Betonica, Betony
Chiron, Serratula
Dioscorides Materia Medica, Ruellio, 1549
Kurtzes Handtbuchlein, Ryff, 1599
Medical Botany, Woodville, 1810
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Botanical name:
Betonica officinalis
Parts used:
Herb; flower
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Bitter, pungent
discusses, attenuates, opens, cleanses
Classification:
2G. CLEANSING. 2T. GLUTINATE
3C. ALEXIPHARMIC. 3E. DIURETIC. 3G. EMMENAGOGUE. 3M. ARTHRITIC. 3O. EMETIC 3P. MASTICATORIES & STERNUTATORIES
4a. CEPHALIC. 4b. OPTHALMIC. 4f. SPLENETIC. 4g. HEPATIC. 4h. NEPHRITIC. 4i. UTERINE
Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Cold, Resists Poison:
-preserves from Epidemic diseases
-Cold, Flu, all types of Fever
-acute aches and body pains, acute Headache from Wind-Cold
-Venomous Bites, Rabid Dog bites and ‘Deadly Poisons’ (3 drams with wine, Dioscorides)
-taken before a Deadly Poison, Dioscorides said there would be no harm
2. Clears Wind, Calms the Mind and Nerves:
-Cephalic; ‘chiefly for Head diseases’.
-Headaches (specific), Vertigo, Migraine, and Neuralgia of the Head and Face, Paralysis, Numbness, Dizziness, Spasms, Convulsions
-Nervousness, Stress, Anxiety (especially with indigestion), Insomnia, Dream-disturbed Sleep
3. Moves Qi, Opens Obstructions:
-distention over the Liver or Spleen; Liver congestion; Sclerosis
-Jaundice, Hepatitis
-Indigestion, Heartburn (chew and swallow)
4. Moves the Qi and Blood, promotes Menstruation:
-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea, Menstrual cramps; delayed or difficult Menstruation
-Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) (Chevallier)
-‘Betony, in doses of one drachma to three cyathi of wine, is taken for various affections of the uterus, as also directly after childbirth’ (Pliny)
5. Clears Wind-Damp, promotes Urine:
-difficulty or painful Urination, Cystitis
-Kidney or Bladder pain (since Dioscorides)
-Rheumatism, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sciatica (since Dioscorides)
6. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-Cough, Wheezing, Asthma, Bronchitis, Tuberculosis
-coughing of foul sputum (powder taken with Honey or Hydromel
7. Stops Bleeding:
-bleeding of the Lungs, Stomach, Bladder, Bowels, Uterus
-Spitting Blood (Dioscorides)
-taken with Wine for heavy menstruation (Hildegard)
8. Promotes Vomiting:
-1 dram of the root with hydromel purges Phlegm by vomit (Dioscorides)
9. Externally:
-chronic Sores, Wounds, Ulcers (int. and ext.)
-applied to severed nerves
-draws thorns, splinters and bits of broken bone
-used as a snuff to promote Sneezing
Dose:
Infusion: 2–4 grams (1 teaspoonful)
Brief Decoction: 3–9 grams (per day)
Powder: 1–4 grams
Main Combinations:
Betony & Vervain
Betony & Hyssop
Betony & Sage
1. Wind-Cold diseases of the Head; Vertigo, Headache, Sinusitis:
i. Betony with … available in PRO version
ii. Betony with … available in PRO version
iii. Betony with … available in PRO version
iv. Betony with … available in PRO version
2. Headache:
i. Betony with … available in PRO version
ii. Betony with … available in PRO version
iii. tension headaches, Betony with … available in PRO version
iv. Headache and Nerve disorders, Betony … available in PRO version
3. Rhinitis, Hayfever:
i. Betony with … available in PRO version
ii. Betony with … available in PRO version
4. Tinnitus and Menieres Disease, combine Betony with … available in PRO version
5. To clear the Eyes and benefit the Sight:
i. Betony with … available in PRO version
ii. Betony with … available in PRO version
6. Vertigo:
i. Betony with … available in PRO version
ii. Betony with … available in PRO version
7. To strengthen Memory, Betony with … available in PRO version
8. Obstruction of the Spleen, decoct Betony with … available in PRO version
9. Spitting Blood:
i. Betony with … available in PRO version
ii, Betony … available in PRO version
10. Edema, Betony with … available in PRO version
11. To promote Menstruation, Betony with … available in PRO version
12. Plaster for Fractures (especially for Skull fractures), and foul Sores and Ulcers: Betony with … available in PRO version
13. Ointment for Back pain, Betony with … available in PRO version
14. Head wounds, apply Betony with … available in PRO version
15. Toothache, decoct in vinegar Betony with … available in PRO version
Major Formulas:
Betony Infusion Compound
Decoction to Warm the Head
Decoction to Promote Menstruation (Turner)
Syrup of Betony (Pharmacopoeia Augustana)
Syrup of Betony (Bononiense)
Cautions:
Generally safe.
Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water of the Leaf or Flower, Conserve of the Flowers, a Simple or Compound Syrup, Salt of the Ashes
Uses of Betony from HERBARIUM of APULEIUS:
i. For monstrous nocturnal visitors and frightful sights and dreams.
ii. If a mans Head be broken
iii. For sore of Eyes
iv. For sore of Ears
v. For dimness of Eyes
vi. For bleared Eyes
vii. For strong blood-running from the Nose
viii. For Toothache
ix. For sore of Side
x. For sore of the Broad of the Loins
xi. For sore of Belly
xii. In case a mans inwards be too costive
xiii. In case blood gush up through a mans Mouth
xiv. In case a man have a mind not to be drunken
xv. In case a pustule (carbuncle) is going to settle on a man
xvi. In case a man be inwardly Ruptured
xvii. In case a man become Tired with much riding or walking
xviii. In case a man be out of Health or feel Nausea
xix. That a mans meat may easily Digest
xx. In case a man cannot retain his meat
xxi. For sore of Inwards, or if they be swollen
xxii. For taking of Poison
xxiii. For bite of Snake
xxiv. Again, for bite of Snake
xxv. For bite of Mad Dog
xxvi. In case a mans Throat be sore or any part of his neck
xxvii. For sore of Loins, and if a mans thigh ache
xxviii. For the Hot Fever
xxix. For Foot disease
(Herbarium of Apuleius c. 1050, taken out of Leechdoms, Wortcunning, and Starcraft of Early England, Rev. O. Cockayne, 1864)
