.png)
Herbal Spotlight: Wood Betony
- Alexis Black
- Sep 30
- 6 min read
Latin binomial: Stachys officinalis (syn. Stachys betonica, Betonica officinalis).
Common names: Betony, common hedgenettle, bishop’s wort, purple betony, wild hop, lousewort.
Family: Lamiaceae
Parts used: Aerial parts (leaf, flowering tops).
Native to: Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa; naturalized in parts of North America.
Taste: Mildly bitter, slightly astringent, lightly sweet, mildly aromatic.
Affinities: Nervous system, head, digestive, uterus, spirit.
Energetics: Neutral. mildly warm and dry.
Tissue States: Atrophy, tension, relaxation.
Astrology: Jupiter in Aries (Culpeper), Moon (personal).
Primary Actions: Nervine trophorestorative and mild sedative, cephalic (cerebral tonic), amphoretic, bitter tonic, circulatory stimulant (specifically cerebral), carminative, spasmolytic, vulnerary, astringent.
Secondary Actions: thymoleptic, liver tonic, nootropic, analgesic, styptic, mild expectorant, mild diaphoretic, mild diuretic, antimicrobial, inflammation modulating, alterative, .
Other Actions (biomedical): Anxiolytic, antidepressant, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, mild hypotensive.
Constituents: Phenolic compounds (tannins, rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid), alkaloids (Stachydrine, betonicine), volatile oils (limonene, α-pinene), flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin), coumarins, saponins, glycosides, minerals (calcium, iron).
Possible Clinical Patterns:
Tension headaches, migraines
Head injuries
Cognition / brain fog
Nervous exhaustion
Gut-Brain axis atrophy/deficiency (enteric nervous system)
Psycho-spiritual states
Wood betony fills an odd niche, a cerebral trophorestorative meets a digestive nervine. And leaving it there would still be a disservice to this herb!
Oh wood betony, I think no one who has gotten me talking about herbs has managed to escape mention of this wonderful plant. Echoes of my rants continue through students at university I haven't even met. I think so far my legacy consists of wood betony and holy basil, looking back it's a very neurodivergent duo. Another herb I was surprised to find in the student clinic dispensary as we were not taught about it, nor did most supervisors know what to make of it.
Wood betony is one of those herbs that feels like a trusted old friend—subtle yet profound, often overlooked in modern practice but revered historically. As a mint family herb, I often describe it as a combination of some of its cousins. Combining aspects of the bitter nervine lamiaceae (skullcap, motherwort), aromatic nervine lamiaceae (lemon balm, rosemary), and vulnerary lamieaceae (selfheal, woundwort). Being a jack of all trades led wood betony to be known as a panacea (heal-all). And while this herb can be used in many ways, it really excels when it comes to the nervous system, specifically the head.
Wood betony's primary affinity is for the nervous system. As a nervine trophorestorative it gently restores and nourishes the nervous system, helping with nervous exhaustion, long term stressors, and even the long term effects of drug use. It's this restorative ability that wood betony really excels at, and can be found in it's slightly sweet and mild taste. It is this mildness that makes it perfect for long term use as a tonic herb. Wood betony has a mild relaxing effect on the nervous system calming mild states of anxiety and tension. I would use it in very similar cases as milky oat seed (Avena sativa).
There is an old herbal action known as 'cephalicks' which referred to herbs with a primary action on the head and brain, generally being warm, dry, and aromatic, and were believed to break up "phlegm misting the mind." It is as a cephalic that wood betony really shows its worth. In migraines and tension headaches, wood betony relaxes the vasculature and muscles in the head, and also modulates the flow of blood to the head. Long term use can decrease the intensity and frequency of attacks, and even eliminate them altogether. I believe this is due to wood betony's ability to not only restore the nervous system, but also reducing systemic tension, and healing the gut / liver. Herbalist Jim McDonald explains it thusly: “Betony clearly relaxes tension in
the head: the tension of muscles, of blood vessels, of thoughts and of emotions. It doesn't
simply act physically, but seems to change the way we process energy in both the head and
mind in a manner that resolves the conditions of tension and congestion that prevent the
free and relaxed flow of the vital force.”
Personally I have used it to great success for acute pain relief from both tension headaches and migraines, often having a quick onset of action. However for acute use, it's effects often dissipate after an hour or two, usually requiring repeated doses for relief. I find for this use wood betony pairs well with the following herbs: black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) , acrid lettuce (Lactuca serriola), pulsatilla (Anemone pulsatilla), and skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora).
