Betony – Stachys officinalis

The name derives from Gaelic for good head. 

Botanical description: A perennial plant reaching 60 cm and forming mats. The leaves are elliptical with a toothed margin and the pink (or sometimes white) flowers are held in spikes. 

Location and cultivation: Found throughout Europe and into Asia as far as the Caucasus. Grows in meadows, grasslands and hilly areas. The aerial parts are collected in the summer when the plant is in flower. It is easily raised from seed sown in the spring or by dividing the clumps in the spring. 

Harvesting: Pick just as flowers are opening – the flowers and leaves are used. Caution: Avoid in pregnancy 

History/folklore/Taste/Energetics According to Culpeper Antonius Musa, physician to Emperor Augustus, listed 47 uses of betony, including protection from snakes and from evil. An Italian saying from nineteenth century Italy is “ May you have more virtue than betony”. In the Middle Ages it was cultivated in monastic gardens and graveyards to protect against witchcraft and would be worn as an amulet around the neck or placed under the pillow for protection. Cool, drying, bitter and sweet. The leaves emit a wonderful aroma when crushed in the hand. 

Constituents Alkaloids, including stachydrine and betonicine, Betaine, Choline, Tannins 

Actions: Sedative, Astringent, Styptic, Hepatic, Tonic, Nervine, Mild bitter, Cleansing and detoxifying 

Traditional/current uses 

• Formerly regarded as a panacea 
• Headaches and migraine. 
• Recovery from head injuries 
• Facial pain 
• Improves nerve function 
• Calms an overactive mind and general overactivity 
• Useful for insomnia caused by a racing mind 
• Scattered thoughts 
• Anxiety, irritability, depression 
• Poor memory 
• Improves concentration 
• Nervous tension 
• PMS 
• Nervous exhaustion 
• Sinus headaches and congestion 
• Nosebleeds 
• Tones the liver, gallbladder and digestion 
• Soothing for IBS, gastritis, inflammation and tension in the bowel 

• It helps us to face the fears and evils in our own minds 
• Useful for withdrawal from addictive drugs 
• Feelings of spaciness and unconnectedness 
• Balances the solar plexus. 
• Grounds us and connects us to the Earth 
• Tonic for older people or in convalescence from a long illness as a general tonic, 

increasing strength mentally, physically and spiritually. 

• Good for those who are underweight – stimulates the appetite 
• Prolapse of the uterus and other organs. Weak labour, excessive menstruation 
• For those who feel unwell without any recognizable cause 

The tea is used for indigestion, headache, poor circulation, muscular tension, nightmares, sinus congestion, watery and irritated eyes, head colds, chills and fevers and insomnia. Also used in the form of tincture for spaciness, vertigo, memory loss, nervous exhaustion, anxiety, irritability, poor concentration. A cleansing herb used in arthritis and toxic conditions. 

May be used externally in an ointment for bruises, sprains, strains, varicose veins, and haemorrhoids. A poultice can be prepared from the fresh herb to treat bruises and wounds. An infusion can be used to bathe leg ulcers and infected wounds or used as a mouthwash for mouth ulcers, sore gums and sore throats. 

A tonic wine can be prepared by infusing 50g betony, 25g vervain and 25g hyssop in 75cl white wine for two weeks. Taken in small doses for nervous headaches and tension (Ody, P; 1993) 

This herbal monograph is used with the permission of The Plant Medicine School.