Stachys officinalis
| Stachys officinalis | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Stachys |
| Species: | S. officinalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Stachys officinalis L. |
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Stachys officinalis, is commonly known as Purple Betony, Betaine (fr), Betonie (ger), Bishopwort, Lousewort, Wild hop, Wood betony (Do not confuse with true Wood Betony (Pedicularis canadensis)), or Bishop's wort.
The name betony is alleged to derive from the ancient Celtic words bew (head) and ton (good), an indication of its use for headaches. The word stachys comes from the Greek, meaning "an ear of grain," and refers to the fact that the inflorescence is often a spike.
Betony is a perennial grassland herb growing to 1 to 2 feet tall. Its leaves are stalked on upright stems, narrowly oval, with a heart-shaped base, with a somewhat wrinkled texture and toothed margins. The calyx is 5-7mm long, with 5 teeth, edged with bristles. The corolla 1-1.5 cm long. Its upper lip flat, almost straight when seen from the side. The anthers stick straight out. It flowers in mid summer from July to September, and is found in dry grassland, meadows and open woods in most of Europe, western Asia and North Africa. In the British Isles it is common in England and Wales, but rare in Ireland and northern Scotland.
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[edit] Folklore
The first reference to Betony occurs in a work by the Roman physician Antonius Musa, who claimed it as effective against sorcery. It was planted in churchyards to prevent activity by ghosts.
The Anglo Saxon Herbal recommends its use to prevent bad dreams. ('frightful nocturnal goblins and terrible sights and dreams'). A Welsh charm prescribes:- to prevent dreaming, take the leaves of betony, and hang about your neck, or else drink the juice on going to bed.[1]
[edit] History
Was commonly grown in physic gardens of apothecaries and monasteries for medicinal purposes.
An Italian proverb advices that you should "Sell your coat and buy Betony." While a Spanish compliment states, "He has as many virtues as Betony."
[edit] Medicinal
Betony was an ingredient of "Pistoja powder," an old remedy for arthritis and gout.[2] It was also claimed to be effective against snake and dog bites, and was believed to be a cure for drunkenness. Richard E. Banks stated that you should "Eat betony or the powder thereof and you cannot be drunken that day."
John Gerard (1597) said that "It maketh a man to pisse well." While Nicholas Culpeper stated that, "...it preserves the liver and bodies of men from the danger of epidemical deseases, and from witchcraft also" and "...this is a precious herb, well worth keeping in your house." He also states that Betony is astrologically ruled by Jupiter and Aries.
Modern herbalists prescribe betony to treat anxiety, gallstones, heartburn, high blood pressure, migraine and neuralgia, and to prevent sweating. It can also be used as an ointment for cuts and sores. Not all of these uses are supported by scientific evidence.
Plants in the Stachys genus exhibit potent anti free radical/antioxidant activity, possibly due to the high levels of polyphenols they contain.[3] The essential oil of Stachys officinalis is antibacterial.[4] The aerial parts contain phenylethanoid glycosides, (betonyosides A-F) and acetoside, acetoside isomer, campneosides II, forsythoside B and leucosceptoside B.[5] The roots contain diterpene glycosides, betonicosides A-D and the diterpene, betonicolide.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ Bonser Wilfrid, "Magical Practices against Elves" Folklore, Vol. 37, No. 4 (Dec. 31, 1926), pp. 350-363
- ^ Literary Notes, The British Medical Journal Vol. 2, No. 2504 (Dec. 26, 1908), p. 1876
- ^ Bilušić Vundać V., Brantner A.H., Plazibat M. "Content of polyphenolic constituents and antioxidant activity of some Stachys taxa" Food Chemistry 2007 104:3 pp. 1277-1281, doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2007.01.036
- ^ Grujic-Jovanovic S., Skaltsa H.D., Marin P., Sokovic M. "Composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oil of six Stachys species from Serbia" Flavour and Fragrance Journal 2004 19:2 (139-144)
- ^ Miyase T., Yamamoto R., Ueno A.,"Phenylethanoid glycosides from Stachys officinalis" Phytochemistry 1996 43:2 (475-479)
- ^ Miyase T., Yamamoto R., Ueno A. ,"Betonicosides A-D and betonicolide, diterpenoids from the roots of Stachys officinalis" Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 1996 44:8 (1610-1613)
- Howard, Michael. Traditional Folk Remedies (century 1987), p104.
- Lippert, W. & Podlech, D. Wildflowers of Britain & Europe. Collins Nature Guides 1994.
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