The true betony is an almost forgotten medicinal plant. It was already used in ancient times.
Occurrence and cultivation of the true betony
The habitat of the true betony extends from Europe through the Mediterranean region to the area of Tienshan. In addition, the medicinal zest grows in some places in North Africa. The true betony (Betonica officinalis) belongs to the genus of betonias (Betonica) and is a member of the labiates family (Lamiaceae). It is also known under the names of medicinal cistus, cicatrizae, toothwort, fleabane, and peacock flower. The Betony is a herbaceous perennial plant. Its height of growth usually ranges from 30 to 80 centimeters. The almost glabrous erect plant stem is bluntly square. Its adjacent hairs reach an average length of 1.5 millimeters. Some pairs of the stem leaves have a cross-opposite arrangement on the stem. The medicinal zest has five to ten bracts, which have similarity with deciduous leaves. The flowering period of the plant takes place in the months of June to September. Among the distinctive features of the true betony is its beautiful appearance. The habitat of the true betony extends from Europe through the Mediterranean region to the Tienshan area. In addition, the medicinal zest grows in some places in North Africa. The medicinal plant prefers to thrive in boggy meadows, lean mountain pastures, heaths and in mixed deciduous forests, which have moist and base-rich soil. It is also important to have a regular alternation of light and shade. The harvest time is in late summer.
Effect and application
The medicinal cistus has some ingredients that have health-promoting effects. These include bitter substances and tannins such as stachydrine. Also present are the essential oils, choline, turicin and betonicin. The ingredients primarily exert anti-inflammatory effects. Despite its beauty, the true betony is no longer used in traditional medicine. However, it is used all the more in folk medicine. The leaves of the medicinal cistus, which have a bitter-tart taste, and the flowers, which have a pleasant odor, are used for therapeutic purposes. The root of the plant can also be used medicinally, but it has a scratchy unpleasant taste. One of the most common forms of administration of the true betony is tea, which is prepared from its leaves. For this purpose, the user brews 5 grams of the plant leaves with 200 milliliters of hot boiled water. This mixture is left to infuse for about 15 minutes. In order that the therapeutically useful substances do not volatilize, it is recommended to use a closed vessel. It is also possible to boil the volatile substances in goat milk. In this way the substances are bound by their fat. The tea can be used both internally and externally. Another form of administration is the medicinal zesty juice. Freshly mixed with rose oil, it is considered effective against earache. Together with honey juice, on the other hand, it is considered to have therapeutic effects against jaundice and dropsy. For the treatment of lung diseases or nervous weakness, medicinal zest powder can be used. This is obtained from the flowers and leaves of the true betony and administered three times a day in the dose of a knife tip. For cough and bronchial asthma, syrup of medicinal zest can be used to promote expectoration of mucus. The syrup is made from 0.5 liters of distilled water with 270 grams of rock candy. Folk medicine also administered a decoction of betony mixed with a little wine to treat chest complaints. If the patient suffers from an inflammation of the throat or the oral cavity, the medicinal zest tea can also be used for gargling or rinsing. The true betony can be collected by oneself. In this country, the medicinal plant can be found in meadows, bushy hills and sparse forests. Those who prefer to purchase the medicinal ciestus can find numerous offers in herbal shops.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
Even in ancient times, doctors appreciated the healing properties of the true betony. Thus, its therapeutic benefits were already described by ancient authors in herbal books. The Roman physician Antonius Musa, who served as personal physician to Emperor Augustus, attributed 46 different medicinal uses to betony.But even in the Middle Ages, the positive effects of the true betony did not go unmentioned. Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) described numerous magical indications, which could not be proven in later times. For example, the betony worn as an amulet should also work against the dreaded plague. The folk medicine used the real Betonie against the most different illnesses. These included mucous lungs, epilepsy, rheumatism, asthma, heartburn, kidney problems, bladder problems and diarrhea. It was also used to treat earache, dropsy, jaundice, nervous weakness, constipation, gout, whooping cough and poisoning. It was also used externally to treat wounds, varicose veins and abscesses. It was also used to treat gum problems and inflammation of the throat. For joint sprains, crushed leaves of the plant were applied to the affected areas. In modern times, homeopathy also relies on the healing power of the medicinal zest. It is used in the treatment of bronchial asthma, headaches, dizziness, pain in the upper abdomen, respiratory catarrh, neuritis, paresis, weakness and mild mental disorders. When administering true betony, it is necessary to pay attention to certain side effects. For example, overdose of powder obtained from the root may cause vomiting. Possible further side effects could only be insufficiently transmitted and therefore not exactly examined. For this reason, in principle, a moderate administration of the healing ciests is recommended.