Concrete

The true betony, also known as the medicinal cistus, is a plant whose parts growing above the ground are dried and used to make medicine. The real betony is used for digestive problems including heartburn, diarrhea and flatulence, for respiratory problems including bronchitis and asthma, for pain including gout pain, headaches and facial pain, and for problems in the urinary tract including bladder and kidney stones, bladder pain and cystitis. It is also used to treat stress and tension, nervousness and epilepsy. In combination with other medicinal herbs, real betony is used to treat nerve pain and anxiety.

How does real betony work?

It is believed that chemicals contained in true betony may lower blood pressure, suggesting that constituents and extracts of this plant may be helpful in the treatment of headaches and anxiety.

How effective is true betony?

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of true betony for bronchitis, asthma, anxiety, epilepsy, heartburn, nerve pain, gout, bladder and kidney stones, bladder pain, cystitis, headaches, tension, facial pain and diarrhea. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of real betony in these areas of application.

Safety and side effects

There is not enough information to say whether true betony is safe and harmless. It may cause stomach problems in some people.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Not enough is known about the use of true betony during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so pregnant and breastfeeding women are better off avoiding products made from this plant.

Surgeries: True betony could affect blood pressure. There are concerns that it may affect blood pressure control during and after surgery. For this reason, it is advisable to avoid the use of real betony during the last 2 weeks before an operation.

Interactions

Care should be taken when combining real betony with the following medications.

Medication for high blood pressure: real betony appears to lower blood pressure. Taking real betony in combination with medication for high blood pressure could result in an excessive drop in blood pressure.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of true betony depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At the present time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for true betonia. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.