Zone: Inner Walkway (The Kitchen Pharmacy)

Season of Interest: Mid to Late Summer

 (June – August)

The Doctor’s Notes (Medicinal Use)

In the 1800s, Wood Betony was considered a "cure-all." An old saying from the era was, "Sell your coat and buy Betony." Dr. Woodward likely recognized its value for:

• Headache Relief: Often dried and used as a snuff or brewed into tea to treat chronic headaches and migraines.

• Nervous System Tonic: Believed to soothe the "hysteria" or anxiety common in high-stress patients, acting as a mild sedative.

• Digestive Aid: Used to treat "heartburn" and various stomach cramps after heavy meals.

The Household Assistant (Kitchen Use)

While not a primary culinary herb, Betony was extremely useful for the domestic needs of a 19th-century farm:

• Tea Substitute: The dried leaves have a flavor very similar to black tea, making it a popular local substitute when imported tea was too expensive or unavailable.

• Wool Dye: The leaves and stems can produce a chartreuse or yellow dye for home-spun fabrics.

• Modern Resilience: The 'Hummelo' variety is particularly prized today for being deer and rabbit resistant, ensuring the museum gardens stay lush even with local wildlife.

Botanist’s Corner

• Form: Unlike its cousin "Lamb’s Ear," Betony has crisp, dark green, textured leaves that form a tidy basal mound.

• Foliage: The leaves are ovate with scalloped edges, looking remarkably like a mint leaf but much sturdier.

• Flowers: Produces leafless stalks topped with dense, vibrant rose-purple flower spikes that stand straight up, reaching about 18–24 inches.