Wood Betony Monograph - Stachys Officinalis
Wood Betony Monograph - Stachys Officinalis
Photography, Art and Writing by Freya Fawn Giles
Common Name - Wood Betony
Latin Name - Stachys Officinalis
Folk Names - Bishop’s wort, Chastra (Arab) (1), Celtic bew – head, and ton – good (2)
Plant family - Lamiaceae (Mint)
Botanical Description - Wood Betony is a small to medium sized herb native to the temperate forests of central and southern Europe.(1) Naturalized through all of the americas, and hearty to cold climates. I am growing several plants in zone 3, northern so called British Columbia, and they are surprisingly a perennial here despite our extreme winters. Wood betony is is an herbaceous perennial flower that grows in clumps and can reach up to one to two feet in height and width. Its leaves are large, heart-shaped, ovate to oblong, petiolate and dark green with scalloped edges. The leaves are stalkless and grow alternately at wide intervals, in pairs along the stem along stems. The largest leaves arise from the root in clumps at the base of the plant. Smaller leaves grow from the slender, squared stems that arise into singular flower heads. Both types of foliage have a rough texture and short hairs. The surface has glands that emit a bitter, aromatic oil. The purple flowers are arranged in a whorl. Above the whorl is bare stem, followed by the small and stalkless leaves, then additional flowers which forms a spike of alternating flowers and leaves.(3) In June or July the plant sends up a slender stalk that hangs well above the leaves and contains a short purple red spike flower (1)
Energetics - In terms of energetic quality, wood betony is considered cooling by some (4) and warming by others. The latter is usually referenced in older texts. It is, however, generally accepted by modern herbalists as a warming, relaxing aromatic medicine.(3) I personally find wood Betony warming and dry.
Medicinal actions - Vulnerary, astringent, nervine relaxant, nervine trophorestorative, bitter tonic, carminative, antispasmodic, expectorant, sedative, emmenagogue (4)
Constituents (components on the plant) - Volatile oils, bitter principles (betolide, iridoids), tannins (rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid derivatives), alkaloids (betonicine, stachydrine), flavonoids, choline, coumarins, (4)
Parts of plant used - Aerial Parts: leaves, flowers, and stem (1) (2) (3)
Types of preparations - Infusion (tea), Tincture (3)
Doses - Tincture (1:5 in 40%): Take between 2– 6ml in a little water up to three times a day.Infusion: To make an infusion place 1– 2 teaspoons of dried material in one cup of boiling water, infuse for between 15– 20 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day. (3) After reading into JIm Mcdonald's writings on his website Herbcraft about Wood Betony being helpful for headaches, I have used it several times for tension and stress headaches with excellent results, usually within the hour. My friend whom I gave some Betony tincture to also had similar results with a headache stemming from a recent injury. Within the hour they felt a reduction in pain.
