Bennet
Botanical Description & Habitat
Geum urbanum
Family
Rosaceae
Common Names
Avens
Benedict's herb
Colewort
European avens
Star of the earth
Wood avens
Yellow avens
Habitat
Grows in shady areas around hedges, fences, clearings, walls, and in deciduous forests.
Medicinal Parts
Rootstock, dried flowering herb
Historical Properties & Uses
Bennet is used as an astringent, styptic, bitter and tonic. It is said to be a very good treatment for diarrhea, and a good gargle for mouth, throat and gum problems. The volatile oil leaves the breath fresh and sweet.
In the elderly, bennet wine, based on an extract of the bitter principles, is used before meals to increase the appetite. The use for the tonic comes in during the convalescent period following acute infectious diseases. Bronchial catarrh and some types of feverish infections are treated with bennet.
Method of Action
The Pharmacology of Bennet
Very little, if any, basic research has been done on herb bennet. Bennet contains more tannin than any other geum species, and that is considerable.
Tannin is responsible for the astringent, styptic, anti-diarrheal, antiseptic, anti-catarrhal properties. The volatile oil contains aromatic principles easily obtained in tea form, making it a good gargle.
The bitter substances in bennet are not as easily obtained as those of other bitter plants, and therefore require more careful extraction; once extracted, or solubilized, these bitters would be good digestive aids, and appetite stimulants.
In Britain, only the leafy parts are used; however, the properties are almost identical to the root: antidiarrheal, anti-hemorrhage, febrifuge.
It is used in England for the treatment of diarrhea, catarrhal and ulcerative colitis, passive uterine hemorrhage and intermittent fevers. The main use is for ulcerative colitis, for which the plant finds very little application in America.
Bennet is combined with agrimonia and/or bidens.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Possible Interactions
The topical application of this astringent herb in conjunction with the acne product tretinoin (retinoic acid, vitamin a acid) may adversely affect the skin.
The tannin in bennet may potentiate the antibiotic activity of echinacea. The tannin in a tea made from this herb may be inactivated by the addition of milk or cream.
Comments
There is evidence that combining bactericidal and bacteriostatic agents will lower the effectiveness of the '-static' variety. How this finding applies to herbal antibiotics is not known.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
Bennet is nontoxic in therapeutic dosages.
Preparation & Administration
Use three times daily
Infusion
Use 1-4g of dried herb
Liquid Extract
Use 1-4ml of 1:1 in 25% alcohol
References
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, British Herbal Medicine Association, 1983.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Schauenberg, P. & Paris, F. Guide to Medicinal Plants, Keats Publishing, Inc., New Canaan, Connecticut, 1977.
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