken in normal food quantities and may also be safe and harmless when taken in medicinal quantities. However, its possible side effects are not known.

There is not enough information available to say whether verbena is safe for use on the skin.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the use of verbena during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should refrain from using it.

Interactions

At the present time, there is no information available on interactions of speedwell with medications or supplements.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of speedwell depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At this time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for speedwell. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.