Betony

Botanical Name: Stachys officinalis

Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae) - Mint

Other Names: Betayne, Betonica officinalis, bidney, bishop wort, bitney, coomon betony, herb St fraid, lousewort, wood betony, sentinel of the woods, vetoyu, wild hop, wood betony

Habitat: Woodland, heaths, meadows

Description: Hardy perennial.60cm/2ft. Stems: upright, hairy, square Leaves-round, lobed, hairy. Set in pairs along a hairy stem. Basal leaves up to 7cm long, ovate or obtuse, cordate base Red/purple flowers tight oblong spikes, five lobed calyx June-August. Looks similar to a nettle

Native to: Britain, Europe

Parts Used: Leaves, tops

Cultivation: Slightly acid soil Propagation: Divide roots spring and autumn Harvesting: Just before the flowers bloom, dried in the sun

Actions: Aromatic, asthmatic, astringent, bitter, expectorant, nervine, sedative, tonic

Constituents: Alkaloids: betonicine, stachydrine, trigonelline Diterpenes: betonicosides A-D, betaconolide Betaine, choline, tannins

Combines with: Skullcap

Culinary Uses: Leaves used in tea

Skin: Bruises, cuts

Circulatory, muscle joint: Rheumatism, high blood pressure

Respiratory: Gout, sore throats, asthma, and catarrh

Digestive: Heartburn

Genito-urinary: Bladder, kidney, and gallstones

Immune: Jaundice

Nervous system: Nervousness, neuralgia, and headaches

Other Notes: Said to ward of evil Name possible devired from the Celtic "bewton" meaning good for the head

Was placed in graveyards to stop the spirit of the dead walking

Antonius Musa physician to Angustus Caesar wrote a book on the herb

It is said to be ruled by Jupiter and Aries

May you have more virtues than betony

Sell your coat and buy betony