WOOD BETONY. Stachys betonica. N.O. Labiatae.
Synonym : Bishopswort.
Habitat : Thickets, woods and shady waysides.
Features : The stem of this well-known wild plant is slender, square and hairy ; it gives off a few distant pairs of rough, oblong leaves with rounded teeth. Purplish flowers, arranged in a terminal, oval spike, bloom in July and August. The roots are white and thready. Bitter to the taste, the odour is slight and pleasant.
Part used : The whole herb.
Action : Aromatic, astringent and alterative.
It is highly recommended for biliousness, stomach cramp and colic, and as a tonic in digestive disorders generally. It is a helpful component of prescriptions in the treatment of rheumatism and blood impurities. A wineglass of the ounce to pint infusion may be taken frequently.
Tilke is interesting on Wood Betony, as his remarks show that the herb was as popular a carminative a hundred years ago as it is to-day : "This herb boiled with wine or water," he tells us, "is good for those who cannot digest their meals, or have belchings and a continual rising in their stomach." WOOD SAGE. Teucrium scorodonia. N.O. Labiatae.
Synonym : Garlic Sage, Wood Germander.
Habitat : Heaths, commons, woods.
Features : Very similar in appearance to the ordinary garden, or culinary sage.
Part used : Herb.
Action : Diaphoretic, astringent, emmenagogue, tonic.
In feverish colds and faulty menstruation clue to chills. Wineglass doses of the 1 ounce to 1 pint infusions are taken warm. Hool tells us that Wood Sage "combined with Comfrey and Ragwort, freely influences the bladder," and that it is "an appetiser of the first order, and as a tonic will be found equal to Gentian." WOOD SORREL. Oxalis acetosella. N.O. Geraniaceae.
Synonym : Allelujah, Cuckoo Sorrel.
Habitat : Woods and other shady situations.
Features : Separate stem for each flower and leaf grows from root ; they are round, slender, smooth, with a pinkish hue lower down. Leaves trifoliate, slightly hairy, yellow-green above, darkish purple underneath. Flowers five-petalled, white, purple veins, one to each slender flower stalk. Taste acid, rather lemon-like.
Part used : Herb.
Action : Diuretic, refrigerant.
Wineglass doses of the 1 ounce to 1 pint boiling water infusion may be given to feverish patients whenever a cooling medicine is desirable. It is also said to work well with other diuretics in certain urinary conditions.
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