Herbs & Botanicals · Herbs · European nerve herb used traditionally for tension and headache, with no human trials
Wood Betony
Betonica officinalis L. (also Stachys officinalis) · also called Wood betony, betony, common betony, purple betony, bishop's-wort, betonica (Spanish)
Wood betony is a European mint-family herb whose leaves and flowers are used as a tea for nervous tension, headache and digestion. We found no human trial of the plant itself. The few trials that call a herb 'wood betony' used a different species. It contains tannins, so it can block iron, and it is best avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made
About Wood Betony
Wood betony (Betonica officinalis) is an old European herb used as a tea for tension, headache and digestion. No human trial of it was found. Trials that use the name 'wood betony' tested a different species. The main cautions are pregnancy, breastfeeding and iron absorption.
What it is
Wood betony (Betonica officinalis L., also called Stachys officinalis) is a purple-flowered plant of the mint family. The leaves, flowers or above-ground parts are made into tea, tincture or an oily extract. It has been used since at least late Byzantine times.
It contains tannins, flavonoids, phenylethanoid glycosides such as acteoside and betonyosides, iridoids and an oil rich in germacrene D and caryophyllene. Stachydrine and betaine are named for betony on some web pages, but we could not verify them in the plant.
Not the same as mountain tea
Several Stachys plants are sold as betony. A trial of women with PCOS calls Stachys lavandulifolia 'wood betony', yet it is a different species used in Iran and Turkey. Check the Latin name on any product.
In this profile, anything from another species is labelled as such.
What the research shows
Two recent reviews of the Stachys group report traditional uses for wood betony but no human trial of it. The three human trials we found tested Stachys lavandulifolia for work stress, bleeding with PCOS and period pain. They were small, and one pilot had company-linked authors.
Lab work shows antioxidant activity of extracts and activity of the oil against some moulds and yeasts. That does not show a benefit in people.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- Nervous tension, anxiety and headache, as a leaf tea
- Digestion and diarrhoea (astringent, bitter-type herb)
- Oily flower extract on wounds and animals' skin in Italy
Studied for research
- Anxiety, tension and headache: traditional use only, insufficient evidence
- Work stress, period pain, PCOS bleeding: trials exist only for a different species, insufficient for wood betony
- Antioxidant and germ-fighting activity: test tube only
Main compounds
- Tannins and flavonoids
- Phenylethanoid glycosides (acteoside, betonyosides)
- Essential oil (germacrene D, caryophyllene)
Common forms
- Dried leaf and flower as tea
- Tincture (alcohol extract)
- Oily flower extract used on skin
Research links: NIH LactMed: Betony (breastfeeding) · Review: Genus Stachys, traditional uses and chemistry (2020) · GBIF: Betonica officinalis · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
The plant and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Betonica officinalis L.
- Naming authority
- L., Sp. Pl.: 573 (1753). ACCEPTED in the GBIF backbone (key 2927280), exact match, confidence 99. GBIF also holds a separate accepted-status record for Stachys officinalis (L.) Franch. (key 7777194) and lists Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevis. as a synonym; older and many medical sources use Stachys officinalis.
- Synonyms
- Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevis.; Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevis. ex Briq.; Stachys betonica Benth.
- Common names
- Wood betony (English); Betony (English); Common betony (English); Purple betony (English); Bishop's-wort (English)
- Botanical family
- Lamiaceae (mint family)
- Classification
- Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Lamiales > Lamiaceae > Betonica > Betonica officinalis
- Native range
- Europe (occurs in Croatia and Serbia per Pashova 2024); full native range not verified.
- Habitat
- Not verified in the sources read.
- What the plant looks like
- Roots: Roots hold diterpene lactones (betonicosides) per reviews.; Stems: Not verified.; Leaves: Not verified.; Flowers: Common name 'purple betony' refers to flower colour (GBIF name list); description not verified.; Fruit: Not relevant.
- Cultivation
- Not verified.
- Harvest and processing
- Tea and extracts use leaves, flowers or aerial parts; not further verified.
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Stachys lavandulifolia (mountain tea); Note: A different species used in Iran and Turkey and called 'wood betony' in one trial. The trials in this profile used it.; Name: Stachys palustris and S. sylvatica (hedge nettles); Note: Related Stachys plants compared with S. officinalis in a Romanian lab study.
- Sustainability and conservation
- Not assessed in the sources read.
Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof
| Tradition or era | Documented use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Late Byzantine medicine | S. officinalis was probably used in recipes of the manuscript Dynameron (Nikolaos Myrepsos) under names such as vetoniki. | p33003416 |
| Balkans and Egypt (folk) | Tea from dried leaves for headache, nervous tension, anxiety and menopausal symptoms, and as an antibacterial. | p39598736 |
| Central Italy (folk, veterinary) | Oily extract of flowers for wounds and animal skin problems. | p33003416 |
| European herbal medicine | Nerve tonic, astringent for diarrhoea, gargle for mouth and throat, and bile-flow and gas-relieving herb. | p30000919 |
| Modern reference listings | S. officinalis appears in the Anthroposophic Pharmaceutical Codex. No EMA/HMPC monograph was found. | s-ema-betony-not-found |
Traditional use shows how a plant was used. It does not show that a supplement works or is safe today.
What is inside, and how it may work
What the plant contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acteoside (verbascoside) PubChem 5281800 | phenylethanoid glycoside | Aerial parts Amount not given | Isolated from aerial parts in 1996; no health effect tested in that paper. 16 18 | Laboratory research |
| Betonyosides A-F | phenylethanoid glycosides | Aerial parts Amount not given | New compounds named in 1996; reviews say they are found only in S. officinalis and S. recta. 16 22 | Laboratory research |
| Forsythoside B and leucosceptoside B | phenylethanoid glycosides | Aerial parts Amount not given | Known glycosides isolated from the aerial parts; no activity shown here. 16 | Laboratory research |
| Tannins | tannin (astringent polyphenols) | Flowers, leaves, stems Highest of three Stachys species in one study; figure not in abstract | Cause astringency (LactMed). Basis of the iron-binding caution. 21 1 | Laboratory research |
| Flavonoids and anthocyanins | flavonoid | Flowers, leaves, stems Flavonoids over 100 mg quercetin equivalents per g dry weight (Romanian sample) | Antioxidant in lab tests. 1 | Laboratory research |
| Betonicosides A-D and betonicolide | diterpene lactones | Roots Amount not given | Characteristic of the Betonica group; activity not shown. 22 24 | Laboratory research |
| Iridoids (for example aucubin, harpagide, ajugol, allobetonicoside) | iridoid glycosides | Aerial parts Amount not given | Listed in reviews for S. officinalis; activity not shown for this species. 22 24 | Laboratory research |
| Germacrene D PubChem 5317570 | sesquiterpene (volatile oil) | Aerial parts 19.9% of the oil (Serbia) | Oil tested in the test tube only. 13 18 | Laboratory research |
| Beta-caryophyllene PubChem 5281515 | sesquiterpene (volatile oil) | Aerial parts, leaves 14.1% of the oil (Serbia); 20.1% of leaf volatiles (Italy) | Common oil component; no effect shown for betony. 13 6 18 | Laboratory research |
| Stachydrine (proline betaine) PubChem 115244 | alkaloid | Not verified for betony Not found | Listed for the genus Stachys (Tomou 2020) and in secondary web pages for betony, but a primary measurement in Betonica officinalis was NOT verified. Reviews of the pure compound are mostly about motherwort. 24 2 18 | Laboratory research |
| Betaine PubChem 247 | small nitrogen compound | Not verified for betony Not found | Listed in secondary web pages only; NOT verified. 18 | Laboratory research |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant activity | None | Methanol extract of S. officinalis was a strong antioxidant in three test-tube assays (78% lipid-oxidation inhibition). LAB ONLY. 15 | Laboratory research |
| Antimicrobial activity | None | The essential oil inhibited Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans in a broth test. LAB ONLY. 13 | Laboratory research |
| DNA damage tests | None | Mixed: not mutagenic in bacteria and no chromosome aberrations, but DNA damage in the comet assay and slight sister chromatid exchange rise in human blood cells in a dish. LAB ONLY. 23 | Laboratory research |
| Human or animal mechanisms | None | No human or animal mechanism study of Betonica officinalis was found. 22 | Laboratory research |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- Not studied for wood betony.