A deeper look into the spirit of Wood Betony - This herb is specific for those experiencing emotional stress with dissociation. Wood betony is specifically indicated where there is a need to connect the mind and the body, or to bring back a sense of embodiment and presence. Wood (6) writes in ‘The Earthwise Herbal’ that wood betony is “a remedy which helps establish rootedness, connectedness, earthiness, and groundedness. It is a plant for people who are cut off from the earth or their bodies”. (3)
I highly resonate with JIm McDonalds herbalism style and his writings on Wood Betony in my opinion are bang on. He states like most mint family plants, it possesses both stimulating and relaxant properties. This may seem contradictory, but only if we make the false assumption that stimulation and relaxation exist at opposing ends of a spectrum. In truth, the stimulation is of the circulation of the body's vital energy, and the relaxation is of the resistance to that circulation. So we see that these principles are not at odds, but rather work towards the same end and enhance each other's ability to reach it. 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 the both head and mind in a manner that solves the conditions of tension and congestion that prevent the free and relaxed flow of the vital force. Going further into this "head" association, I like to use Betony when a person's stress is stuck in their head; they can't stop thinking and relax, they over-analyze, they aren't grounded and are generally suffering from mental overexertion and subsequent exhaustion. They channel all the energy they can into their head and it gets stuck there because they don't release it; they won't let their thoughts go. This often happens when we try to come to terms with a stressful situation by coming to an intellectual understanding of it. Unfortunately, there are many situations that cannot be understood or resolved intellectually, and trying to do so will only lead to mental exhaustion (which headaches will often accompany). One might find themselves trapped wondering "Why did they die?" and have no intellectual answer to resolve their query. Trying to use your intellect in such a situation is like trying to eat soup with a light bulb; it just doesn't work. When caught in such a situation, Betony helps to both relax the mind and free the energy trapped there, and in doing so lets our other faculties offer us resolution where our intellect cannot. (5)
Recipes
‘Clear head’ tea blend (3)
This blend of gently relaxing, aromatic nervine herbs will help bring a sense of relaxation and grounding to the mind and body — allowing one to drop into a calm, clear headspace. This is a great blend to offer some extra support during times of stress or just as a general support for the nervous system. Drink throughout the day and enjoy the benefits of these delicious herbs.
Ingredients:
* Wood betony
* Skullcap
* Lime flower
* Oat straw
* Chamomile, lemon balm or lavender
Mix equal parts of the dried herbs listed below to the approximate weight of 5–10g (or 3–4 teaspoons). Steep in hot water in a teapot for up to 15 minutes. Then strain the infusion into your favourite mug. Drink up to three times a day and enjoy the benefits of these delicious herbs.(3)
My favorite tea blend for tension headaches and what I call eyeball to ear congestion is equal parts (tablespoon) of Meadowsweet, Skullcap, Wood Betony, Mullein Flower and Tulsi Basil.
Safety - Avoid during pregnancy and nursing. Caution with hypotensive and antidiabetic medications. High doses may cause intestinal upset including cramping, gas, nausea, and diarrhea. (6) Wood betony is safe to use for all ages. Due to its emmenagogue properties it is best to avoid using during pregnancy and lactation (3) Consult a trusted herbalist or your physician if unsure about using this herb or any herb !!
How to grow - Plants can be propagated from seed in autumn or spring. They can also be propagated from cuttings or the clumps can be divided. Sow indoors in cell trays in late winter or early spring. Seed must have a period of cold stratification method before sowing. Refrigerate seeds in soil, vermiculite, or a wet paper towel in an open plastic ziplock (with air holes) for a few weeks to a month, checking on the moistness regularly.. Germination can take several weeks but I have always had excellent results.
Once the plants are big enough to handle they can be transferred into small pots or planted out in the summer. Wood betony will flower in the second year. Once established, this plant is resistant to drought. I was able to grow them from seed and they have survived as perrenial in my northern Canadian zone 3 climate. Wood Betony is actually one of the first plants to emerge in my garden !
“In the mountains and woods, in the meadows and depths of the valleys — Almost everywhere, far and wide, grows the precious abundance of betony. Yet I have it too in my garden, and there it learns a softer way of life in the tended soil. So great is the honor this genus has won for its name that if my Muse wished to add to it she would find herself defeated at last, overwhelmed; and soon she would see she could add nothing more to the value it has already. Perhaps you pick it to use it green, perhaps to dry and store away for the sluggish winter. Do you like to drink it from cloudy goblets? Or do you prefer to enjoy what it gives after long and careful refining? Whatever your fancy, the wonderful powers which this herb has will supply all your needs.” Walahfrid Strabo
References/Research
1.https://eclecticschoolofherbalmedicine.com/wood-betony-monograph/
Written by Aidan Blank
2. Maude.Grieves - Modern Herbal
3.https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/betony/
4.https://solidarityapothecary.org/betony-plant-profile/
5.https://herbcraft.org/betony.html
Written By Jim McDonald
6.https://www.wortsandcunning.com/blog/wood-betony-plant-profile