VERBENA Verbena officinalis L. family of the Verbenaceae. Call commonly Turkish grass; barbegna; purecella; grass of the spleen; birbina; virminaca; crebena. The properties recognized to the top bloomed of the Verbena are various: the popular tradition of it takes advantage of the bitter taste in order to stimulate the appetite and to favor the digestion; attributes diuretic and depurative virtues to them of the liver and of the spleen; it considers it useful in order to eliminate the calculations; to drive away the fever; to alleviate the pains reumati to us. The decoctions for external use only are employed in order to cleanse plagues and wounds; in order to make gargarismi that they purify the mouth; strengthen the gums and remove the inflammation of the tonsils. The Verbena was considered in the past a sacred plant because it believed that the Verbena was employed on the wounds of Christ crucifix in order to stop of the blood. Its disseminated essential oil in the air can be optimal a helping one in order to loosen physical and mental stress. Photography of Elena Piccini; 2004.