Stachys betonica; Stachys officinalis

Family: Lamiaceae

History & Growing: Wood betony is native to Europe  and Asia. A traditional mint-family herb in its growing style: it is a perennial with a square stem, opposite leaves and two-lipped (bilabiate) flowers that grow upright in spikes (similar in appearance to lavender). The flowers appear in early summer (depending on where its growing) and range from pink and white to purple/red. Wood betony enjoys full sun to part shade with well-drained, moist soil and can be grown by division or seed. Like most Lamiaceae family herbs, it will spread but perhaps less vigorously than some of its cousins. The iconic Italian proverb stating “sell their coat and buy betony” speaks to as an indispensable herbal panacea. [1][2][3] Wood betony, like many herbs commonly used in the midevil era, was associated with protection from evil spirits. It’s use is much lesser known and valued today – there are no human clinical trials or studies demonstrating its benefits.

Parts Used Medicinally: Aerial portions

Supplementation Forms: Infusion, tincture, topically as an oil, salve, poultice or compress

Taste: Sweet, slightly bitter

Energetics: Drying, slightly warming (some consider it cooling)

Actions:

• Alterative
• Analgesic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Mild anti-spasmodic
• Anxiolytic
• Astringent
• Bitter tonic (nervous/digestive tonic)
• Carminitive
• Mild expectorant
• Nervine relaxant and trophorestorative
• Vulnerary

Key constituents: Volatile oils, phenylpropanoids, phenolic acids, phenylethanoid glycosides, flavonoids, tannins [4]

Superpower: Wood betony has an affinity for spaced out, frazzled folks who tend to disassociate. Per Sajah Popham via Evolutionary Herbalism, wood betony  “helps to anchor a person into their physical body… It’s also an incredible ally when the body feels consumed by a dizzying sobbing grief during the physical breakdown of uncontrollable tears. In these situations, Wood Betony can help to calm the spirit and anchor it safely back into the physical body. It enkindles courage in times of weakness, restoring strength and empowerment through its action within the solar plexus.”

Organs & Body Systems Herb Acts Upon: Primarily an affinity for the nervous and digestive system, but also has action on the reproductive & respiratory system as well as the skin when applied topically.

Traditional & Current Uses:

• Nervous System:
  • Nervine relaxant and trophorestorative, analgesic:
    • Very grounding with action on the solar plexus. Wonderful for anxiety, mental trauma, those who tend to dissociate, insomnia, depression, emotional overload. It combines well with other nervines (skullcap, St. Johns). It can be very soothing without making one sleepy (unless paired with a nervine sedative!) so it can be very beneficial during the day for this purpose.
• • • Neuralgia, sciatica, bell’s palsy, peripheral neuropathy [1], also potentially effective for vertigo. Traditional uses include the former as well as treatment for hysteria [4]
• • Anti-inflammatory:
    • Can help relieve pain and swelling from arthritis, ease joint pain and body aches
• • • Headaches related to tension, poor blood flow, sinus issues, and/or a sluggish liver [1]
  • Herbalist Steven Horne recommends it for cases of spasms and twitching, like in the cases of tics and tremors.
• Digestive:
  • As an astringent, wood betony can help heal wounding in the gut (ulcers, leaky gut, gastritis, colitis, IBS)As a mild bitter, wood betony has a general stimulant effect on the liver, gall bladder and even the pancreas, stomach and intestines. Because it is a nervine as well, wood betony is ideal in cases of nervous digestion issues. This indicates it for cases of weak appetite, upset stomach and nausea. As a carminative (contains mild amounts of volatile oils) wood betony can help dispel gas, bloating and cramping in the digestive tract. It is a gentle but effective digestive herb.
  • As an antispasmodic herb with an affinity for the digestive system, wood betony can help sooth mild cramping. This same action can help relax tight muscles in other areas as well, such as tight shoulders and neck, respiratory system, menstrual cramping – even headaches associated with tension.  
• Respiratory: as a mild expectorant with warming volatile oils, wood betony can help sooth a cold or cough – particularly when there is, as Sajah Popham notes, a change in weather at the turn of the season.
• Reproductive:
  • As an antispasmodic, wood betony can relieve menstrual pain and cramps while soothing other symptoms associated with menses (bloating, digestive issues, insomnia, etc)
• Topical/Skin: as an analgesic, astringent, anti-inflammatory herb, wood betony can be made into a poultice, compress, salve or oil to help heal cuts, wounds, bruises and even strains or sprains. It may also help ease discomfort of hemorrhoids and varicose veins. [1]
• Cardiovascular: as an alterative, with its overall relaxant properties and tonic effect on the body, wood betony can benefit the cardiovascular system – namely when stress is the underlying factor. It was traditionally used to help purify the blood. [4]

When to Reach for Herb & In What Form:

• I love wood betony as an infusion combined with other herbs depending on how I’m feeling. It pairs well with other nervines when you’re stressed or agitated, or digestive herbs when you’ve got nervous digestion. It blends really well, and doesn’t taste unpleasant. I have used the tincture with great success in blends as well.

Dosage & Preparation: [1]

• Tincture: 10-50 drops (low or high dose dependent on person) 1-3xs/day
  • Dried ratio – 1:5 @ 40% ABV
  • Fresh ratio – 1:2 @ 75% ABV
• Infusion: 1-2 tsp. dried herb 1-3xs/day

Contraindications:

• Do not use during pregnancy

Elemental, Planetary & Dosha Discussion:

• Planet: Venus (purple flowers, astringent, relaxant, nervine, antispasmodic, some action on female reproductive system)
  • Culpeper: Jupiter (carminitive, bitter, alterative, uplififting/expansion)
• Earth Element (grounding, bitter/alterative properities balance excess earth, astringency “binds Earth together…tonifying weak or lax tissues” – Sajah Popham)
• Vata (nervous/digestive system affinity, trophorestorative, bitter/astringent taste); how all doshas can benefit from its supplementation.

Citations & Recommended Reading:

1. Wood Betony Uses and Plant Profile, Li Wong. Learning Herbs
2. Plant of the Week: Wood Betony  University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture
3. Alchemical Herbal Profile:  Wood Betony (Stachys betonica), Sajah Popham. Evolutionary Herbalism
4. Betony Herbal Reality

Recipe of the Week:

Mind over Matter Infusion

1 teaspoons of each: dried organic wood betony, skullcap, chamomile, holy basil

8-10 oz hot water.

Infuse herbs in water for 10-15 minutes. Strain and enjoy 