From the Hedgewitch's Journal: Betony a Medieval Miracle
Betony: The Herb That Was Said to Heal Both Body and Spirit "If the hedgewitch could choose only one herb for her basket, many medieval healers believed betony would be enough." Long before pharmacies lined our streets, there was a saying repeated throughout medieval Europe: "Sell your coat and buy betony." It sounds extravagant today, but to medieval physicians, monks, and village cunning women, it was practical advice. Betony was considered one of the finest medicinal herbs in Europe, so highly prized that some writers claimed it could cure nearly every ailment known to humankind. While modern herbalists no longer regard it as a miracle plant, betony's long history reveals something fascinating about medieval medicine—and why this humble wildflower earned a place in nearly every physic garden. The Herb of the Monastery Wood betony ( Stachys officinalis ), sometimes called bishopwort, is a perennial native to Europe. With its square stems, soft green leaves, ...
