SC - Betony

[Jenne Heise]

> I'm fiddling with different oxymels for an A&S entry, and one of the
> Anglo-Saxon ones calls for an infusion of betony (a relief "if a man is
> tired after a long journey").  Problem is, I can't seem to lay my hands on
> any betony, which uncaring Cape Town herbalists appear to consider a
> non-essential herb.  Has anyone tasted this herb?  Could anyone suggest
> something that I could substitute to approximate the taste?  The herb is
> also known as wood betony, either stachus betonica or betonica officinalis
> or stachys officinalis (go figure), and the most I know about the taste is
> that Culpeper describes it as "sweet and spicy".

The betony that I have is neither sweet nor spicy... hm.. though it looks like the
pictures. Have you any borage? that's a bit similar.

- -- 
Jadwiga Zajaczkowa, mka Jennifer Heise	      jenne at mail.browser.net
disclaimer: i speak for no-one and no-one speaks for me.
"It's no use trying to be clever-- we are all clever here; just try
to be kind -- a little kind." F.J. Foakes-Jackson