- Distribution
- Not studied.
- Metabolism
- Not studied.
- Elimination
- Not studied.
- Bioavailability
- Unknown. LactMed: no data on passage of betony components into breast milk.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
Wood betony is a mix of tannins, phenylethanoid glycosides, flavonoids, iridoids and oil. No study compares single compounds with the whole herb. Findings for pure stachydrine come mostly from motherwort and cannot be assigned to betony.
Nutritional composition
A medicinal tea or extract, not a food. Its tannins can reduce iron absorption when taken with meals.
1 low certainty9 not enough evidence
What is Wood Betony good for?
The main proposed uses and how strong the human evidence is for each. 'Insufficient' means there is not enough research to say. For wood betony itself, every use is insufficient.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Nervous tension and anxiety (traditional use)
Not enough evidenceWood betony leaf tea is an old European nerve herb, used in Serbia, Montenegro and Egypt for nervous tension and anxiety. We found no human trial of wood betony (Betonica officinalis) itself.
3 studiesTraditional leaf tea; never tested in people for this use.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Two genus reviews (2020, 2024) and the LactMed record describe the traditional use. None reports a human trial of Betonica officinalis. The Pashova 2024 review says studies of biological activity in the genus remain limited.
Results
No measured result for wood betony.
Effect sizes as reported
None.
Why this rating
Traditional use only; no human data for this species.
Form and dose studied
Traditional leaf tea; never tested in people for this use.
Who was studied
Not applicable.
Limits
No trial exists, so benefit, who might respond and what a useful amount would be are all unknown.
Why researchers looked
Reviews of the Stachys group describe it as a traditional nerve herb. It has not been tested in people.
Traditional use
Tea from dried leaves in the Balkans and Egypt; 'nerve tonic' in European herbal books. A long history of use is not evidence that it works.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
No mechanism has been shown for wood betony. Its flavonoids, phenylethanoid glycosides and oil are plausible but untested for this use.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
See Safety: avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding as a precaution.
Headache (traditional use)
Not enough evidenceWood betony has been used as a folk remedy for headache, as a tea and as leaves (one review links leaf use for headache to the Mediterranean region). No human trial was found.
2 studiesTea or leaf application; untested.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No trial of wood betony for headache was found in the sources read. Headache is also a symptom that sometimes needs urgent care.
Results
No measured result.
Effect sizes as reported
None.
Why this rating
Traditional use only.
Form and dose studied
Tea or leaf application; untested.
Who was studied
Not applicable.
Limits
No trial; self-treating frequent or severe headache may delay a diagnosis.
Why researchers looked
Folk use recorded in reviews and in LactMed.
Traditional use
Leaves of S. officinalis used for headache, as leaves, tea or topical (Pashova 2024; exact form not clear).
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
Not known.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Sudden severe headache or headache with fever, stiff neck, confusion or weakness needs urgent care (see Safety).
Work stress: a trial of a different species, mountain tea (Stachys lavandulifolia)
Not enough evidenceThe only stress trial we found used Stachys lavandulifolia, a different plant that is often sold or written about as wood betony. It cannot be applied to Betonica officinalis.
2 studiesTea of S. lavandulifolia, 2 g a day for 2 months, as stated in the ab…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A trial of 60 emergency medical technicians compared S. lavandulifolia tea with black tea for 2 months. The herb group scored lower on the Hospital Stress Scale after the trial than the black-tea group (p < 0.05). The abstract gives no group averages.
Results
Lower stress score than a black-tea comparison.
Effect sizes as reported
p < 0.05; averages not reported in the abstract.
Why this rating
One small short report on a different species with a self-rated scale and an active comparison (black tea). It is not a trial of wood betony.
Form and dose studied
Tea of S. lavandulifolia, 2 g a day for 2 months, as stated in the abstract.
Who was studied
Emergency medical technicians in Iran.
Limits
Different species; blinding not described in the abstract; one trial.
Why researchers looked
Iranian researchers tested a traditional 'mountain tea' in a stressful job.
Traditional use
Mountain tea is a traditional Iranian herbal tea; a 2025 review of S. lavandulifolia reports anxiolytic effects.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
Not established.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Not reported in the abstract.
Digestion and diarrhoea (traditional use)
Not enough evidenceWood betony has been used as a bitter digestive herb, a gas-relieving (carminative) and bile-flow (cholagogue) herb, and as an astringent for diarrhoea. No trial was found.
3 studiesTea; untested.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No trial in the sources read. S. officinalis had the highest tannin content of three Stachys species in one Romanian lab study.
Results
No measured result.
Effect sizes as reported
None.
Why this rating
Traditional use only.
Form and dose studied
Tea; untested.
Who was studied
Not applicable.
Limits
No trial. Tannins can upset the stomach in some people and block iron (see Safety).
Why researchers looked
The tannins make it astringent, which is the basis of the old diarrhoea use.
Traditional use
Cholagogue and carminative use recorded in Pashova 2024; astringent for diarrhoea in LactMed.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
Tannins tighten tissues in the lab sense (astringency). That is a chemistry property, not proof of a benefit in the gut.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Diarrhoea that is bloody, lasts more than a few days or comes with fever needs care.
Heavy or irregular bleeding with PCOS: a trial of a different species
Not enough evidenceOne trial of 66 women used Stachys lavandulifolia, which its authors call 'wood betony'. It is not Betonica officinalis.
2 studiesAerial-part infusion of S. lavandulifolia for 3 months (per the abstr…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
In the randomised trial, 66 women got either the hormone drug medroxyprogesterone or the herb for 3 months. The fall in bleeding was similar in both arms (P = 0.248). Side effects were more frequent with the herb (45.5%) than the drug (24.2%).
Results
Similar fall in bleeding to the drug, but more side effects with the herb.
Effect sizes as reported
Adjusted odds of a side effect with the drug were 0.40 of those with the herb (95% CI 0.14-1.19), a very wide range.
Why this rating
One trial, a different species, no placebo arm, wide uncertainty.
Form and dose studied
Aerial-part infusion of S. lavandulifolia for 3 months (per the abstract).
Who was studied
Women aged 15-45 with bleeding problems due to PCOS, Iran.
Limits
Different species; no placebo; the abstract does not say what the side effects were.