Our second use of wood betony as a cephalic is in cases of head injuries. This is a traditional use that would apply to concussions and minor traumatic brain injuries (MTBI's). Here we would be looking at it's actions as a cerebral circulatory stimulant to bring fresh blood to the brain to aid in healing, as well as it's nervine trophorestorative actions taking central focus. Wood betony also works as a good driver in a formula to send it to the head.
Moving south, we arrive at the digestive system. Here wood betony continues to have use as a nervine in strengthening and nourishing the gut-brain axis. Here I would describe its effects as a enteric nervine trophorestorative and tonic. TCM would equate this use to some form of spleen deficiency, while other herbalists such as Wood or Popham would name it a solar plexus deficiency. Here we find the digestive system deficient both in terms of digestive ability, but also poor innervation. Here wood betony:
Nourishes and restores the enteric nervous system.
Acts as a vulnerary and astringent to heal a leaky gut.
Spasmolytic and carminative to deal with any bloating or cramps.
Increases vagal tone and improves digestion as a bitter tonic and cholagogue.
This picture is when there is an impaired digestive faculty, but the culprit is in the nervous system. As such I tend to use it in cases where digestive issues likely stem from anxiety, depression, and stress. In IBS. And in dysautonomia conditions such as those found in ADHD, autism, and POTS.
Now onto some psycho-spiritual uses. The Greeks called it "the herb that drives away a hundred evils," and medieval European monasteries planted it near their infirmaries for its protective and healing qualities. Wood betony is one of old herbs used for protection from and to drive out evil spirits, or what we might these days term mental health conditions. Wood betony is one of my go to 'grounding nervines' alongside skullcap, and pulsatilla. Here we see a downward action taking the vital force / spirit from the focusing in the head (or above) and grounding it into the chest. Here I have predominantly used it for anxiety and depressive states, bringing focus back to the current moment.
Wood betony is a humble powerhouse—subtle but deeply effective. It bridges the gap between nervines, digestives, and circulatory stimulants, making it a versatile ally for modern stress patterns. If you’ve overlooked it before (as I once did), I encourage you to revisit this gentle yet profound herb.
How I Use Wood Betony in Practice:
Tension headaches, migraines - Wood Betony is a go to for use in both preventing these conditions, as well as treating them acutely when formulated correctly for the person.
Nerve pain - not mentioned above, wood betony is a specific for nerve pain, although I usually formulate it with other herbs specific for this (St. John's wort, prickly ash)
Head injuries - The go to herb for head injuries, gently increasing cerebral blood flow and nourishing the nervous system. Try for related head conditions such as tinnitus.
Cognition / brain fog - as a cerebral circulation stimulant and nervine tonic, wood betony is a wonderful ally for students as a gentle non-stimulating nootropic.
Nervous exhaustion - restores and rebuilds the nervous system, perfect for long term use.
Gut-Brain axis deficiency (enteric nervous system) - Explained in detail above.
I primarily use it in IBS and nervous indigestion.
Drug use - as a nervine trophorestorative, wood betony is perfect for the side-effects of long term recreational drug use. Use alongside other nervine tropho's like St. John's wort and milky oat seed for this purpose.
Antipsychotic medication side effects - similar to above, long term use of some pharmaceutical medications can also have an effect on the nervous system. I have personally used it in a case of extrapyramidal side effects (EPSE) from antipsychotic use. Here wood betony is primarily used as a nervine trophorestorative and spasmolytic, helping manifestations of EPSE such as: dystonia, akathisia, parkinsonism, tremors, tardive dyskinesia. I've personally seen it be very effective in treating EPSE related akathisia, tremors, and restless leg syndrome. Blends well with skullcap for this purpose.
Psycho-spiritual states - wood betony has a history of use here. I've found it useful in grounding people who are prone to anxiety and dissociation, and where there is a feeling of being outside their body, and paranoia. It has a protective boundary forming vibe that I would liken to motherwort.
Resources & References:
Botanologia, or The English Herbal by Willian Salmon (1710)
The Complete Herbal by Nicholas Culpeper (1653)
The Earthwise Herbal, Volume I – Matthew Wood Wood Betony - Jim McDonald