- Region
- Europe
- Origin
- Europe, western Asia and North Africa, in grasslands and open woods. Betonica officinalis
Europe · Herb · № 93
Betonica officinalis (syn. Stachys officinalis)
Herb · Europe
Betony
Betonica officinalis (syn. Stachys officinalis)
Traditionally used for tension headaches and nervousness. Modern clinical research is lacking.
Safety notes
Little is known about safety; avoid in pregnancy. Have persistent headaches checked.
Cautions by tradition (3)
- Herbal medicine worldwide: No high doses in pregnancy.
- Western herbalism: Not in pregnancy.
- Herbs for viral infections: Not with low blood pressure, in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Preparation
The flowering herb as tea or tincture. No dosage is given here.
Use in traditions
In Roman times the physician Antonius Musa wrote an entire treatise on it. Anglo-Saxon herbals named it a remedy against 'elf-shot' and evil spirits. Ody describes it as an old nerve and head herb.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Calming, bitter digestive, strengthens the nerves, improves circulation (especially of the brain), astringent.
Preparation and amount
Tea in a low dose (1 tsp per cup) as a daily relaxing tonic; in a therapeutic dose for menstrual pain, migraine and headache, nervous tension; hot with elderflower or yarrow at the start of a cold; during a difficult labour; tincture with lavender for nervous headache; compress on wounds and bruises; tonic wine with vervain and hyssop.
Caution: No high doses in pregnancy.
Western herbalism
Attributed effects
Strengthens the nerves, tonic, carminative, astringent, cleansing, stomachic, antiparasitic; relieves irritability, stress and low mood, helps with brain fog, headache and head trauma, stimulates sluggish digestion.
Preparation and amount
Tea: 1–2 tsp per cup, 8–10 min, 1–3 cups a day; tincture 1–2 dropperfuls 1–3 times a day.
Caution: Not in pregnancy.
Herbs for viral infections
Attributed effects
Tannins, flavonoid glycosides and stachydrine; especially against flu; further for anxiety, gallstones, heartburn, high blood pressure, migraine, nerve pain, asthma, intestinal gas, kidney and bladder stones; ointment for small cuts.
Preparation and amount
Tincture 2–6 ml 3 times a day, or tea (1–2 tsp dried root with boiling water).
Caution: Not with low blood pressure, in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Tea (infusion)TinctureCompress, poultice and paste