Why researchers looked
Iranian doctors tested an herbal infusion against a hormone drug for abnormal uterine bleeding linked to PCOS.
Traditional use
Not specific to wood betony.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
Not established. The authors suggest flavonoids such as apigenin.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Side effects were common in this trial; see Safety.
Period pain: a pilot trial of a different species
Low certaintyA small crossover trial of 29 women used standardised capsules of Stachys lavandulifolia. It is not wood betony (Betonica officinalis).
2 studiesStandardised capsules of S. lavandulifolia; not tea.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
In a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover pilot, pain scores were lower during the herb cycle than at baseline or during the placebo cycle (p < 0.05), and use of the pain drug mefenamic acid fell (p < 0.001). Numbers are not in the abstract.
Results
Lower pain and less rescue drug use in a pilot.
Effect sizes as reported
p < 0.05 for pain, p < 0.001 for drug use; averages not in the abstract.
Why this rating
One small pilot, different species, a standardised capsule, and two authors are linked to pharmaceutical companies. Certainty for this pilot is low, and for wood betony itself it is insufficient.
Form and dose studied
Standardised capsules of S. lavandulifolia; not tea.
Who was studied
Women with primary dysmenorrhea.
Limits
Pilot of 29; industry-linked authors; different species.
Why researchers looked
Iranian folk medicine uses boiled Stachys lavandulifolia for painful conditions.
Traditional use
Folk use for pain in Iran.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
Not established.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Not detailed in the abstract.
Menopause symptoms (traditional use)
Not enough evidenceLeaf tea of S. officinalis has been used in Serbia, Montenegro and Egypt for menopausal complaints. No trial was found.
1 studiesTea; untested.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No trial found.
Results
No measured result.
Effect sizes as reported
None.
Why this rating
Traditional use only.
Form and dose studied
Tea; untested.
Who was studied
Not applicable.
Limits
No trial.
Why researchers looked
Recorded as a folk use.
Traditional use
Tea from dried leaves (Pashova 2024).
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
Not known.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding cautions apply (see Safety).
Skin and wounds (traditional, mostly animal use)
Not enough evidenceIn central Italy an oily extract of S. officinalis flowers has been used on wounds and on animals' skin problems. No human trial exists.
2 studiesOily flower extract used on skin; untested.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No study of effect on human skin or wounds was found.
Results
No measured result.
Effect sizes as reported
None.
Why this rating
Folk and veterinary use only.
Form and dose studied
Oily flower extract used on skin; untested.
Who was studied
Not applicable.
Limits
No trial.
Why researchers looked
Folk and veterinary use.
Traditional use
Oily extract of flowers for wounds and animal skin in Italy (Tomou 2020; Pashova 2024).
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
Not studied for this species.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Deep, infected or slow-healing wounds need medical care.
Antioxidant and germ-fighting activity in the test tube
Not enough evidenceIn test-tube tests extracts and oil of S. officinalis block oxidation and slow some moulds and yeasts. This is lab work only and does not show a benefit in people.
3 studiesMethanol extracts and distilled oil, not tea.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No human study. Methanol extracts were strong antioxidants in three tests (up to 78% inhibition of lipid oxidation). The oil stopped Aspergillus niger at 2.5 mg/ml and Candida albicans at 5.0 mg/ml in a broth test.
Results
Strong activity in lab tests.
Effect sizes as reported
Up to 78% inhibition of lipid oxidation in one assay; oil MIC 2.5 to 5.0 mg/ml.
Why this rating
Lab only; no human or animal test of these effects for this species was read.
Form and dose studied
Methanol extracts and distilled oil, not tea.
Who was studied
Not applicable.
Limits
Test-tube results do not predict effects of tea in the body.
Why researchers looked
Chemists test herbs for antioxidant activity.
Traditional use
Not applicable.
Proposed mechanism Laboratory research
Antioxidant assays measure chemical reactions in a tube. Phenolic compounds (flavonoids, phenylethanoid glycosides) are the likely cause.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Not applicable.
Breast-milk supply (claim, no trial)
Not enough evidenceBetony is said to increase milk production. LactMed found no scientifically valid trial and advises avoiding it while breastfeeding.
1 studiesNot applicable.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
LactMed: no scientifically valid clinical trials support this use, and no data exist on whether betony passes into breast milk.
Results
No measured result.
Effect sizes as reported
None.
Why this rating
No trial and no safety data; LactMed advises avoidance.
Form and dose studied
Not applicable.
Who was studied
Breastfeeding mothers.
Limits
No data.
Why researchers looked
Claim in herbal tradition.
Traditional use
Listed as a purported galactogogue.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
Not known.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
LactMed advises avoiding betony while breastfeeding because safety data are lacking.
Connections to the rest of health
How Wood Betony connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
A. Wellness goals
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety Support | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Nervous tension and anxiety (traditional use): Wood betony leaf tea is an old European nerve herb, used in Serbia, Montenegro and Egypt for nervous tension and anxiety. We found no human trial of wood betony (Betonica officinalis) itself. | 22 24 21 |
| Calm Relaxation | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Nervous tension and anxiety (traditional use): Wood betony leaf tea is an old European nerve herb, used in Serbia, Montenegro and Egypt for nervous tension and anxiety. We found no human trial of wood betony (Betonica officinalis) itself. Headache (traditional use): Wood betony has been used as a folk remedy for headache, as a tea and as leaves (one review links leaf use for headache to the Mediterranean region). No human trial was found. | 22 24 21 |
| Stress Reduction | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Nervous tension and anxiety (traditional use): Wood betony leaf tea is an old European nerve herb, used in Serbia, Montenegro and Egypt for nervous tension and anxiety. We found no human trial of wood betony (Betonica officinalis) itself. | 22 24 21 |
| Stress Reduction | Potential benefit | Not enough evidence | Work stress: a trial of a different species, mountain tea (Stachys lavandulifolia): The only stress trial we found used Stachys lavandulifolia, a different plant that is often sold or written about as wood betony. It cannot be applied to Betonica officinalis. | 10 25 |
| Anxiety Support | Potential benefit | Not enough evidence | Work stress: a trial of a different species, mountain tea (Stachys lavandulifolia): The only stress trial we found used Stachys lavandulifolia, a different plant that is often sold or written about as wood betony. It cannot be applied to Betonica officinalis. | 10 25 |
| Digestive Support | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Digestion and diarrhoea (traditional use): Wood betony has been used as a bitter digestive herb, a gas-relieving (carminative) and bile-flow (cholagogue) herb, and as an astringent for diarrhoea. No trial was found. | 22 21 1 |
| Womens Wellness | Potential benefit | Not enough evidence | Heavy or irregular bleeding with PCOS: a trial of a different species: One trial of 66 women used Stachys lavandulifolia, which its authors call 'wood betony'. It is not Betonica officinalis. Period pain: a pilot trial of a different species: A small crossover trial of 29 women used standardised capsules of Stachys lavandulifolia. It is not wood betony (Betonica officinalis). | 12 24 17 |
| Menopause Support | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Menopause symptoms (traditional use): Leaf tea of S. officinalis has been used in Serbia, Montenegro and Egypt for menopausal complaints. No trial was found. | 22 |
| Womens Wellness | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Menopause symptoms (traditional use): Leaf tea of S. officinalis has been used in Serbia, Montenegro and Egypt for menopausal complaints. No trial was found. Breast-milk supply (claim, no trial): Betony is said to increase milk production. LactMed found no scientifically valid trial and advises avoiding it while breastfeeding. | 22 21 |
| Healthy Skin | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Skin and wounds (traditional, mostly animal use): In central Italy an oily extract of S. officinalis flowers has been used on wounds and on animals' skin problems. No human trial exists. | 24 22 |
