(Stachys betonica, Stachys officinalis,
Betonica officinali) G.
Folk Names: Bishopwort, Lousewort, Purple Betony
Gender: Masculine
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Fire
Powers: Protection, Purification, Love
Magical Uses: Betony has long been celebrated as a protective and purification herb. The pseudo-Apuleius said that the plant protected the wearer's soul as well as the body, and that when placed beneath the pillow it shielded the sleeper from visions and dreams. Betony is added to purification and protection mixtures and incenses, and it is traditional on Midsummer to burn it on a bonfire and then jump through the smoke to purify the body of ills and evil.
Betony is also grown in gardens to protect the home, and is scattered near doors and windows. This forms a kind of protective wall around the property through which no evil can pass.
Betony is a also a good plant to carry when making love advances, and it is said to reunite quarelling couples if the plant is added to food.
Additionally, betony prevents intoxication if carred, strengthening the body when worn, and is a cure for the mysterious disease known as 'elf-sickness.'
[From Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs]
Now I had to look up this 'elf-sickness' and here is what I found:
"Anglo-Saxon medical textbooks and collections of healing charms refer to ‘elf sickness’, ‘water-elf sickness’, and ‘elf shot’; the latter could afflict horses, cattle, or humans, and was thought to be caused when elves shot them with small darts. Prehistoric flint arrow heads were long known as ‘elf arrows’ or ‘elf bolts’. Elves were also blamed for tangling human hair and horses' manes during the night (‘elf locks’), and for ‘riding’ humans and horses by night, causing nightmares, sweating, and restless sleep."
I have heard of elf bolts before and some of what is mentioned here so I feel satisfied what this 'elf-sickenss' means.
-- The Lucky Mojo Curio Co. catalogue
http://www.herb-magic.com/wood-betony.html
Wood Betony Herb Profile from http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/wood_betony.php
Stachys officinalis, Betony, Lousewort, Bishopwort, Common Hedge-Nettle, and Spiked Betony.
Introduction
"Sell your coat and buy betony, admonished an Italian proverb of the Middle Ages. Wood betony was once considered an herbal "magic bullet" for dispelling a wide variety of diseases. Antonius Musa, chief physician to the Roman emperor Caesar August, catalogued 47 conditions he treated with the herb. Wood betony is an herb native to Europe bearing a spike of purple flowers on a long, central stem reaching 1-2 feet (60 to 90 cm) high. All the leaves are rough to the touch and are also fringed with short, fine hairs; their whole surface is dotted with glands containing a bitter, aromatic oil.
Constituents
Betaine, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, harpagide, rosmarinic acid, stachydrine, tannins.
Parts Used
The whole herb, collected in dry weather.
Typical Preparations
Gargles, extracts and teas. Seldom found encapsulated.
Summary
Centuries of European herbalists used wood betony as a calming remedy and to treat eczema, hives, and shingles. Wood betony teas also treat sore throats caused by allergies or colds, heartburn, and inflammation due to infections of the urinary tract. The herb is used in combination with other treatments to remove intestinal parasites.
Precautions
Russian research indicates that the traditional warning for nursing mothers not to use wood betony is not warranted. Drink the tea at a meal for maximum benefit.
Biological Description
Wood Betony is a healing herb for many ailments that is also known under the names Bishop’s wort, Purple Betony and its biological names Betonica officinalis or Stachys Betonica.
This perennial herb belongs to the family Labiatae. It is rather tall, grows up to 70cm; you can easily find it because of its numerous bright purple flowers ( nearly 15 in one cluster) on the very end of its upright thick green stem.
Flowers can be yellow to red in color; are in bloom during mid and ends of the summer. Betony’s leaves are narrowly oval and hairy, dark green in color, upper leaves are smaller than lower ones; grow from several rosettes on its stem.
Growing
Wood Betony is native to Europe, but nowadays can be found in many other countries of Asia, some northern states of America, Mexico and even Africa. Many herbalists find Betony to be difficult to cultivate, as it requires rather moist soil which is well-drained, and sunny (or partially shaded) location.
You can see Wood Betony in open woods, roadsides and meadows, as well as it is also cultivated in lots of regions of temporary climates.
Parts Used
It herbal purposes the entire herb is used: its upper aerial part and its root. As for its aerial part - it should be collected just before it’s blooming, approximately in the beginning of July (in case of hot summer – at the end of June) necessarily in dry weather. This part is then dried and used for various ailments and states. The best way for that is to let it dry in open sunlight throughout summer.
Market
Wood Betony is available on the market in various forms, but mainly in extracts, tinctures and teas. Betony Teas are very good in taste (similar with oriental black), infusions are often drunk as tea as well (from leaves or root). Leaves (fresh or dried) are used for poultice preparation. Betony can be found in form of gargles, wash, capsules and in mixture with other herbs (such as skullcap, yarrow, lavender, etc.) and even wines (for tonic drinks). Fresh roots are very sweet and often used in culinary properties as well.
Action
The herb contains lots of useful active compounds that give it its astringent, tonic, sedative, and relaxing properties. Wood Betony contains various alkaloids, saponins and tannins as active constituents that make the herb rather effective herbal remedy in case of diarrhea, premenstrual pains, palpitations, bronchitis, asthma, and even kidney stones.
For the same reason it is recommended as gargles, as Betony poultices and mouthwash soothe throat‘s mucous membranes. Wood Betony is an effective remedy for headaches and nervousness, due to glycoside constituent, that is believed to lower blood pressure.
It relaxes the whole body (especially the head area) and gives calm and peace, stimulates different body systems (such as digestive). It has been also long believed that Betony gives peaceful sleep and good dreams, purifies the body (especially the blood system), and even gives protection both for good health and good fortune.
Wood Betony usage is now limited and used for several ailments (it has earlier been used as a cure-all), mainly for:
Treating headaches and facial pain,
Neuralgia
Its sedative properties are used for calming down emotional tension and treating anxiety and stress (it also strengthens the nervous system of the body), promotes good sleep
Nervous disorders
Treating diarrhea (very small doses are used, as in large it gives laxative effect)
Memory problems and lack of concentration
Depression
Nasal congestion and pain in facial region due to sinusitis
Nosebleeds
Chronic rheumatism
Wounds and bruises (poultice from fresh leaves is used), ulcers (when infusion is added to a bath)
Mouth ulcers, gum inflammations and sore throat (mouthwash is used)
Stomach cramps (as it stimulates and cleanse digestive system) and gastritis
For improving of the function of the liver
Premenstrual (menstrual )pain
May be helpful in case of hard and painful labor (though some sources do not recommend Betony for pregnant women usage)
In case of different ailment with lung (bronchitis, asthma)
It is even used in case of insect bites, worm and some other ailment
The herb is generally used as a general tonic with ability to cause muscles to relax. The effectiveness is doubled when the herb is used in combination with other herbs, but this is the prerogative of the professional herbalist. The taste of Betony is rather sweet and slightly bitter, so it usually used together with honey or hot milk.
Here are averages doses for using Wood Betony:
Infusions, Tea: l-2 teaspoon of a dried herb (or leaves) with 1 cup of boiled water, drink after 10 minutes
Capsules: take two capsules twice a day with full glass of water after your meal
Tinctures: take 2-6 ml of the tincture 3 times a day
Note, that the herb should be used for a long time (about a month) for the result to be seen. And it is very important to follow the recommended dose and not to exceed it (it is considered to be nontoxic, but still may lead to mild stomach upset).
bloom colors.
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