WOOD BETONY – Betonica officinalis, Stachys officinalis, Pedicularis Canadensis, veronica officinalis.
Also known as: betony, lousewort, bishop’s wort, Paul’s betony, herb Christopher, beefsteak plant, high heal-all, hedge nettle.
Parts used: aerial portions.
Systems/organs affected: liver, heart, stomach, nerves, digestive.
Properties: nervine, astringent, sedative, bitter tonic, aperient, stomachic, antiscorbutic, aromatic, antidepressant, hypotensive, anti-diarrheal, anthelmintic, anti-venomous, carminative, alterative, anodyne, emmenogogue..
WOOD BETONY is a member of the Labiatae (deadnettle) family. It is a lovely perennial that can get up to three feet tall. It has purplish/pink flowers and long, narrow leaves with round-toothed margins. Some varieties are native to Europe, Asia and Africa while others seem to be native to North America. It blooms from June to August (depending on the species) and can be found in woodland clearings, gardens, grasslands and hedgebanks. Harvest the leaves before the flowers bloom and dry in the sun.
Wood Betony has a long history as a panacea. The ancient Egyptians believed it had magical powers and that it could ward off evil spirits. This translated to the Middle Ages where the Anglo-Saxons wore betony amulets to protect them from evil. The Romans believed it could cure at least 47 different diseases and disorders. In fact, Caesar Augustus’ personal physician, Antonius Musa, wrote a small book about it. Gerard gave a long list of uses for this plant, especially its use for urinary issues. Culpeper wrote that it preserves the liver and protects one from disease and witchcraft. It also was believed that wounded animals would seek out the plant and ingest it to cure wounds and diseases. Maude Grieve (A Modern Herbal, 1931) said that, “… throughout many centuries, faith in Betony’s virtues as a panacea for all ills was thoroughly ingrained in the popular estimation… betony was once the sovereign remedy for all maladies of the head.” Apparently this has merit as the word “betony” is derived from the Celtic “bew” which means “head” and “ton” which means “good.” The Celts and others used it for all kinds of head issues including migraines which it seemed to be very effective against. It also was used for: poor circulation, poor liver function, joint pain, depression, insomnia, as a nerve tonic, for addiction, psychiatric disorders, head injuries, digestive issues, inflammation and more.
The Chinese and East Indian cultures use it as a tonic. A tonic by definition means it is something that helps the body heal itself, but slowly. Tonics are employed in Asian cultures long before using the traditional herbs. Perhaps this is one reason it really isn’t used much in Western cultures as we tend to want the healing to happen NOW!!! We are impatient and don’t wish to wait for our healing to happen naturally.
More recently wood betony was found to contain betaine, rosmarinic acid, betulinic acid, and the alkaloids trigonelline and stachydrine. It also is higher in tannins which is what makes it work so well as an astringent. Trigonelline is a component commonly found in fenugreek which is used in China for nervous system disorders and diabetes among other things. This component has been studied and found to be important for insulin secretion, glucose metabolism and cell regeneration just to name a few. It has been found to have neuro-protective, sedative, antiviral, anti-migraine, hypoglycemic, antibacterial and anti-tumor activities. (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22680628, “Trigonelline: A Plant Alkaloid with Therapeutic Potential for Diabetes and Central Nervous System Disease.”) And that is just one component of wood betony!
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www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Curr Med Chem. 2012;19(21):3523-31. Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review
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Stachydrine also has been studied and was found to have anticancer capabilities especially with regard to prostate cancer. (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21988653
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www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Nat Prod Res. 2012;26(18):1737-40. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2011.608673. Epub 2011 Oct 11.
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www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Am J Chin Med. 2010;38(1):157-71. Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Wood Betony also contains phytochemicals that have been found to be effective against tuberculosis. It has elements within it that specifically aid the nervous system which is why it has been used for migraines, Parkinson’s Disease, stomach cramps, colic and other nerve-related issues. It also increases tone throughout the body, making it a good option for things like prolapsed organs and/or uterus, debility, excessive menstruation, liver and/or gallbladder issues and even more. Wood betony works well when used in combination with other herbs too, such as yarrow or comfrey for sinus problems or nosebleeds.
Wood betony is said to taste similar to black tea – so it has a mild bitter flavor. Overuse of wood betony can cause digestive irritation and nausea so be aware of this fact. WebMD says that if one is pregnant or breastfeeding it should be avoided; and as betony can lower blood pressure it is recommended that those on blood pressure medications avoid it as well as those scheduled for surgery for the same reason.
AS ALWAYS, CONSULT A PHYSICIAN BEFORE STARTING ANY HERBAL PRODUCT OR REGIMEN. As is customary with all of my posts I am including some links below for your benefit. Stay strong and healthy my friends!
https://www.amazon.com/Full-Spectrum-Wood-Betony-400-Caps/dp/B0017O5TKY/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1511121998&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=wood+betony&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/Alcohol-FREE-Extract-Organic-Officinalis-Glycerite/dp/B01BIE7BAS/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1511121998&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=wood%2Bbetony&smid=A693X5G35J8NU&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/Starwest-Botanicals-Organic-Betony-Ounces/dp/B00ZVF8N8U/ref=sr_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1511121998&sr=8-5&keywords=wood+betony&dpID=512pEA86jmL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
https://www.amazon.com/Christophers-Formula-Original-Relax-Eze-Count/dp/B00028Q24I/ref=sr_1_10_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1511121998&sr=8-10&keywords=wood+betony
https://www.amazon.com/Wood-Betony-100-Tea-Vanilla/dp/B01EOWJ6XQ/ref=sr_1_25_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1511122171&sr=8-25&keywords=wood+betony
https://www.amazon.com/Wood-Betony-Infusion-Stachys-officinalis/dp/B00JIVDZYK/ref=sr_1_26_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1511122171&sr=8-26&keywords=wood+betony
https://www.amazon.com/Outsidepride-TRTD6378-Betony-500-seeds/dp/B00LDVV2L6/ref=sr_1_36?ie=UTF8&qid=1511122224&sr=8-36&keywords=wood+betony
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