| Inflammation Balance | Preliminary mechanism | Not enough evidence | Antioxidant and germ-fighting activity in the test tube: In test-tube tests extracts and oil of S. officinalis block oxidation and slow some moulds and yeasts. This is lab work only and does not show a benefit in people. | 15 13 1 |
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reproductive system | Contraindication | Not enough evidence | Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding as a precaution; related species caused fetal loss in mice. Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding as a precaution. Preparation or compound: Betony and related Stachys herbs |
11 21 |
| Digestive system | Drug or supplement interaction | Not enough evidence | Polyphenol-rich teas reduce iron absorption; betony not tested. Preparation or compound: Tannin-rich tea |
9 14 |
| Nervous System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Nervous tension and anxiety (traditional use) Studied for: Headache (traditional use) | 22 24 21 10 25 |
| Stress Mood | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Nervous tension and anxiety (traditional use) Studied for: Work stress: a trial of a different species, mountain tea (Stachys lavandulifolia) | 22 24 21 10 25 |
| Digestive System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Digestion and diarrhoea (traditional use) | 22 21 1 |
| Reproductive System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Heavy or irregular bleeding with PCOS: a trial of a different species Studied for: Period pain: a pilot trial of a different species | 12 24 17 22 21 |
| Integumentary System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Skin and wounds (traditional, mostly animal use) | 24 22 |
| Immune System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Antioxidant and germ-fighting activity in the test tube | 15 13 1 |
I. Biomarkers
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital Stress Scale score (HSS-35), a different species | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 10 |
| Period pain on a visual analogue scale (a different species) | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 17 |
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acteoside (verbascoside) | Biological association | In vitro | Isolated from aerial parts in 1996; no health effect tested in that paper. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts |
16 18 |
| Betonyosides A-F | Biological association | In vitro | New compounds named in 1996; reviews say they are found only in S. officinalis and S. recta. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts |
16 22 |
| Forsythoside B and leucosceptoside B | Biological association | In vitro | Known glycosides isolated from the aerial parts; no activity shown here. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts |
16 |
| Tannins | Biological association | In vitro | Cause astringency (LactMed). Basis of the iron-binding caution. Preparation or compound: Flowers, leaves, stems |
21 1 |
| Flavonoids and anthocyanins | Biological association | In vitro | Antioxidant in lab tests. Preparation or compound: Flowers, leaves, stems |
1 |
| Betonicosides A-D and betonicolide | Biological association | In vitro | Characteristic of the Betonica group; activity not shown. Preparation or compound: Roots |
22 24 |
| Iridoids (for example aucubin, harpagide, ajugol, allobetonicoside) | Biological association | In vitro | Listed in reviews for S. officinalis; activity not shown for this species. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts |
22 24 |
| Germacrene D | Biological association | In vitro | Oil tested in the test tube only. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts |
13 18 |
| Beta-caryophyllene | Biological association | In vitro | Common oil component; no effect shown for betony. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts, leaves |
13 6 18 |
| Stachydrine (proline betaine) | Biological association | In vitro | Listed for the genus Stachys (Tomou 2020) and in secondary web pages for betony, but a primary measurement in Betonica officinalis was NOT verified. Reviews of the pure compound are mostly about motherwort. Preparation or compound: Not verified for betony |
24 2 18 |
| Betaine | Biological association | In vitro | Listed in secondary web pages only; NOT verified. Preparation or compound: Not verified for betony |
18 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).
Evidence at a glance: what changed in 2 lab markers
Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.
The evidence
The research centre for Wood Betony. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We started from our existing wood betony summary, then searched PubMed for Betonica and Stachys officinalis, read the abstract of every PubMed study cited, read the text of two genus reviews and the LactMed record, and checked plant names in GBIF and NCBI Taxonomy and compounds in PubChem. Not verified: EMA, NCCIH and LiverTox pages were not found or not readable; Drugs.com was blocked; one web database used was self-described as AI-generated and is treated as weak. Certainty ratings are the compiler's reading.
Study library: every study we checked 25
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apostolescu 2023 Chemical and Antioxidant Profile of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Stachys Officinalis L., Stachys Palustris L., Stachys Sylvatica L. from Romania. Acta Chim Slov · PMID 40836517 · DOI |
Laboratory research in-vitro |
Not applicable (chemistry) | Hydroalcoholic extracts of flowers, leaves and stems of three Stachys species flower+leaf+stem Not applicable Not applicable · vs Two other Stachys species |
Flavonoids exceeded 100 mg quercetin equivalents per g dry weight in all three species. Anthocyanins were found only in flowers. S. officinalis had the highest content of anthocyanins and tannins of the three. Antioxidant activity was present in all; S. palustris was strongest by ferric reducing power. Chemistry and lab antioxidant activity only (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins, antioxidant power Limitations: Romanian samples only; tannin figures are not given in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Cheng 2020 A review of pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties of stachydrine. Pharmacol Res · PMID 32173585 · DOI |
Narrative review animal |
Review of lab and animal studies of the isolated compound stachydrine | Isolated stachydrine, mainly from Leonurus japonicus (motherwort), not from betony unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable |
Stachydrine shows effects in lab and animal work on fibrosis, heart, cancer cells, uterus, brain injury and inflammation; its pharmacokinetics are discussed. Lab and animal evidence for the pure compound (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of stachydrine Limitations: Concerns the pure compound mainly from motherwort. It does not show how much stachydrine betony has or that betony acts this way. Funding and conflicts: Not stated Read: abstract |
| Drugs.com 2026 Drugs.com natural products entry 'Betony' (not read) drugs.com/npp/betony.html · Source |
Traditional use |
General readers | Betony unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable |
The page returned HTTP 403, so it could not be read. A search summary said it advises avoiding use in pregnancy and lactation and that evidence for the traditional uses is limited. Not used as evidence. Not read (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Pregnancy, adverse effects Limitations: NOT verified; listed so the gap is visible. Funding and conflicts: Not stated Read: summary-only |
| European Medicines Agency 2026 EMA / HMPC herbal monograph search for Betonica / Stachys officinalis (not found) EMA website, checked 2026-10-25 · Source |
Authoritative guidance |
Not applicable | Regulatory search unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable |
No monograph or assessment report found. The EMA search page returned an access error and a direct herbal page returned 404, so the check is incomplete. Not found (check incomplete) (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Whether an HMPC monograph exists Limitations: Absence of a page found is not proof that none exists. Funding and conflicts: Not stated Read: summary-only |
| GBIF Secretariat 2026 GBIF backbone: Betonica officinalis L. (species record 2927280) and Stachys officinalis (L.) Franch. (7777194) GBIF API, checked 2026-10-25 · Source |
Authoritative guidance |
Not applicable | Plant name records unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable |
Betonica officinalis L. is ACCEPTED (Lamiaceae, Lamiales), match confidence 99. GBIF also holds a separate ACCEPTED record Stachys officinalis (L.) Franch. (a catalogue quirk) and lists Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevis. as a synonym of B. officinalis. English names include betony, common betony, wood betony, purple betony, bishop's-wort. Name check done (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Accepted name, family, synonyms, English names Limitations: Native range and conservation status not read. Funding and conflicts: Not stated Read: full-text |
| Giuliani 2017 Secretory structures and essential oil composition in Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevisan subsp. officinalis (Lamiaceae) from Italy. Nat Prod Res · PMID 27931115 · DOI |
Laboratory research in-vitro |
