Betony
or Fever Herb
used in Medieval herb medicine
Betony is an herb that both exerts a tonic (strengthening) and a relaxing effect on the nervous system. It is therefore useful for symptoms associated with anxiety and tension. It soothes tension headaches, but is also used for headaches associated with elevated blood pressure (especially if the hypertension is stress-related). Other indications include anxiety, restlessness, and nerve pains, especially in the face.
Betony is also used in the treatment of asthma and (asthmatic) bronchitis, as well especially as stress factors play a role in the problem.
The English common name "Woundwort" refers to the use of the plant for wounds, and its astringent and wound healing properties the herb is indeed used in the treatment of rather fresh and clean injuries. The herb does constrict the capillaries and is therefore suitable to stop the bleeding first, but is less effective if the wound is dirty. At a later stage, the tannins will do denature the proteins in the wound fluid to form a protective layer on the wound. Again: do not use in infected wounds. Betony can be used on an abrasion that's difficult to heal.
In the past, betony was also given to children who lost weight for unexplained reasons.
In homeopathy betony is used in paralysis, nervous disorders, mild psychological problems, dizziness, poor circulation, and TIA (transient ischemic attack - a transient nerve damage from disturbances in brain blood flow - often a harbinger of the CVA: cerebrovascular accident or stroke).
The betony or fever herb (Stachys officinalis, synonym: betonica officinalis) is a plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae). The species is on the Dutch and Belgian Red List of plants as very rare and greatly reduced in number.
The plant is 30-90 cm tall and blooms from June to August with purple-red, sometimes white flowers. The flowers form a dense sham-ear. Most leaves are in a rosette root. The lower leaves have a long leaf stem and the upper leaves have a short petiole. The leaves have a reticulated veins. The angular stem is unbranched and has short hair.
The betony occurs on grassland hillsides and forest edges on not too dry, loamy and calcareous soil. The plant is also grown as an ornamental plant.
applications
In Greek and Roman antiquity, the betony was much as an emetic and used for haemostasis. Pedanius Dioscorides already described the effect on the nervous system and Antonia Musa described in the Herba Vettonica 47 ailments, betony which could be used as a medicinal herb. In the Middle Ages, the plant was used in divination. Nowadays, in the plant the active substances be used in diseases of the respiratory tract, diarrhea and cystitis.
Betony is also used in the treatment of asthma and (asthmatic) bronchitis, as well especially as stress factors play a role in the problem.
The English common name "Woundwort" refers to the use of the plant for wounds, and its astringent and wound healing properties the herb is indeed used in the treatment of rather fresh and clean injuries. The herb does constrict the capillaries and is therefore suitable to stop the bleeding first, but is less effective if the wound is dirty. At a later stage, the tannins will do denature the proteins in the wound fluid to form a protective layer on the wound. Again: do not use in infected wounds. Betony can be used on an abrasion that's difficult to heal.
In the past, betony was also given to children who lost weight for unexplained reasons.
In homeopathy betony is used in paralysis, nervous disorders, mild psychological problems, dizziness, poor circulation, and TIA (transient ischemic attack - a transient nerve damage from disturbances in brain blood flow - often a harbinger of the CVA: cerebrovascular accident or stroke).
The betony or fever herb (Stachys officinalis, synonym: betonica officinalis) is a plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae). The species is on the Dutch and Belgian Red List of plants as very rare and greatly reduced in number.
The plant is 30-90 cm tall and blooms from June to August with purple-red, sometimes white flowers. The flowers form a dense sham-ear. Most leaves are in a rosette root. The lower leaves have a long leaf stem and the upper leaves have a short petiole. The leaves have a reticulated veins. The angular stem is unbranched and has short hair.
The betony occurs on grassland hillsides and forest edges on not too dry, loamy and calcareous soil. The plant is also grown as an ornamental plant.
applications
In Greek and Roman antiquity, the betony was much as an emetic and used for haemostasis. Pedanius Dioscorides already described the effect on the nervous system and Antonia Musa described in the Herba Vettonica 47 ailments, betony which could be used as a medicinal herb. In the Middle Ages, the plant was used in divination. Nowadays, in the plant the active substances be used in diseases of the respiratory tract, diarrhea and cystitis.
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Christina (Tina) Stapley
Tina is the expert in the United Kingdom in the area of historic herbal medicine. From Roman times to Queen Victoria. Thirty years of study and practice as herbalist and instructor. She knows everything about the best therapy for axes in one's cranium and how the Saxons tackled diarrhea. How I ended up with her? What did you think? Coincidence! On my first visit to the Great Hall in Winchester, (with the eleventh century version of the Round Table on one of the walls) she gave demos with herbs. "You come often over here?," I asked. "Once a year" was the reply. Since then I am I try to visit her every time I'm in te neighborhood. She lives in Calne (Wiltshire) |
uitgebloeid koortskruid langs de boorden van de Rupel begin september, het tijdstip van de ontvoering .
In de roman staat koortskruid voor het vrouwelijke element, genezing, zachtheid. Gherwina de kruidenvrouw van Muizen die overleeft tussen haar ontvoerders omdat ze zich onmisbaar kan maken door haar kennis en helende talenten.