Speedwell Herb Profile
Also known as
Veronica officinalis, Gypsyweed, Common Speedwell, and Veronica
Introduction
Speedwell is a small perennial herb that grows 6 to 12 inches high with petite, tooth-shaped oval flowers of pale blue, lavender and white.
Constituents
Speedwell contains organic acids, sugars, flavonoids, resin and tannins.
Parts Used
Whole Plant (Herb)
Typical Preparations
Most often used as a tea or tincture.
In tea, it serves as a diuretic and as a cough remedy (expectorant) and it can be added to lotion for irritated and infected skin.
Some people eat speedwell raw in salads or add it to soup. In tincture form, speedwell is recommended for sluggish digestion, intestinal insufficiency or eczema.
Summary
Historically considered a panacea, herbalists once used speedwell for a variety of symptoms and it was thought of as a medicinal staple. Because of its taste and tea like smell, it was used in 19th-century France as a green tea substitute.
Precautions
None known
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