Not applicable (chemistry) | Leaves and flowers of Stachys officinalis subsp. officinalis from Italy leaf+flower Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable |
Leaf volatiles: (E)-caryophyllene 20.1%, (E)-nerolidol 14.3%, caryophyllene oxide 6.1%, gamma-cadinene 5.7%. Flower volatiles: caryophyllene oxide 16.5%, (E)-nerolidol 15.4%, humulene epoxide II 9.2%, alpha-pinene 7.0%. Unusual polyphenol content seen in leaf glands. Chemistry only (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Volatile oil composition Limitations: One Italian population; oil profile varies by origin. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| He 2024 Exploring stachydrine: from natural occurrence to biological activities and metabolic pathways. Front Plant Sci · PMID 39170783 · DOI |
Narrative review animal |
Review of the compound stachydrine (proline betaine) | Isolated stachydrine, mostly from Leonurus and Citrus unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable |
Says stachydrine has a two-directional (bi-directional) regulating effect on uterine function and many other lab effects; it is widely found in Leonurus and Citrus aurantium. Lab and animal evidence for the pure compound (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Occurrence and activities of stachydrine Limitations: Does not name betony in the abstract. Compound-level only. Funding and conflicts: No conflict of interest declared Read: abstract |
| Hobbs 2026 Wood Betony (Christopher Hobbs Herbal Therapeutics Database) christopherhobbs.com · Source |
Traditional use |
General readers | Wood betony herb unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable |
Lists flavonoids, tannins, triterpenoids and essential oils; says it is used as a nerve tonic and for headache and digestion; may interact with sedatives; mild digestive upset possible; pregnancy and breastfeeding research insufficient. The page itself says its historical and clinical sections were generated by ChatGPT and edited by the author, so it is a weak source. Weak, secondary source (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Constituents, traditional uses, cautions Limitations: Self-described as AI-generated and edited; no citations seen; used only where it agrees with better sources or flagged as weak. Funding and conflicts: Not stated Read: summary-only |
| Hurrell 1999 Inhibition of non-haem iron absorption in man by polyphenolic-containing beverages. Br J Nutr · PMID 10999016 |
Controlled trial |
Healthy adults | Beverages tested: black tea, coffee, cocoa and herb teas (camomile, vervain, lime flower, pennyroyal, peppermint) unspecified Not applicable Single test meals · vs Water |
All beverages blocked iron absorption in proportion to polyphenol content. Herb teas with 20-50 mg polyphenols reduced absorption by 50-70%; those with 100-400 mg by 60-90%. Examples: peppermint 84%, pennyroyal 73%, vervain 59%, lime flower 52%, camomile 47%, black tea 79-94%. Herb teas blocked iron absorption in a dose-dependent way (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Iron absorption from a bread meal using radio-iron Limitations: Betony tea was not tested; the link is by comparison with other polyphenol herb teas. Number of subjects not in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Jadidi 2023 Effect of stachys lavandulifolia on occupational stress in emergency medical technicians. Explore (NY) · PMID 37061348 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
60 Emergency medical technicians in Arak, Iran |
Tea of Stachys lavandulifolia ('mountain tea'; a different species from Betonica officinalis) unspecified 2 g daily as tea (as stated in the abstract) 2 months · vs Black tea |
Stress score fell in the herb group (p < 0.05) and was lower than in the black-tea group after the trial (p < 0.05); no significant change in the black-tea group. Group averages are not in the abstract. Lower stress score than a black-tea comparison (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Occupational stress on the Hospital Stress Scale (HSS-35) Limitations: DIFFERENT SPECIES. Short report with a self-rated scale; blinding and placebo type are not described in the abstract; black tea is not an inactive comparison; numbers not given. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Jafarzadeh 2012 The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Stachys lavandulifolia vahl on pregnant mice. EXCLI J · PMID 27418911 |
Animal research animal |
Pregnant mice | Hydroalcoholic extract of Stachys lavandulifolia (a different species), injected into the abdomen unspecified 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg by injection into the abdomen Days 7-12 of pregnancy · vs Saline |
More fetuses were reabsorbed in treated groups than controls (P < 0.05); fetuses were shorter and lighter; progesterone was lower. Authors advise using the plant cautiously during pregnancy. Fetal loss in mice at injected doses (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Reabsorbed fetuses, fetal size, progesterone Limitations: DIFFERENT SPECIES and injected extract, not tea. Mouse study; human relevance unknown. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Jalilian 2013 Phytotherapeutic management of polycystic ovary syndrome: role of aerial parts of wood betony (Stachys lavandulifolia). Phytother Res · PMID 23307315 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
66 Women aged 15-45 with abnormal uterine bleeding due to polycystic ovary syndrome (Iran) |
Aerial parts of Stachys lavandulifolia (called 'wood betony' by the authors; a different species from Betonica officinalis) aerial parts 5 g three times daily (as stated in the abstract) 3 months · vs Medroxyprogesterone acetate 10 mg twice daily, cyclical, 3 cycles |
Age-adjusted prevalence rate of bleeding patterns fell from 2.7 to 1.1 with the drug and from 2.5 to 0.7 with the herb; the fall was similar in the two arms (P = 0.248). Side effects: 24.2% with the drug vs 45.5% with the herb. Adjusted odds of a side effect with the drug were 0.40 times those with the herb (95% CI 0.14-1.19, P = 0.099). Similar fall in bleeding to the drug, more side effects with the herb; wide uncertainty (Drug-vs-herb odds of side effect 0.40 (95% CI 0.14-1.19)) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Pattern of abnormal uterine bleeding; side effects Limitations: DIFFERENT SPECIES. No placebo arm; compared with a hormone drug; a single trial; small; very wide confidence intervals; the abstract does not say what the side effects were. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Lazarević 2013 Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevis. (Lamiaceae). Chem Biodivers · PMID 23847079 · DOI |
Laboratory research in-vitro |
Not applicable (chemistry, test-tube microbes) | Essential oil of Stachys officinalis aerial parts (Serbia) aerial parts Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable |
190 components found. Main ones: germacrene D 19.9%, beta-caryophyllene 14.1%, alpha-humulene 7.5%. In the test tube the oil worked best against the mould Aspergillus niger (MIC 2.5 mg/ml, MFC 5.0 mg/ml) and the yeast Candida albicans (MIC and MFC 5.0 mg/ml). Lab antimicrobial activity only (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Oil composition; antimicrobial activity Limitations: Test-tube result for the oil; says nothing about tea or about infections in people. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Lazrak 2021 Tea Consumption Reduces Iron Bioavailability from NaFeEDTA in Nonanemic Women and Women with Iron Deficiency Anemia: Stable Iron Isotope Studies in Morocco. J Nutr · PMID 34038558 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
46 Women with iron deficiency anaemia (n = 25) and without anaemia (n = 21), Morocco |
Moroccan green tea (492 mg polyphenols in a 300 mL serving) with an iron-fortified meal leaf Not applicable Single test meals, crossover · vs Water |
Tea cut iron absorption from the meal by more than 85% in both groups. In women with anaemia the median absorption was 36.7% without tea and 4.1% with tea; in women without anaemia 16.7% vs 1.4% (P < 0.001 for both). Large drop in iron absorption with a polyphenol-rich tea (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Iron absorption measured with stable isotopes Limitations: This is GREEN TEA, not betony. It is used only to show how polyphenol-rich drinks can block iron. Betony tea was not tested. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Matkowski 2006 Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of some medicinal plants from the Lamiaceae. Fitoterapia · PMID 16713687 · DOI |
Laboratory research in-vitro |
Not applicable (test-tube assays) | Methanolic extracts of six wild European Lamiaceae including Stachys officinalis unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Five other Lamiaceae species |
All six herbs showed strong antioxidant capacity, with rankings that differed by test. In the DPPH test S. officinalis ranked fourth of six. In the phosphomolybdenum test it was the strongest at both 40 and 90 degrees C. In the lipid peroxidation test it reached the maximum inhibition of 78% (shared with Marrubium vulgare). Strong antioxidant activity in the test tube (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Antioxidant capacity in three test-tube assays Limitations: Test-tube results; antioxidant activity in a laboratory assay does not show a health benefit in people. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Miyase 1996 Phenylethanoid glycosides from Stachys officinalis. Phytochemistry · PMID 8862039 · DOI |
