Betony - Benefits And Uses of Betony
The basal leaves of the betony, which Contain betaine, caffeic acid derivatives, and flavonoids, are the medicinal part of the herb. They’re collected and dried in shade at a maximum temperature of 40° F (4.4° C).
Betony contains 15% tannins, which give the herb its astringent effects. Mixtures of flavonoid glycosides have hypotensive and sedative effects. Stachydrine is a systolic depressant and acts to decrease rheumatic pain.
Betony is available as a tincture, powder, or in 450 mg capsules.
Benefits And Uses of Betony
Betony is used as an antidiarrheal, a sedative, and an expectorant for coughs, bronchitis, and asthma. It’s also used to treat catarrh, heartburn, gout, nervousness, kidney stones, and inflammation of the bladder.
Betony is used with other herbs such as comfreyor linden as a sedative, a mild hypotensive for treating neuralgia and anxiety, and a decongestant for treating sinus headache and congestion.
Administration
- Oral use: 1 to 2 g every day in three divided doses
- Topical use: Extract or infusion applied to skin as an astringent or as a treatment for wounds.
Side Effects of Betony
Betony may increase the intended therapeutic effect of antihypertensives and sedatives. It produces additive effects when used with central nervous system depressants. The tincture contains up to 40% ethyl alcohol and may cause a disulfiram-like reaction if used with disulfiram or metronidazole. Betony is associated with additive effects when used with alcohol.
Betony may be associated with GI irritation.Patients who are pregnant or breast feeding should avoid use.
Clinical considerations
- Large oral dosage may cause GI irritation because of the tannin content.
- Don’t confuse betony (Stachys officinalis) with limestone woundwort (Stachys alpina) .
- Warn patient not to exceed the recommended dosage.
- Caution patient that internal use of betony may cause drowsiness.
- If patient is taking betony to treat diarrhea, advise him to consult his health care provider if the diarrhea continues for longer than 2 days.
- If patient is taking betony to treat headache and it doesn’t improve, advise him to discontinue use and consult his health care provider.
- Tell patient to remind prescriber and pharmacist of any herbal or dietary supplement that he’s taking when obtaining a new prescription.
- Advise patient to consult his health care provider before using an herbal preparation because a treatment with proven efficacy may be available.
Research summary
The concepts behind the use of betony and the claims made regarding its effects have not yet been validated scientifically.
Tagged under:betaine betony betony side effects betony uses caffeic acid Herbs Posted by editor on October 7th, 2007 | Filed under Herbs
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