Avens - Geum urbanum

Historical Uses
Wood Avens is also known as Herb Bennet, a corrupt translation of the old herbalist name Herba benedicta, meaning blessed herb.

A cordial against the plague was made by boiling the roots in wine and Culpeper recommends Avens for the diseases of the chest or breath, for pains and stitches in the sides and to expel crude and raw humours from the belly. It dissolves inward congealed blood occasioned by falls and bruises and the spitting of blood, if the roots either green or dried be boiled in wine and drunk…..It helpeth digestion, warmeth a cold stomach and openeth obstructions of liver and spleen. 1

Roberth Thornton in his 1814 work recommends it in intermittent fevers, dysentery, and chronic diarrhoeas, flatulent colic, affections of the primae viae, asthmatic symptoms, and cases of debility. “Half a drachm or a drachm of the powder may be given four times a day, simply, or made up into an electuary with honey or rhubarb. Two table-spoonfuls of the decoction may be given every hour; or a table-spoonful of a tincture, made with an ounce of the root to a pound of alcohol, three or four times a day. As an indigenous remedy it deserves notice” 2

Harold Ward, the author of books such as Herbal Manual, 1936 says that the properties of Avens make for success in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery. The tonic effect upon the glands of the stomach and alimentary tract point to its helpfulness in dyspepsia. In general debility continued use has had good results. The astringent qualities may also be utilized in cases of relaxed throat Although wineglass-ful doses three or four times daily of the 1 ounce to 1 pint infusion are usually prescribed, Avens may be taken freely, and is, indeed, used by country people in certain districts as a beverage in place of tea or coffee. 3


Modern Research
Avens contains Tannins which are responsible for the astringent properties noted by the Historical Authors in its use for dissolving congealed blood and treating dysentery and diarrhoea. The bitter properties also stimulate the appetite and trigger gastric secretion and bowel movements, “to expel crude and raw humours from the belly” while the essential oil in the rhizome has antispasmodic action and inhibits gas formation and irritation of the stomach and gut, so it is good to “warmeth a cold stomach and openeth obstructions of liver and spleen”. It is also, as a result, a good remedy for IBS and Crohn’s. 4

In addition to confirming the effects described by the Historical texts, further activity was studied in 2016 on bacterial growth. Results revealed that methanolic extracts of the leaves showed maximum activity against all of the test bacteria. The maximum antibacterial activity of Wood Avens root extract was observed against: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, followed by Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas viridiflava, Rathayibacter toxicus, Pseudomonas syringae, Bacillus subtilis, Acidovorax avenae, Xanthomonas campestris, Staphylococcus aureus and Erwinia amylovora 5

In 2018, a study was undertaken to investigate the cardiogenic effects of extracts of Wood Avens on cultured stem cells. The methanolic extracts of the root and aerial parts showed no toxic effects on cells but effectively increased the levels of some essential cardiogenic markers, probably due to ellagic and gallic acid derivatives. These findings indicate that Avens has a potential therapeutic role to play in cardiac medicine. 6

A promising May 19 study was carried out on two Parkinson's disease hallmarks, Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, which consist of α-Synuclein proteins that clump together no longer transmit correctly. The results showed that Wood Avens inhibited α-synuclein fibrillation (rapid contractions) and partly disintegrated preformed α-synuclein clumps. Based on the structural changes in the presence of the extract, it appears that Avens delayed α-synuclein contractions either by reducing the ability of the clumps to form or by directing α-synuclein clumping towards a non-fibrillar state. 7

Topical Uses
We know that the Tannins in Avens make it a great astringent and so it is useful as a gargle to heal mouth ulcers and for infections of the pharynx and larynx.

A 2022 study into the antimicrobial potential of different Wood Avens root and rhizome extracts, found that extracts may be suitable, e.g., for the topical treatment of acne and might also be used in preparations such as creams or facial steam baths against impure and inflamed skin. 8

Dosage
Tisane: 1-2tsp/5-10g. Drink half a cup, 3 times per day.
It is best to consume this plant between meals because when taken for a long period of time it could possibly cause intestinal irritation.

Precautions
Because of the high tannin Avens should not be used in excessive doses or for a long period of time and should be avoided during pregnancy 9