Laboratory research in-vitro |
Not applicable (chemistry) | Aerial parts of Stachys officinalis aerial parts Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable |
Six new phenylethanoid glycosides (betonyosides A-F) and six known ones (acetoside, acetoside isomer, campneosides II, forsythoside B and leucosceptoside B) were isolated from the aerial parts. Chemistry only; no health effect tested (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Isolation of compounds Limitations: Compound isolation; no activity test in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Monji 2018 Therapeutic Effects of Standardized Formulation of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl on Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Crossover, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study. J Altern Complement Med · PMID 29741912 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
29 Women with primary dysmenorrhea (period pain), Tehran |
Standardised capsules of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl (a different species from Betonica officinalis) unspecified Capsules every 4-6 hours (amount not stated in the abstract) One menstrual cycle per phase, crossover · vs Placebo capsules; mefenamic acid allowed as rescue |
Pain intensity was lower during herb capsules than at baseline and during the placebo cycle (p < 0.05). Use of mefenamic acid fell during the herb cycle compared with baseline and placebo (p < 0.001). Lower period pain and less rescue drug use in a pilot (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Pain on a visual analogue scale and the McGill questionnaire; rescue drug use Limitations: DIFFERENT SPECIES. Pilot of 29 women; standardised capsule, not tea; numbers not in the abstract. Two authors are linked to pharmaceutical companies (Rouz Darou, Shimi Gostar Andishe), so the trial may be industry-linked. Funding and conflicts: Authors list two company affiliations; funding not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| NCBI PubChem 2026 PubChem compound records: stachydrine, betaine, verbascoside (acteoside), caffeic-type acids, caryophyllene, germacrene D PubChem PUG REST, checked 2026-10-25 · Source |
Authoritative guidance |
Not applicable | Compound records unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable |
Stachydrine CID 115244 (C7H13NO2); betaine CID 247 (C5H11NO2); verbascoside CID 5281800 (C29H36O15); rosmarinic acid CID 5281792; beta-caryophyllene CID 5281515 (C15H24); germacrene D CID 5317570 (C15H24). IDs verified by API (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Compound IDs and formulas Limitations: Confirms the compound IDs only, not that betony contains them. Funding and conflicts: Not stated Read: full-text |
| NCCIH 2026 NCCIH health page for betony (not found) nccih.nih.gov, checked 2026-10-25 · Source |
Authoritative guidance |
Not applicable | Regulatory search unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable |
The address nccih.nih.gov/health/betony returned 404. Not found (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Whether a betony page exists Limitations: Only one address tried. Funding and conflicts: Not stated Read: summary-only |
| NIDDK LiverTox 2026 LiverTox (NIH) entry for betony (not read) NCBI Bookshelf, checked 2026-10-25 · Source |
Authoritative guidance |
Not applicable | Safety database search unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable |
No betony entry was found; the Bookshelf page that loaded showed a browser check, so LiverTox was not read. Not found / not read (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Liver injury data Limitations: Not verified. Funding and conflicts: Not stated Read: summary-only |
| National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (LactMed) 2024 Betony (Drugs and Lactation Database, LactMed record) Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) · PMID 30000919 |
Authoritative guidance |
Breastfeeding mothers and infants | Betony (Stachys and Betonica plants) unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable |
Says betony contains tannins and flavonoid glycosides, is used as a nerve tonic for anxiety and headache, an astringent for diarrhoea and a gargle. Calls it a purported galactogogue with no scientifically valid clinical trials. No data exist on excretion of any betony component into breast milk; because of a general lack of safety data it should be avoided during breastfeeding. Avoid while breastfeeding (lack of data) (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Breastfeeding safety and milk supply claim Limitations: Record covers the group 'betony' (Stachys and Betonica plants), not one named species. Read through the PubMed abstract; the full Bookshelf page was blocked. Funding and conflicts: Public record Read: abstract |
| Pashova 2024 Genus Stachys-Phytochemistry, Traditional Medicinal Uses, and Future Perspectives. Molecules · PMID 39598736 · DOI |
Systematic review |
Review of 171 studies on the genus Stachys | Stachys species including S. officinalis aerial parts Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable |
Full text read. Records tea from dried leaves of S. officinalis in Serbia, Montenegro and Egypt for headache, nervous tension, anxiety and menopausal symptoms and as an antibacterial; a cholagogue and carminative use; leaves used topically for headache; oily flower extract for animal skin in Italy. Notes S. officinalis is rich in root diterpenoids, and gives its main oil components (germacrene D, caryophyllene). Authors state that studies on biological activity remain limited. Traditional use only for S. officinalis (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Compounds, traditional uses, pharmacology of Stachys Limitations: Genus-level review; text read selectively for S. officinalis. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no conflicts of interest Read: full-text |
| Slapšytė 2019 Genotoxic properties of Betonica officinalis, Gratiola officinalis, Vincetoxicum luteum and Vincetoxicum hirundinaria extracts. Food Chem Toxicol · PMID 31520668 · DOI |
Laboratory research in-vitro |
Human lymphocytes in vitro and Salmonella strains | Betonica officinalis extract (strong antioxidant extract) unspecified Not stated in the abstract Not applicable · vs Untreated cells |
Extracts were not mutagenic in the Ames test (TA98, TA100, with and without metabolic activation) and did not cause chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes. All four plant extracts caused DNA damage in the comet assay. The Betonica officinalis and Vincetoxicum luteum extracts caused a slight rise in sister chromatid exchange. Only the Gratiola extract raised micronuclei. Mixed lab signals; meaning for people unknown (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Mutation, chromosome damage, micronuclei, DNA strand breaks (comet), sister chromatid exchange Limitations: Test-tube cell study. Extract strength and how it relates to tea or capsules is not stated in the abstract. Authors note variation by plant extract and donor. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Tomou 2020 Genus Stachys: A Review of Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Bioactivity. Medicines (Basel) · PMID 33003416 · DOI |
Narrative review |
Review of the genus Stachys (traditional use, chemistry, lab and clinical studies, toxicity) | Stachys species including S. officinalis aerial parts Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable |
Full text read. Notes the Italian oily flower extract of S. officinalis for wounds, veterinary use, and listing of S. officinalis in the Anthroposophic Pharmaceutical Codex. Lists stachydrine among alkaloids of the genus, betonyosides, iridoids and betonicosides (diterpene lactones in roots) for S. officinalis. Reports the 2019 comet-assay and SCE finding for S. officinalis extracts. The clinical studies it describes are on S. lavandulifolia (PCOS bleeding, dysmenorrhea). In its toxicity section only S. lavandulifolia is flagged (abortifacient claim, mouse data, kidney effects in rats). No human trial of S. officinalis reported (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Traditional uses, compounds, bioactivity, clinical studies, toxicity Limitations: Genus-level review; I read the text selectively for S. officinalis and safety topics. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no conflict of interest Read: full-text |
| Yilmaz 2025 Pharmacological and toxicological profile of the Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl: a comprehensive review. Z Naturforsch C J Biosci · PMID 40899416 · DOI |
Narrative review |
Review of studies of S. lavandulifolia | Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl (a different species) unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable |
Reports studies of anxiolytic and other effects, and says some potential toxicity concerns about abortion and renal toxicity were also reported. Calls for more trials. Review; ongoing research needed (None) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Pharmacology and toxicity of S. lavandulifolia Limitations: About a different species; read as an abstract only. Funding and conflicts: Not stated Read: abstract |
What we do not know yet
- No human trial of Betonica officinalis for any use.
