Wood Betony
Wood Betony (Betonica officinalis) is a perennial herb in the mint family that thrives in woodlands and meadows originating in North Africa, West Asia, and Europe. Not be confused with the same common name Wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis), a completely different plant native to North America.
Revered for over a millennia for restoring spiritual alignment, strengthening personal boundaries, restoring health to mind, body and spirit, and for protection.
Ancient Celtic traditions prized wood betony as one of their most important magical herbs. The plant was grown in sacred groves and involved in seasonal transition rituals to stabilize frenetic energy of the mind, and establish a root anchoring the soul to the earthly realm.
The ancient cultures of the Iberian peninsula, Mediterranean, and Egyptian viewed wood betony as a sacred plant with profound healing properties.
Worn as an amulet that was sewn into a small cloth around the neck, hung over thresholds, or put under one's pillow for shielding against malevolent spirits, hexes, bad omens, psychic attacks, nightmares, and melancholy.said of wood betony that it helped to dispell nightmares, counter love spells, cure "black bile,"
or melancholy, sadness, and imbalances of the digestive and nervous systems.
Hildegard of Bingen said of wood betony that it helped to dispell nightmares, counter love spells, cure "black bile," or melancholy, sadness, and imbalances of the digestive and nervous systems.
Roman chief physician to Emperor Augustus wrote a treatise on wood betony as a cure for more than 47 diseases, and this plant was seen as a panacea.
In Arabic folk traditions wood betony is still a celebrated tonic for the nervous system. In modern Egypt the fresh leaves are made into tea for headaches, nervous tension and anxiety.
Wood betony's herbal energetics are warming, and the taste bitter. It has a beneficial effect on the digestive tract, liver, lungs, circulatory system, nervous system, respiratory tract, reduces inflammation & supports wound healing.
