Verbena officinalis L.is a well-known medicinal herb in China，with a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).It has broad clinical applications and is renowned for its ability to promote blood circulation，dispel blood stasis，clear heat，remove toxin，promote diuresis，reduce swelling，treat jaundice，and interrupt malaria.The processing of V.officinalis has a long history，with early records of the “pounding” method dating back to the Tang Dynasty.Subsequently，various processing methods emerged，including wine processing，stir-frying，salt processing，and honey processing.In modern times，the processing of V.officinalis has been simplified compared to ancient practices.After processing，toxic and side effects of V.officinalis can be reduced，while its medicinal efficacy is enhanced.The processing also helps to refine its medicinal properties，making the herb more suitable for clinical use.Modern research has revealed that the main chemical constituents of V.officinalis include volatile oils，flavonoids，triterpenoids，diterpenes，cyclic ether glycosides，phenylethanoid glycosides，and sterols.These compounds exhibit a range of pharmacological activities，including anti-tumor，anti-early pregnancy，anti-inflammatory，analgesic，neuroprotective，immune-regulating，anti-fungal，antioxidant，antitussive，and prevention and treatment of urinary stones.This paper reviews the historical development of V.officinalis processing，its chemical composition，and pharmacological effects based on historical herbal texts，medical classics，and contemporary literature，aiming to provide a reference for further research into V.officinalis's applications and potential.