- The human trials found are of Stachys lavandulifolia, a different species.
- No human safety, liver, blood pressure or interaction data; no verified pregnancy statement.
- Tannin and stachydrine content of wood betony not found.
- EMA and LiverTox checks were incomplete.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes any rating or safety wording.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Other 2
Hospital Stress Scale score (HSS-35), a different species
Lowered in trials
A questionnaire in which workers rate how stressful their job feels.
Not enough evidenceResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Shows how stressed people say they feel at work.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
A self-rated score, not a lab marker. Black tea is not an inactive comparison.
Safety implication
Not reported in the abstract.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Score fell in the herb group (p < 0.05) and was lower than the black-tea group after 2 months (p < 0.05). Values not given in the abstract. | 60 emergency medical technicians, Iran | Stachys lavandulifolia tea (not wood betony) |
Period pain on a visual analogue scale (a different species)
Lowered in trials
A 0 to 10 style line on which a person marks how strong the pain is.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Shows how painful periods feel.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
A self-rated symptom, not a lab marker. Pilot with industry-linked authors.
Safety implication
Not detailed in the abstract.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Pain was lower during the herb cycle than baseline or placebo (p < 0.05). Values not in the abstract. | 29 women with primary dysmenorrhea | Standardised Stachys lavandulifolia capsules (not wood betony) |
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 5
- Pregnancy: avoid as a precaution. No official statement on wood betony in pregnancy was found, and no human pregnancy study exists. A related species (Stachys lavandulifolia) caused fetal loss in mice at injected doses, Iranian women are said to use it to end pregnancies, and the pure compound stachydrine affects the womb in lab work. These are indirect clues, not proof for Betonica officinalis. A traditional womb-stimulant warning for S. officinalis could not be verified. Until more is known, avoid it in pregnancy. Animal research 11 24 7 3
- Breastfeeding: avoid. LactMed says no data exist on whether betony components pass into breast milk and advises avoiding it while breastfeeding because of the lack of safety data. It also says no valid trial supports its use to raise milk supply. Authoritative guidance 21
- Tannins can block iron and upset the stomach. Wood betony contains tannins (LactMed), and a Romanian lab study found more tannins in S. officinalis than in two related species. Human studies show that polyphenol-rich drinks, including herb teas, strongly reduce iron absorption. Betony tea itself has not been tested. If you have low iron or anaemia, drink it away from meals and iron tablets, and ask a clinician. Pharmacological theory 21 1 9 14
- Almost no human safety data. No human trial of Betonica officinalis exists, so side effects, long-term safety and interactions are largely unknown. The only human trials are of a different species. Authoritative guidance 24 22
- Lab DNA-damage signal. In human blood cells in a dish, a Betonica officinalis extract was not mutagenic and did not break chromosomes, but it did cause DNA damage in the comet test and a slight rise in sister chromatid exchange. What this means for people drinking tea is unknown. Laboratory research 23
Side effects 4
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side effects in a trial of a different species (Stachys lavandulifolia, called 'wood betony' by the authors) 45.5% of women on the herb had a side effect versus 24.2% on the hormone drug (adjusted odds of a drug side effect 0.40, 95% CI 0.14-1.19). The abstract does not say which effects. | 45.5% in the herb arm of one trial | unknown Not reported | Controlled trial 12 |
| Stomach upset (possible with tannin-rich herbs) One weak, self-described AI-assisted web page lists mild digestive upset. No betony study measured it. Treat as plausible, not established. | Not established | mild Not reported | Pharmacological theory 8 |
| Lower iron absorption when taken with meals Shown for other polyphenol-rich teas, not for betony. | Not established | moderate if iron is low Reverses when the drink is stopped (inferred) | Pharmacological theory 9 14 |
| Allergic reaction No case report was found. Any plant can cause an allergy; stop and seek care if you get hives, swelling or trouble breathing. | Not established | unknown Not reported | Pharmacological theory 24 |
Liver
We found no case report of liver injury from wood betony and no LiverTox entry (the page we could reach did not load, so LiverTox was not read). Rat studies of other Stachys species (not betony) are about protecting the liver, and do not show safety in people. 20
How often. No data. Not finding reports is not proof of safety.
Monitoring. No agency advice found. People with liver disease should ask a clinician before using it.
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Wood Betony supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 5
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron tablets and iron-rich meals supplement | Tannins and other polyphenols bind iron in the gut. | Likely to reduce iron absorption if taken together (shown for other teas). | Pharmacological theory Low certainty 9 14 | Separate betony tea from iron tablets and meals by a couple of hours, and ask a pharmacist. |
| Sedatives, sleep medicines and alcohol prescription | Traditional 'nerve herb' reputation; no mechanism shown for betony. | Unknown. One weak web page warns of possible additive drowsiness. | Pharmacological theory Not enough evidence 8 | Be cautious and ask a pharmacist if you take sedating medicines. |
| Blood pressure medicines prescription | No source found. | No data. Blood-pressure effects of betony were not found in any source read. | Pharmacological theory Not enough evidence 22 | Not found. Do not change blood pressure medicine because of a herb. |
| Hormone treatments and pregnancy-related medicines prescription | Indirect: related species affected progesterone in mice; stachydrine affects the womb in lab work. | Unknown for betony. | Animal research Not enough evidence 11 7 | Ask a doctor first. |
| Other medicines in general prescription | No interaction or enzyme study of Betonica officinalis was found. | Unknown. | Pharmacological theory Not enough evidence 24 | Tell your pharmacist you use it. |
Who should check first 4
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy or trying to conceive | Avoid as a precaution (no betony-specific human data; related-species animal data). | Animal research 11 24 |
| Breastfeeding | Avoid (LactMed: lack of safety data). | Authoritative guidance 21 |
| Iron deficiency or anaemia | Do not drink it with meals or iron tablets; ask a clinician. | Pharmacological theory 9 14 |
| Children | No data found; do not give without medical advice. | Authoritative guidance 24 |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. No human toxicity study of wood betony was found. The related species S. lavandulifolia caused fetal loss in mice and kidney changes in rats at high extract doses (per a genus review). For Betonica officinalis the only toxicity-type result is the mixed in-vitro DNA test.
