Other Names : Chelone glabra, Turtlehead, white turtlehead, turtlebloom, bitter herb, salt rheum weed, shellflower, snakehead, galane glabre, chelone, skjoldblomst, Kahle Schildblume, snauskjoldblom, sköldpaddsört.The plant is harvested when in flower and is dried for later use..
Special Precautions of Balmony
- There are no reports of toxicity, contraindications or adverse side effects of moderate doses of balmony.
- No information is available on how the herb will affect pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Health Benefits and Uses of Balmony
- Balmony is a very bitter herb with a tea-like flavour that acts mainly as a tonic for the liver and digestive system. It has long been held in esteem in N. American folk medicine, though it has never been investigated scientifically.
- The herb also has anti-depressant and laxative effects.
- A decoction of the whole herb is antibilious, aperient, appetizer, cathartic, cholagogue, detergent, tonic, vermifuge.
- It is used internally in the treatment of consumption, debility, diseases of the liver, gallbladder problems, gallstones etc.
- It is also used to relieve nausea and vomiting, intestinal colic and to expel worms.
- Its tonic effect upon the digestive system has made it of benefit in the treatment of anorexia nervosa.
- Externally, it is applied as a soothing ointment to piles, inflamed tumours, irritable ulcers, inflamed breasts etc.
References
- Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
- Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979 ISBN 0-85613-067-2
- Foster, Steven and James A. Duke: A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants, Eastern, and Central North America. New York, Houghton Mifflin Company 1990.