Herb profile: Betony/Stachys officinalis

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Okay guys- here's a picture and the right profile. For Betony/stachys officinalis BETONY Stachys officinalis (L.) Trev.(family Lamiaceae) DESCRIPTION: The plant is a square-stemmed perennial with a hairy-leaved rosette and a spike of pink or purple flowers that can grow up to three feet in height. RANGE: Betony is widely cultivated in herb gardens and is native to the cleared meadows of Europe.APPLICATION: It is highly valued in folk medicine for its properties as an astringent used to treat diarrhea and ease gum, mouth, and throat irritation. An infusion or tea made from the leaves is either drunk or used as a gargle or mouthwash, depending on the condition being treated.COMMENTS: Its astringent action comes from its 15 percent tannins, an effective treatment for mucous membrane irritation and diarrhea. Overdosing may cause excessive irritation of the stomach. Research is forthcoming on the properties of the more than 300 species of stachys. Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com