Balmony

October 26th, 2007

Botanical Name: Chelone Glabra (LINN.)
Family: N.O. Scrophulariaceae

Synonyms: Chelone. Snake-head. Turtle-head. Turtle-bloom. Shellflower. Salt-rheum Weed. Bitter Herb. Chelone Obliqua. Glatte. White Chelone. The Hummingbird Tree.
Part Used: -The whole fresh herb.Above ground portion; usually collected and dried, but also used fresh.
Habitat: Eastern United States and Canada.

Description–: -This erect little plant, from 2 to 4 feet high, grows sparingly on the margins of swamps, wet woods, and rivers. It is a perennial, smooth herb, bearing opposite, oblong leaves, and short, dense, terminal spikes of two-lipped, white or purplish, cream or rose flowers, the lower lip bearded in the throat and the heart-shaped anthers and filaments woolly. The leaves have a slight somewhat tea-like odour and a markedly bitter taste. They should be planted in pots to prevent the roots from creeping too far.

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The name of the genus Chelone comes from the Greek word meaning a tortoise, from the resemblance of the corolla to a tortoise-head. The whole, fresh plant is chopped, pounded to a pulp, and weighed, and a tincture is prepared with alcohol. The decoction is made with 2 oz. of the fresh herb to a pint.

A perennial plant of the Figwort family usually found growing sparingly in the eastern United States and Canada on the margins of swamps, wet woods and rivers. Native to North America it is an erect plant from 2 to 4 feet high, smooth-stemmed (slightly 4-sided), bearing opposite oblong leaves (stalkless or nearly so and toothed) and short dense terminal spikes of two-lipped white (or purplish) or cream or rose flowers appearing on a spike. The lower lip is bearded in the throat and the heart-shaped anthers and filaments are woolly. Leaves have a slight, somewhat tea-like odor and a very bitter taste.
The name of the genus comes from the Greek and means a “tortoise” from resemblance of the corolla to a tortoise head.

PROPAGATION: By soft tip cuttings in summer or by seed sown under cover in spring or by division in early autumn. The fruit is a capsule.
NEEDS: As an ornamental it requires moist soil in partial shade. It is sometimes erroneously offered in the nursery trade as Penstemon barbatus. Plant in pots to keep it contained and the roots from creeping.

HARVEST: The plants are cut when in flower (July-Sept) and dried for use in infusions, liquid extracts, powders or tinctures. The whole fresh plant is chopped, pounded to a pulp and weighed and a tincture is prepared with alcohol.

SOLVENT: The bitter leaves give their properties to both water and alcohol.

--Constituents: The bitter leaves communicate their properties to both water and alcohol. Chelonin is an eclectic medicine prepared from Chelone, and is a brown, bitter powder given as a tonic laxative.

Properties : Laxative; anthelmintic. Used in general intestinal disorders as a tonic. Of benefit in anorexia, indigestion constipation and cholecystitis.

Medicinal Action and Uses-: The leaves have anti-bilious, anthelmintic, tonic and detergent properties, with a peculiar action on the liver, and are used largely in consumption, dyspepsia, debility and jaundice, in diseases of the liver, and for worms in children for which the powder or decoction may be used internally or in injection. As an ointment it is recommended for inflamed tumours, irritable ulcers, inflamed breasts, piles, etc.

For long it has been a favourite tonic, laxative and purgative among the aborigines of North America, though their doses render its tonic value doubtful.

Extremely bitter herb that acts mainly as a tonic for the liver and digestive system; antidepressant, aperient, laxative effects, stimulant; leaves have anti-bilious, anthelmintic, tonic and detergent properties with a peculiar action on the liver; increases gastric and salivary secretions and stimulates appetite; laxative in small doses but purgative in large doses.
Leaves were included in a list of Canadian medicinal plants.
Has been used internally for gallstones with jaundice, chronic liver disease, colic, constipation, anorexia and poor digestion (especially in the elderly and during convalescence), chronic malarial complaints; leaves have been used for consumption, dyspepsia, debility and jaundice in diseases of the liver and for worms in children (powder or decoction used internally or in injection).
Has been considered a specific tonic for biliousness, jaundice, constipation, dyspepsia and sluggish liver. Has been considered a specific in gallstones that lead to congestive jaundice.
Has been used externally as an ointment for inflamed tumors, irritable ulcers, inflamed breasts, piles, sores and eczema.
Was used by Native Americans as a laxative and purgative; they used a strong decoction of the whole plant for eruptive diseases, piles, hemorrhoids, sores; an ointment was used by early settlers for inflamed tumors.
Has been used for eruptions of the skin.
An ointment made from the fresh leaves was used for piles.
Has been combined with butternut (Juglans cinerea) for constipation.
Has been combined with Gentiana lutea (Great Yellow Gentian) and Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal) for jaundice.
Has been combined with Cranesbill and Goldenseal for vaginal discharge; when discharge begins to lessen dosage was reduced and continued for 1 month before ceasing.
Has been combined with diuretics for dropsy with chronic liverproblems and digestive sluggishness.
Has been combined with Fringe Tree bark for gallbladder problems.
Considered suitable for children and the elderly, especially for gastro-intestinal disturbances after a prolonged illness.
Was used by the Malacites of Canada for prevention of pregnancy; it is not known if it was effective.
According to Henrietta A. Diers Rau (Healing with Herbs, 1980), if depression is present, balmony should be added to alteratives.

DOSE: TRADITIONAL DOSAGES FOR PROFESSIONAL NOTE ONLY
!All others buy commercial preparations and follow directions carefully!
DRIED LEAF EQUIVALENT = 0.5 to 2 grams 3 times daily.
INFUSION: 1 oz of herb in one pint of water taken a wineglassful at a time OR 1 tsp leaves to 1 cup water, steeped 10 to 15 min and taken 1 to 2 cups daily.
DECOCTION = 1 to 2 fluid oz. (2 oz. fresh herb to 1 pint water)
FLUID EXTRACT = 1/2 to 1 drachm
POWDER = 1 drachm
TINCTURE = 1 to 2 fluid drachms (10 to 20 drops with water, 3 or 4 times a day)
CHELONIN (see note above) = 1 to 2 grains.
POWDERED LEAVES: 1 dram
NOTE: “Chelonin” is an eclectic medicine prepared from Chelone and is a brown, bitter powder given as a tonic laxative. The tincture becomes black and will dye urine the same color.

HOMEOPATHIC:
Used for debility, dumb-ague, jaundice, liver disease, Quinine cachexia, worms.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:

http://www.herbies-herbs.com/pages/herbuses-1.html
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/balmon04.html
http://earthnotes.tripod.com/balmony.htm