Betony The Healing HerbWritten by Judi Singleton
Stachys officinalis common names: Betony, Synonyms and Common names: Betonica officinalis, Stachys officinalis, Bishopswort, lousewort, purple betony Evergreen Perennial Ht: 2' - 3' Wood Betony is a hardy perennial that likes full sun to partial shade, and is usually self-sowing once established.Native to Europe, wood betony is now planted in many parts of world with temperate climates. The primary portions of plant that are used as medicine are leaves and flowers, though historically root has also been used. There are many similar species originating from Eurasia, including Stachys sieboldii (Chinese artichoke, kan lu) and S. atherocalyx (hedge nettle).Betony is used as a substitute for black tea. The infusion resembles taste of black tea and is caffeine-free. It helps relieve headache. This is a wonderful flowering perennial it blooms in spring with lavender-pink spikes. There are five species of Stachys growing wild in this country - once much-valued Betony (S. Betonica); Marsh Stachys, or Clown's Woundwort (S. palustris); true Woundwort (S. Germanica), a doubtful native, occurring occasionally on limestone soils in England, but very common on Continent, where dense covering of its leaves was at one time in rustic surgery employed in place of lint for dressing wounds, low-creeping Field Stachys (S. arvensis); and Hedge Stachys, or Hedge Woundwort (S. sylvatica), perhaps commonest of them all. Augustus, wrote a long treatise, showing it was a certain cure for no less than fortyseven diseases. Throughout centuries, faith in its virtues as a panacea for all ills was thoroughly ingrained in popular estimation. It was largely cultivated in physic gardens, both of apothecaries and monasteries, and may still be found growing about sites of these ancient buildings. Robert Turner, a physician writing in latter half of seventeenth century, recounts nearly thirty complaints for which Betony was considered efficacious, and adds, 'I shall conclude with words I have found in an old manuscript under virtues of it: "More than all this have been proved of Betony." ' In addition to its medicinal virtues, Betony was endowed with power against evil spirits. On this account, it was carefully planted in churchyards and hung about neck as an amulet or charm, sanctifying, as Erasmus tells us, 'those that carried it about them,' and being also 'good against fearful visions' and an efficacious means of 'driving away devils and despair.' An old writer, Apelius, says: 'It is good whether for man's soul or for his body; it shields him against visions and dreams, and wort is very wholesome, and thus thou shalt gather it, in month of August without use of iron; and when thou hast gathered it, shake mold till nought of it cleave thereon, and then dry it in shade very thoroughly, and with its root altogether reduce it to dust: then use it and take of it when thou needst.' Many extravagant superstitions grew up round Betony, one, of very ancient date, was that serpents would fight and kill each other if placed within a ring composed of it; and others declared that even wild beasts recognized its efficacy and used it if wounded, and that stags, if wounded with a dart, would search out Betony, and, eating it, be cured. The active constituents of wood betony have not been clearly identified. The tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, and volatile oil found in this plant and its cousins may all contribute to its activity. Almost no research has been conducted on wood betony. Some Russian research in humans apparently suggests it may promote lactation, though details of these studies are not readily available.
| | Dealing with the Difficult ManagerWritten by Susan Dunn, MA, Emotional Intelligence Coach
When you have an impossible manager, quit? Sometimes that’s impossible. Here are some things to consider if you must remain there.1.Get a coach. Clarify what’s going on and come up with strategies. Learn more about yourself and how to deal with others. That’s a win-win. Don’t leave any situation without learning from it. 2.The company culture. If norm is hostility and incompetence, you won’t be changing it, and you can count on it getting worse. Should your particular manager leave, another one similar will be hired. 3.Everything else is excellent. If there’s something important or meaningful you’re getting out of job, stay, but don’t get lulled in to staying forever. It will get worse, not better, and eventually balance will tip, so be prepared. 4.Your outlook Your attitude can always improve a situation. Work with your coach, and surround yourself with positive people. Jobs and managers come and go. The only disastrous outcome would be for you to become cynical and pessimistic about yourself, life, or people in general. 5.Are you in loop? There’s power in numbers. Sometimes your colleagues can make up for a bad manager. 6.Age and career potential of manager. Use your gut instincts to evaluate situation. Someone new may not last. If young and new, chances are even greater. If they’re middle-aged and dug in like a tick, they’ll endure and you won’t. Use your gut to tell you who’s on-the-move and who has moved in to stay. If they’re liked by superiors, should there be a confrontation, they’ll be staying, you’ll be leaving.
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