Betony

Betony, also called wood betony, bears the botanical name Stachys officinalis and belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae). It is a perennial, herbaceous plant with characteristic violet-red flowers that thrives preferentially in meadows, at forest edges, and in open deciduous woodlands of Europe. As early as antiquity, betony was known as a highly esteemed medicinal plant: the Roman physician Antonius Musa attributed more than 40 different healing effects to it, and in the Middle Ages it was also widely used by monks as well as folk healers. Traditionally, the plant was not only revered as a cure-all but was also employed in rituals – for example, for protection against evil spirits or in the form of amulets against illness. In monastic medicine, it was considered a component of numerous formulations, in particular for strengthening the nervous system and for treating complaints of the digestive and respiratory tract. Today, betony is experiencing a renaissance as a mild, versatile medicinal plant in phytotherapy and is valued above all for its supposedly calming, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory properties.

What benefits does betony offer for health?
Modern herbal medicine is taking up the traditional applications of betony again and is increasingly also investigating its effects scientifically. More studies are necessary in order to draw definitive conclusions about the plant's effects. The findings to date and traditional areas of application include:

  • Antioxidant properties: Studies indicate that Stachys extracts possess antioxidant properties that could contribute to protection against cell damage caused by free radicals (1,2,3).
  • Anti-inflammatory & antibacterial: Studies show anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, especially with external application to the skin and mucous membranes (2,3,4,5).
  • Pain-relieving effect: According to scientific investigations, extracts from the plant can have pain-relieving effects, for example in tension headaches (5,6).
  • Support of digestion: Through its bitter compounds, betony promotes digestion and, according to written accounts, can have a soothing effect on mild gastrointestinal complaints (7).
  • Calming effect: Betony is traditionally used to reduce nervousness, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.
  • Support for the respiratory tract: In folk medicine, betony was used for coughs, hoarseness, and bronchial complaints.

How does betony work in the body? The effect of betony is based on a multitude of bioactive constituents – including, among others, tannins, phenols, bitter compounds, flavonoids, iridoids, and essential oils (2,4).

Are there any risks or side effects?

Betony is generally considered well tolerated and low in side effects, especially when properly dosed. Nevertheless, several points should be observed when taking it, and intake should always take place under medical supervision.

  • Not during pregnancy: Pregnant women are advised against internal use, as antispasmodic plants could potentially have an influence on the uterus.
  • Allergic reactions rarely possible: As with all herbs, allergic reactions can occur in individual cases.

Conclusion Betony is a medicinal plant rich in tradition with a broad spectrum of applications in natural medicine, especially for nervous, cramp-like, and inflammatory complaints. Even though the body of studies still needs to be expanded, centuries of experience and initial scientific investigations speak for its health potential. In the future, further studies must explore the facts and the medicinal potential in more detail.

Sources:

  1. Šliumpaitė, I., Venskutonis, R., Murkovic, M., & Ragazinskienė, O. (2013). Antioxidant properties and phenolic composition of wood betony (Betonica officinalis L., syn. Stachys officinalis L.). Industrial Crops and Products, 50, 715–722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.08.024
  2. Stegăruș, D. I., Lengyel, E., Apostolescu, G. F., Botoran, O. R., & Tanase, C. (2021). Phytochemical Analysis and Biological Activity of Three Stachys Species (Lamiaceae) from Romania. Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 10(12), 2710. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122710
  3. Benedec, D., Oniga, I., Hanganu, D., Tiperciuc, B., Nistor, A., Vlase, A.-M., Vlase, L., Pușcaș, C., Duma, M., Login, C. C., Niculae, M., & Silaghi-Dumitrescu, R. (2023). Stachys Species: Comparative Evaluation of Phenolic Profile and Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Potential. Antibiotics, 12(11), 1644. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12111644
  4. Paun, G., Neagu, E., Moroeanu, V., Albu, C., Ursu, T., Zanfirescu, A., Negreș, S., Chirita, C., & Radu, G. (2018). Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the Impatiens noli-tangere and Stachys officinalis polyphenolic-rich extracts. Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia, 28(2), 179–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjp.2017.10.008
  5. Gören A.C. Use of Stachys Species (Mountain Tea) as Herbal Tea and Food. Rec. Nat. Prod. 2013;8:71.
  6. Rustaiyan A., Masoudi S., Ameri N., Samiee K., Monfared A. Volatile Constituents of Ballota aucheri Boiss., Stachys benthamiana Boiss. and Perovskia abrotanoides Karel. Growing Wild in Iran. J. Essent. Oil Res. 2006;18:218–221. doi: 10.1080/10412905.2006.9699070.
  7. Tobyn, G., Denham, A., & Whitelegg, M. (2011). Stachys officinalis, wood betony. In G. Tobyn, A. Denham, & M. Whitelegg (Eds.), The Western Herbal Tradition: 2000 years of medicinal plant knowledge (pp. 289–296). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-10344-5.00034-3