Wood Betony

History:

Wood Betony is a pretty woodland plant with hairy, square stems that bear aromatic, round-lobed leaves and dense spikes of very rich pink, red or purple flowers arranged in dense whorls that bloom in summertime. This hardy perennial may reach three feet in height and may be found growing wild in meadows or cultivated (particularly in old European gardens), thriving in rich, well-drained, neutral-to-acid soil in sun or partial shade. Native to Europe, Wood Betony is now planted in many parts of the world with temperate climates, and there are several related species found in Asia. In ancient Egypt, Wood Betony was endowed with magical powers and was also highly esteemed in antiquity in many herbal preparations. The botanical genus, Stachys, is a Greek word, signifying a "spike," which aptly describes the plant's distinctive mode of flowering. The herb's English name, Betony, is said to be derived from the Latin name, Vetonica (according to the first-century Roman scholar, Pliny), referring to a people from the Iberian Peninsula, called the Vettones, and this may also be the basis of its original botanical name, Betonica officinalis. Modern scholars, however, claim that the word is derived from a primitive Celtic form of bew (head) and ton (good), because of the plant's historical use for the head. Wood Betony was highly esteemed as a medicinal herb by the Greeks and Romans. Antonius Musa, a physician to Caesar Augustus, composed a long treatise, prescribing Wood Betony as a support for almost fifty health issues, including plague, liver health - and evil spells. In Anglo Saxon times, Wood Betony continued to be an important therapeutic herb and was once considered the sovereign therapy for the head.  It also endured as a magical herb; people wore it as a protective emblem, the same use that continued into Medieval England, when it was used to dispel bad dreams of devils and demons. Wood Betony was listed in many early respected "Herbals," including the Medicina Britannica of 1666,  for the head, a use that has been echoed through the ages. The esteemed seventeenth-century herbalist and physician, Nicholas Culpeper, noted that Wood Betony "helpeth those that have continual pains in the head....those that cannot digest their meat...have weak stomachs or sour belchings. It helpeth the jaundice....the gout."  The dried leaves were sometimes included in herbal tobaccos and snuff, most notably the medicinal snuff, "Rowley's British Herb Snuff," which was quite famous for the head. The leaves were also employed as a fine yellow dye for wool. Today, although it is not as popular as it once was, Wood Betony is still used in herbal preparations and included in many herbal teas for healthy nerve and head support and as a relaxant. Wood Betony is a "bitter," astringent herb, and the leaves and flowers are used in herbal preparations, although historically the root has also been used. Some of the constituents in Wood Betony include magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, astringent tannin, glycosides, saponins, choline, alkaloids (betonicine, stachydrine, trigonelline and betaine), caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid.

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) capsules, two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Wood Betony Herbal Supplement is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women. It is said that Wood Betony may take months before it shows results. Overuse (many times the recommended dosage) may cause diarrhea and upset stomach.

Capsule Information:
Our Wood Betony supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules.(click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs.

Special Note:
If any medical terms on our website are confusing or unknown, we have compiled a small dictionary of terms for you. Click here for our Definitions, and go directly to the word in question for further information.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.