Hierba Luisa (Lemongrass)
Answered by: Conrad Richter
Question from: Joseph K Kirk
Posted on: January 25, 1999

I lived in South America for a number of years and came in contact there with a herb called (in Spanish) "Hierba Luisa." The people there asserted it was good for cancer. I found it to be an excellent remedy for an upset stomach, for an inability to sleep, and for nausea.

I understand that the herb is also known as "Vervain," "Verveine," and "Verbena Odorata." Please understand that I have tried the common Vervain and find it is not the same as "Hierba Luisa."

There are a number of sites on the world wide web that contain good information about "Hierba Luisa." To review them, just type into a good Internet search engine the words "Hierba Luisa" in quotes as I have done. Unfortunately, none of the sites I have visited have information on how to purchase the herb here in the U.S.A.

For a number of years, "Hierba Luisa" was shipped to the United States by Pompadour Iberica, S.A., a company in Duesseldorf, Germany. They no longer sell this herb, so I am told. This company does continue to package and distribute other, more common herbs, generally in individual tea bags.

Any help you could provide me in obtaining this wonderful herb would be greatly appreciated.

According to our references, "hierba luisa" or "yerba luisa" is Cymbopogon citratus or lemongrass. Lemongrass makes a wonderful tea which is both pleasing as a hot beverage and medicinal for fevers, colds, etc. It alos has a beneficial effect on the digestion and could, indirectly at least, help promote sleep by settling the stomach.

"Verbena odorata" looks like a scientific latin name but there is no plant by this name as far as we know.

[Murad adds:] Hierba Luisa is readily available here in Spain where I live and fresh either whole or crumbled. We drink it with camomile and it’s fantastic.

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