Wood Betony Herb Cut & Sifted Cert. Organic (Betonica officinalis) 1 lb: C

This is Starwest's nitrogen-flushed double wall silverfoil pack. Used as an infusion, decoction, tincture and smoke. Betony is a relaxing nervine with a reputation as a system strenghtener. Traditionally used for anxiety and tension. Good for hypertension headaches. Betony contains relatively high amounts of tannin (15%), explaining its astringent activity. It also contains alkaloids (including betonicine, trigonelline and stachydrine), betaine, choline, saponins and glycosides. One glycoside has been shown to lower blood pressure, supporting its use as a treatment for anxiety and headaches. Grieve's classic, 'A Modern Herbal': 'Betony was once the sovereign remedy for all maladies of the head, and its properties as a nervine and tonic are still acknowledged, though it is more frequently employed in combination with other nervines than alone.' 'It is useful in hysteria, palpitations pain in the head and face, neuralgia and all nervous affections. In the Medicina Britannica (1666) we read: 'I have known the most obstinate headaches cured by daily breakfasting for a month or six weeks on a decoction of Betony made with new milk and strained.' 'As an aromatic, it has also astringent and alterative action, and combined with other remedies is used as a tonic in dyspepsia and as an alterative in rheumatism, scrofula and impurities of the blood.' 'The weak infusion forms a very acceptable substitute for tea, and in this way is extensively used in many localities. It has somewhat the taste of tea and all the good qualities of it, without the bad ones. To make Betony tea, pour a pint of boiling water on an ounce of the dried herb. A wineglassful of this decoction three times a dayproves a benefit against languid nervous headaches.' 'The dried herb may also be smoked as tobacco, combined with Eyebright and Coltsfoot, for relieving headache.' 'A pinch of the powdered herb will provoke violent sneezing. The dried leaves formed an ingredient in Rowley's British Herb Snuff, which was at one time quite famous for headaches.' 'The fresh leaves are said to have an intoxicating effect. They have been used to dye wool a fine yellow.'