PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS WOOD BETONY/825

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: The drug is used for stomach pains, delayed

menstruation, gout, whooping cough and asthma.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages.

Prolonged skin contact with the freshly harvested plant can

lead to slow-healing blisters and cauterizations due to the

formation of protoanemonine. which is severely irritating to

skin and mucous membranes. If taken internally, severe

irritation to the gastrointestinal tract and urinary drainage

passages, as well as colic and diarrhea, are possible.

Symptomatic treatment for external contact should consist of

irrigation with diluted potassium permanganate solution

followed by mucilage.

OVERDOSAGE

In case of internal contact, administer gastric lavage fol-

lowed by activated charcoal. Death by asphyxiation follow-

ing the intake of large quantities of protoanemonine-forming

plants has been observed in animal experiments. The

ingestion of 30 freshly harvested plants is considered the

fatal level for humans.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: The drug can be found in dilute

homeopathic preparations of the mother tincture.

LITERATURE

Bonora A et al., PH 26:2277. 1987.

Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur

Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlags-

Ges Stuttgart 1997.

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen): Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug

Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.

Ruijgrok HWL, PM 11:338-347. 1963.

Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.

Wood Betony

Betonica officinalis

TRADE NAMES

Wood Betony Herb Liquid

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the herb, including

the basal leaves.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are crimson and labiate in

terminal, spike-like, irregular formation. The calyx, with 5

even, triangular tips, has long ciliate hairs and is shorter than

the corolla tube. The corolla is curled downward, and the

white tube has no ring of hair. The upper lip is erect, and the

lower lip is 3-lobed .with a broad middle lobe. There are 4

stamens.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant grows to a height of about

30 to 100 cm. The stem is erect, unbranched, quadrangular,

bristly-haired and usually only has 2 distal pairs of leaves.

The basal leaves are rosette-like. The leaves are elongate-

ovate with a cordate base and crenate. The lower ones are

larger and long-petioled, and the upper ones are smaller and

shorter.

Habitat: The plant grows in Europe.

Production: Wood Betony is the flowering plant of Betonica

officinalis collected from June to August at flowering time.

The herb, including the basal leaves, is collected and dried in

the shade at a maximum temperature of 40° C.

Not to be Confused With: Stachys alpina

Other Names: Betony, Bishopswort

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Betaine: including betonicine [(-)-oxystachydrine), (-)- sta-

chydrine), ((+)oxystachydrinej

Caffeic acid derivatives: including chlorogenic acid, isochlo-

rogenic acid, rosemary acid iridoid glycosides

Diterpene lactone

Iridoids: iridoid glycosides, including harpagide

Flavonoids

EFFECTS

The drug is said to act as a tranquilizer, a disinfectant and an

astringent. It contains glycosides with hypotensive

characteristics.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Wood Betony is an astringent. As an

expectorant, it is used for coughs, bronchitis and asthma. It is