Meet Wood Betony

Species: Betonica Officinalis

Common Names: Betony, Bishop Wort, Brewton, Common Hedgenettle, Purple Betony, and Woundwort

Family: Lamiaceae, mint family

Parts of Plants Used for Medicinal Purposes: Dried aerial parts

Actions & Properties:

• Nerve tonic

• Adaptogen

• Sedative

• Analgesic

• Vulnerary

• Hypotensive

• Appetite stimulant

Indications:

• Supports nervous system

• Eases stress, anxiety, & depression

• Promotes relaxation

• Eases headaches & migraines

• Eases stress causing pain or tension

• Relaxes skeletal muscular system

• Supports pain relief

• Heals wounds

• Can help lower blood pressure

• Stimulates appetite

• Soothes digestive track

Contraindications:

· Moderate interaction with medications for high blood pressure.

· May lower blood pressure; therefore, be mindful for those monitoring blood pressure.

· Stop use two weeks before a scheduled surgery.

· Typically, safe during pregnancy and breast feeding.

Chemical Constituents: Tannins (up to 15%), saponins, alkaloids including betonicine, stachydrene, & trigonelline

Energetics (Sensation, Chakras, and Taste):

· Sensations: Bitter, aromatic, warming

· Chakra: Solar plexus

· Taste: Slightly bitter and earthy

The Magic of Meadowsweet

History & Magic:

Meadowsweet is considered sacred by many Celtic cultures for relieving respiratory diseases, digestive issues, heartburn, nausea, and sometimes infections. This Celtic ally is also taken to support the immune system in healthy bodies, in addition to relieving illnesses and systems.

There’s also folkloric sayings and traditions inspired by Meadowsweet. Some believe that the intense scent of the plant could cause an unawakenable slumber and thus it was unlucky to bring Meadowsweet indoors. This presumably links to the common use of Meadowsweet as a ‘grave’ flower.

On the other side of the spectrum, Meadowsweet, or “bridewort,” has been traditionally used to symbolize courtship and matrimony.

Flower Essence:

“I am open to love. All love resides within my heart. I deeply and completely love and accept myself.”

The Magic of Wood Betony

Wood Betony has powerful magical properties including protection against the evil eye, alleviating self-harm, and initiating prophetic dreams. It heals and protects both internal and external conflicts. While Wood Betony is known as a solar plexus herb, its powers exceed with grounding. It’s understood that the magical and medicinal properties work congruently and eases anxiety and pain with energetic healing. “Wood Betony is a remedy which helps establish rootedness, connectedness, earthiness, and groundedness. It is a plant for people who are cut off from the earth or their bodies. It strengthens the solar plexus – the place that helps us feel connected – and through the solar plexus it strengthens the stomach and the rest of the nervous system, including the brain. Through this general strengthening property, Wood Betony enhances the actions of diverse organs – lungs, liver, gallbladder, intestines, kidneys and uterus. By strengthening the solar plexus and helping people to feel grounded, it has an impact on psychological health which helps explain its magical uses,” – Mathew Wood, 1997