Wood betony
Stachys officinalis
Herbs & Roots. Western & European.
Also called Betony, Bishopwort
Spanish: Betónica
Tannins may upset the stomachWood betony is a purple-flowered plant of European woods and meadows, and old herbals recommended it for nerves, headaches and digestion.
Did you know? An old Italian saying urged people to sell their coat to buy betony, a sign of how highly people once valued this plant.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Nerve health. Used as a calming herb for nerves and tension. Only tradition supports this, and no clinical human trials are known.See the research: No trials in people found yetTraditional proof
- Pain & headaches. Traditionally used for headaches. No good human trials test this.See the research: No trials in people found yetTraditional proof
- Digestion & gut health. Old herbals used it for digestion and mild stomach upset. No good human studies exist.See the research: No trials in people found yetTraditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
European herbal writers recorded betony from Roman times on, using it for headaches, nervous tension and upset stomach.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Nervine, Astringent, Vulnerary. Energy: neutral.
How people take it
Most people make a weak tea from the dried aerial parts, and tinctures and capsules are also sold. Research has not set a standard dose, so follow the product label.
Tea, tincture and capsule.
Where to get it
Grows in woodland edges, hedgerows and dry grassland across Europe, western Asia and northwest Africa. Sold as dried herb, tea blends, tinctures and capsules.
Be careful
High amounts may upset the stomach, which is linked to its tannins. Pregnant and breastfeeding people should avoid it, since reference sources advise against use in pregnancy and safety information is lacking.
Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding; children under 12; before surgery.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Both are old European herbs traditionally used for nerves and tension.
- Use cautionSleep or anxiety medicine (Ambien, Xanax, Ativan)
Calming herbs may add to drowsiness from sedating medicines. This is a theory, since no studies have tested betony with these medicines.
- Use cautionAlcohol (beer, wine, spirits)
Alcohol adds to the drowsiness.
Adds up with others that can make you drowsy: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 19 more.
The honest take
Wood betony has a long history in European herbal books, but almost no good human research backs its uses. Lab work has found some anti-inflammatory activity, which has not been confirmed in the body. Pregnant people should avoid it, and buyers should choose products that name the species clearly.
Sources
Each “See the research” link opens PubMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's index of medical studies, showing only trials and reviews done in people. The number tells you how much a use has been tested, not whether it worked. The proof rating tells you that.
Study counts checked October 2026.