Medicinal Plants : Betonica officinalis

Name

Wood Betony

Biological Name

Betonica officinalis
Labiatae

Other Names

Wood Betony, Bishopswort, Betony, Stachys betonica, Lousewort

Parts Used

Dried aerial parts

Active Compounds

Alkaloids; stachydrine and betonicine

Miscellaneous; betaine, choline, tannins.

Remedies For

Nervine, bitter, aperient, stomachic, tonic, aromatic, antiscorbutic.

Betony gently tones and strengthens the nervous system whilst also has a relaxing action. Useful for treatment of the nervous debility associated with anxiety and tension. It will ease headaches and neuralgia when they are of nervous origin, but especially those caused by hypertension.

Traditionally used for headache, neuralgia, pains in the head and face, heartburn, indigestion, cramps in the stomach, jaundice, palsy, convulsions, gout, colic, pains, all bilious and nervous complaints, dropsy, colds, la grippe, tuberculosis, worms, delirium, poisonous snake and insect bites.

Combinations : For the treatment of nervous headache it combines well with Skullcap. In hypertensive headaches use in combination with appropriate hypotensives.

Dosage

Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto l-2 teaspoonfuls of the dried herb and leave to infuse for 10-15 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day.

Tincture: take 2-6 ml of the tincture three times a day.

Safety

No information available. Some herbs are known to react with your medication. Please consult your physician before starting on any herb.