Herb Bennet (Avens)

(Geum urbanum L., Rosaceae)

Also Called: Avens, Bennet, Geum, Wood Avens, Blessed herb, Star of the Earth, Yellow Avens.

Description: Perennial herb, 25-130cm (10-52 in) high.
Rhizome 2.5-75cm (1-3in) long, 1-2cm (0.4-0.8in) thick, yellow to brown outside, pinkish or pink-violet inside; rarely branched and bearing the remains of a basal rosette of shortly petiolate leaves that persist in winter.
The erect, hairy stem is red at the bottom and grows to a height of 1 to 2 feet.
Leaves bend downwards, are 3-lobed, hairy, the lower are lyrate and pinnate, the upper ternate or trifid; the leaflets broadly ovate and serrate.
Pale or bright yellow, star-shaped, drooping flowers., 5-7mm (0.2-0.3 in) diameter on long stalks in very open clusters.
Flowering: May-October (June to August)

Parts Used: Dried rhizome; sometimes the dried entire flowering plant.

Habitat and Collection: Bennet Is a perennial plant that grows around hedges, fences, walls, and in deciduous forests, preferring shady places, on damp soil, common through much of Europe, abundant in England, Ireland and south Scotland. Collected when in flower.

Constituents and Action: Contains volatile oil, its ' principal constituent being eugenol, which is combined as a glycoside in the living plant but is liberated as eugenol during drying.
Abundant tannins and a bitter principle are also present.
Antidiarroeal, anti-inflammatory, astringent, styptic, tonic.
As an astringent, bennet is useful for diarrhea; and it also makes a good gargle for gum problems and halitosis.
It promotes appetite and acts as a tonic during convalescence.
A wine extract of the root promotes digestion in older people and can also be used for chronic bronchial catarrh and for intermittent fever.

Usage: Internally as a tisane (a tablespoonful of finely chopped drug in 1 litre (1.75pt) of boiling water, allow to stand) for diarrhoea and upset stomach.
Externally as an application to wounds.
Decoction: Use 1 tsp. dried root or herb with 1 cup water. Take 1 cup a day.
Tincture (from root): Take 10 drops, 3 times a day.
Powder: Take 1/4 to 1/2 tsp., 3 times a day