Veronica, Paul’s Betony
Speedwell
Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicum, 1640
Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen, Sturm, 1796
Veronica officinalis
(Photo by Kurt Stüber) (Wikimedia)
Botanical name:
Veronica officinalis
Several varieties of Veronica were known and used:
- Male Speedwell (V. officinalis)
- Female Speedwell (or Fluelin)
- Round-leaved
- Cornered-leaved
- Blue-flowered
That growing at the base of Oak trees was accounted best.
Tibetan Medicine uses V. ciliata which appears to be similar in action
Parts used:
Herb; Flower
Temperature & Taste:
Cool, dry. Bitter
Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Heat, Resists Poison:
-Boils, Eczema, Scabs, Itch
-Epidemic Fevers, Plague
-Scrofula
-‘makes the intoxicated people sober again’ (Weinmann, Phytanthoza, 1742)
2. Clears Heat and Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma
-mainly for ‘corrosion’ and obstruction of the Lungs, Consumption
3. Clears Melancholy, Opens Obstructions:
-prepares Melancholy Humor for purging
-hardness or obstructions of the Spleen or Liver
-nervousness
-Dizziness
4. Moves the Blood, Clears Heat, Promotes Healing:
-Vulnerary; famous to cleanse and heal wounds, for bruising and trauma (internally and externally)
-Ruptures, Hernias
5. Regulates Menstruation, Promotes Fertility:
-used for Infertility
-said to ‘abolish sterility in obese women’ (Weinmann, Phytanthoza, 1742)
6. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, Fluid Retention from Heat
-adjunct in Arthritis, Gout and Rheumatism
7. Externally:
-topically for Bruises, Trauma, Wounds
-chronic leg Ulcers, apply the Water of Speedwell
-in douches of Uterine Ulcers and Uterine Cancer
Dose:
POWDER: 1–3 grams;
DECOCTION: 3–9 grams;
Of the JUICE: 1–2 oz.
Main Combinations:
1. To open the Body, clear Heat and Toxin, and prepare the Melancholy Humor for purging, decoct Paul’s Betony with Bugloss root, Chicory root, Agrimony, Borage (as in Decoction to Open the Body)
2. As a Vulnerary, Paul’s Betony with Comfrey root, Plantain, Marshmallow, Sanicle, Licorice, Figs
3. Hernia, Paul’s Betony with Comfrey, Knotgrass and Fennel
4. Bronchitis, Paul’s Betony with Coltsfoot and Plantain
5. Pectoral Powder for Cough and Lung diseases
i. Paul’s Betony with Verbascum and Iceland Moss (Ulrich)
ii. Paul’s Betony with Couch Grass, Yarrow (Pharmacia rationalis, 1806)
iii. Paul’s Betony with Camomile, Sage (Pharmacopoeia Rossica, 1803)
iv. Paul’s Betony with Coltsfoot, Licorice, Marshmallow, Polypody, Fennel (Dispensarium Lippiacum, 1792)
v. Paul’s Betony with Ground Ivy, Coltsfoot, Scabious, Balm, Sage (Formulaire Magistral et Memorial Pharmaceutique, 1823)
6. Lung and Liver disorders, Paul’s Betony with Sanicle and Woodruff (Kraft)
7. Consumption, Paul’s Betony with Blessed Thistle, Ground Ivy, Maidenhair, Licorice
8. Skin disease, Eczema, Age Spots, Paul’s Betony with Heartsease (Fischer)
9. Fibroids, decoct Paul’s Betony with Agrimony, Fumitory and Dodder, and take with Confectio Hamech
10. Infertility: “The Veronica is singularly useful to remove Barrenness: A certain Woman of Quality, after seven Years Barrenness, by my Advice, fays Hoffman, took for several Days the Powder of the Leaves of Speedwell in the Water of the same Plant, and immediately conceived: She afterwards communicated the Advice to some others of her Sex, and to ten or twelve it succeeded according to wish”. (The Compleat Herbal, Tournefort, 1719)
11. Douche for Uterine Cancer, Paul’s Betony with Black Nightshade, Plantain and Barley water, to which White Troches of Rhasis are added (Riverius)
Major Formulas
Cautions:
None noted
Main Preparations used:
Conserves of the Tops, Distilled Water, Syrup of the Juice, Salt of the Ashes
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