Lemon verbena essential oil is a wonderfully-uplifting aroma. A little in a diffuser at home goes a long way to creating a bright atmosphere. It has a wonderful, light lemony-aroma, thought more pleasant than other oils with a high 'citral' content - which imparts the lemon scent to oils such as Melissa and lemongrass.

It's main aromatic therapeutic properties noted in the literature are that of being both calming and acting as an antidepressant. Because of it's soft lemony-scent being appreciated on its own, there's no great need to blend it with other oils for full enjoyment of its aromatic properties.

On a physiological level, the texts describe it as an anti-inflammatory agent, and has been the subject of research in the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The study indicated that fish oil, used as an Omega-3 fatty acid source had improved efficacy when Lemon Verbena extract was added. The study does not make clear as to whether it was the high anti-oxidant capability of the essential oil, or another feature, which helped decrease pain in those with joint stiffness.

Traditionally, Lemon Verbena has been used to alleviate stomach upsets - perhaps caused by nervousness, and 'congestion of the liver'. It may be useful in all cases where depression, melancholy, fatigue and apathy are being worked with. At its low cost, it is certainly worth giving a try in a diffuser to see how one feels!

Finally, one may consider it as a 'study aid', as is lemon and other 'bright-scented' aromatics. They appear to have the potential for decreasing the activity of acetylcholine-esterase, which breaks down acetylcholine, the primary information-related neurotransmitter. On a safety note, it may be that Lemon Verbena can make the skin highly sensitive to sunlight, and should not be applied to areas of the skin that will be exposed to direct sunlight in the following 72 hours.