Oh, do! Although it's not a currently popular herb with the general public, I think it has some special benefits to those of us with aging digestive and nervous systems. It also tastes lovely.
This is such an interesting post Leenie! Great how you have brought in how others have understood Betony over the years, in addition to your experimenting. Also very interested to read Matthew Wood's thoughts on the use of Betony to stimulate and rejuvenate the Solar Plexus. Very interesting! I recently have added some exercises to tone this area of the body by simply drawing one's mid-section in as if you were pulling it away from an attack. Quick drawing in and then slowly exhaling. From Wood's description of where the solar plexus lies and our need to give it our attention, I feel I am doing a good thing, which might be followed with a cup of mildly brewed Betony tea. Thanks so much for how you share your herbal knowledge with us!
I like that exercise! Do you do it seated or standing or lying down? Or just wherever and however? I think that would be a good one to add to my stretches when I am at my desk. I'm glad you are going to read more of Matthew Wood's book because he really goes much deeper and it is all so useful.
Hi Leenie! I started doing the exercise while lying down as a way to relax. I should have stated 'upper' mid-section. Now I tend to do it while standing at the kitchen sink peeling veggies or doing the dishes. Anyplace that you are in a relaxed position should give a certain sense of being re-vitalized. Quite by accident I have also found that it helps me to make it to the bathroom 'in time' too. lol I will find a copy of Matthew Wood's book and some Betony! :-)
I love that you put the list of binomial changes that plants have gone through as genetic testing has gotten better and scientist are better able to see the family linage . The latest is Rosemary, which used to be Rosmarinus offinalis, and is now Salvia rosmarinus. Though I found it annoying, I'm learning to adapt to the changes. Thank you for your in depth articles and for sharing all your knowledge.
I love that you quote Matthew Wood, Leenie, as he drew me to study with him in a dream, joining the bells my ancestors and guides were clanging in my not fully awakened self last year! I made a note from a class with Matthew, and he gave a case history. His Indian mentor was going to go to the convenience store for junk food. Matthew thought this a poor idea and gave him wood betony and it made him 'more connected to the Earth and more down to Earth'.
He also said in a plant walk that it is indicated for 'old people, who are getting spaced out and losing connection to the Earth'.
I haven't worked with it, but I remember noting these attributes thinking it may help my daughter's cat, who is getting older and stares off into space!
Thank you so much for sharing this! I'm adding those notes to my Wood Betony herb journal pages. It's interesting because when I first started writing this edition of my newsletter, I was thinking how it would be a mild, relatively uninteresting herb to most people. Just like this unassuming, underestimated herb, I was absolutely wrong. It really is an herb for our times and I'm glad to be part of cheering him on. Matthew Wood is an interesting teacher and, honestly, quite brilliant.
Oh, as I was just out running, pondering Wood Betony in the background, I suppose, while listening to a sobriety podcast, the idea of helping people who have cognitive dissonance came to mind. I certainly had that for decades, wanting to stop drinking, but then going right on doing it. It seems like a form of ungrounding body from mind that perhaps stachys could help. Hmm. So many interesting places these plants take us!
A wonderful essay on Betony! I have never grown, studied or used this herb but in my new herb garden I am planning, I am adding it to my list.
Oh, do! Although it's not a currently popular herb with the general public, I think it has some special benefits to those of us with aging digestive and nervous systems. It also tastes lovely.
This is such an interesting post Leenie! Great how you have brought in how others have understood Betony over the years, in addition to your experimenting. Also very interested to read Matthew Wood's thoughts on the use of Betony to stimulate and rejuvenate the Solar Plexus. Very interesting! I recently have added some exercises to tone this area of the body by simply drawing one's mid-section in as if you were pulling it away from an attack. Quick drawing in and then slowly exhaling. From Wood's description of where the solar plexus lies and our need to give it our attention, I feel I am doing a good thing, which might be followed with a cup of mildly brewed Betony tea. Thanks so much for how you share your herbal knowledge with us!
I like that exercise! Do you do it seated or standing or lying down? Or just wherever and however? I think that would be a good one to add to my stretches when I am at my desk. I'm glad you are going to read more of Matthew Wood's book because he really goes much deeper and it is all so useful.
Hi Leenie! I started doing the exercise while lying down as a way to relax. I should have stated 'upper' mid-section. Now I tend to do it while standing at the kitchen sink peeling veggies or doing the dishes. Anyplace that you are in a relaxed position should give a certain sense of being re-vitalized. Quite by accident I have also found that it helps me to make it to the bathroom 'in time' too. lol I will find a copy of Matthew Wood's book and some Betony! :-)
I love that you put the list of binomial changes that plants have gone through as genetic testing has gotten better and scientist are better able to see the family linage . The latest is Rosemary, which used to be Rosmarinus offinalis, and is now Salvia rosmarinus. Though I found it annoying, I'm learning to adapt to the changes. Thank you for your in depth articles and for sharing all your knowledge.
Sharing my love of plants is truly and pleasure and I’m so thankful you read and enjoy the newsletter!
I love that you quote Matthew Wood, Leenie, as he drew me to study with him in a dream, joining the bells my ancestors and guides were clanging in my not fully awakened self last year! I made a note from a class with Matthew, and he gave a case history. His Indian mentor was going to go to the convenience store for junk food. Matthew thought this a poor idea and gave him wood betony and it made him 'more connected to the Earth and more down to Earth'.
He also said in a plant walk that it is indicated for 'old people, who are getting spaced out and losing connection to the Earth'.
I haven't worked with it, but I remember noting these attributes thinking it may help my daughter's cat, who is getting older and stares off into space!
Thank you so much for sharing this! I'm adding those notes to my Wood Betony herb journal pages. It's interesting because when I first started writing this edition of my newsletter, I was thinking how it would be a mild, relatively uninteresting herb to most people. Just like this unassuming, underestimated herb, I was absolutely wrong. It really is an herb for our times and I'm glad to be part of cheering him on. Matthew Wood is an interesting teacher and, honestly, quite brilliant.
Oh, as I was just out running, pondering Wood Betony in the background, I suppose, while listening to a sobriety podcast, the idea of helping people who have cognitive dissonance came to mind. I certainly had that for decades, wanting to stop drinking, but then going right on doing it. It seems like a form of ungrounding body from mind that perhaps stachys could help. Hmm. So many interesting places these plants take us!