Animal. Mouse study of a different species (S. lavandulifolia) given by injection: more reabsorbed fetuses and lower progesterone at 50-200 mg/kg.
Human doses studied. None for Betonica officinalis.
High dose or long term signals. None found for wood betony; long-term safety unknown.
Overdose response. No overdose report found.
Genotoxicity. Mixed in vitro: not mutagenic in the Ames test or chromosome-damaging, but positive in the comet assay and slight rise in sister chromatid exchange for a B. officinalis extract.
Toxic plant parts. Not described in the sources read. Tea and products use the above-ground parts; roots contain diterpene lactones (betonicosides) of unknown safety.
No contamination or adulteration study of wood betony products was found.
Species mix-ups. Several Stachys plants are sold or written about as betony. A trial of Stachys lavandulifolia calls it 'wood betony', although it is a different species. Results for one cannot be applied to the other. 12 21 24
Supplement quality. LactMed notes supplements do not need FDA approval before sale and labels may not match contents. 21
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| LactMed (NIH) (United States) | Betony: avoid during breastfeeding because of a lack of safety data; no valid trial supports milk-supply use. source | 2024-08-15 |
When to get medical help
- Hives, swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing: stop and get emergency help.
- Vaginal bleeding, cramping or pain in pregnancy: contact your doctor at once.
- Sudden severe headache, or headache with fever, stiff neck, confusion or weakness: seek urgent care (do not treat with a herb).
- Persistent vomiting, or diarrhoea with blood or fever: see a doctor.
Stop the supplement and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does wood betony work for anything?
Is wood betony good for anxiety or stress?
Does it help headaches?
Is wood betony the same as Stachys lavandulifolia?
Is wood betony safe in pregnancy?
Can I use it while breastfeeding?
LactMed advises avoiding betony while breastfeeding because there is no safety data. It also found no valid evidence that it raises milk supply.
Does betony tea affect iron?
Does it affect blood pressure?
We found no source that says it does or does not. If you take blood pressure medicine, do not change it because of a herb.
Does it interact with medicines?
Can it harm the liver?
No case of liver injury was found, but LiverTox could not be read and nothing was studied in people. Not finding reports is not proof of safety.
Is it approved by regulators?
How much should I take?
This profile does not cover amounts. Ask a doctor or pharmacist, especially if you take medicines or may be pregnant.
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Editorial transparency
- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
- Medical review
- None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
- First published
- 2026-10-25
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-25
- How we research
- We started from our existing wood betony summary, then searched PubMed for Betonica and Stachys officinalis, read the abstract of every PubMed study cited, read the text of two genus reviews and the LactMed record, and checked plant names in GBIF and NCBI Taxonomy and compounds in PubChem. Not verified: EMA, NCCIH and LiverTox pages were not found or not readable; Drugs.com was blocked; one web database used was self-described as AI-generated and is treated as weak. Certainty ratings are the compiler's reading.
- How we rate evidence
- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
- Independence
- No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown.
Sources 25
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- Apostolescu GF, Popescu DI, Botoran O, et al.. Chemical and Antioxidant Profile of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Stachys Officinalis L., Stachys Palustris L., Stachys Sylvatica L. from Romania.. Acta Chim Slov. 2023. PMID 40836517. DOI 10.17344/acsi.2023.8046. (abstract)
- Cheng F, Zhou Y, Wang M, et al.. A review of pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties of stachydrine.. Pharmacol Res. 2020. PMID 32173585. DOI 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104755. (abstract)
- Drugs.com. Drugs.com natural products entry 'Betony' (not read). drugs.com/npp/betony.html. 2026. (summary-only)
- European Medicines Agency. EMA / HMPC herbal monograph search for Betonica / Stachys officinalis (not found). EMA website, checked 2026-10-25. 2026. (summary-only)
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF backbone: Betonica officinalis L. (species record 2927280) and Stachys officinalis (L.) Franch. (7777194). GBIF API, checked 2026-10-25. 2026. (full-text)
- Giuliani C, Pellegrino RM, Selvaggi R, et al.. Secretory structures and essential oil composition in Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevisan subsp. officinalis (Lamiaceae) from Italy.. Nat Prod Res. 2017. PMID 27931115. DOI 10.1080/14786419.2016.1261347. (abstract)
- He Z, Li P, Liu P, et al.. Exploring stachydrine: from natural occurrence to biological activities and metabolic pathways.. Front Plant Sci. 2024. PMID 39170783. DOI 10.3389/fpls.2024.1442879. (abstract)
- Hobbs C. Wood Betony (Christopher Hobbs Herbal Therapeutics Database). christopherhobbs.com. 2026. (summary-only)
- Hurrell RF, Reddy M, Cook JD. Inhibition of non-haem iron absorption in man by polyphenolic-containing beverages.. Br J Nutr. 1999. PMID 10999016. (abstract)
- Jadidi A, Irannejad B, Salehi M, et al.. Effect of stachys lavandulifolia on occupational stress in emergency medical technicians.. Explore (NY). 2023. PMID 37061348. DOI 10.1016/j.explore.2023.04.003. (abstract)
- Jafarzadeh L, Rafieian-Kopaei M, Samani RA, et al.. The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Stachys lavandulifolia vahl on pregnant mice.. EXCLI J. 2012. PMID 27418911. (abstract)
- Jalilian N, Modarresi M, Rezaie M, et al.. Phytotherapeutic management of polycystic ovary syndrome: role of aerial parts of wood betony (Stachys lavandulifolia).. Phytother Res. 2013. PMID 23307315. DOI 10.1002/ptr.4921. (abstract)
- Lazarević JS, Đorđević AS, Kitić DV, et al.. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevis. (Lamiaceae).. Chem Biodivers. 2013. PMID 23847079. DOI 10.1002/cbdv.201200332. (abstract)
- Lazrak M, El Kari K, Stoffel NU, et al.. Tea Consumption Reduces Iron Bioavailability from NaFeEDTA in Nonanemic Women and Women with Iron Deficiency Anemia: Stable Iron Isotope Studies in Morocco.. J Nutr. 2021. PMID 34038558. DOI 10.1093/jn/nxab159. (abstract)
- Matkowski A, Piotrowska M. Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of some medicinal plants from the Lamiaceae.. Fitoterapia. 2006. PMID 16713687. DOI 10.1016/j.fitote.2006.04.004. (abstract)
- Miyase T, Yamamoto R, Ueno A. Phenylethanoid glycosides from Stachys officinalis.. Phytochemistry. 1996. PMID 8862039. DOI 10.1016/0031-9422(96)00322-6. (abstract)
- Monji F, Hashemian F, Salehi Surmaghi MH, et al.. Therapeutic Effects of Standardized Formulation of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl on Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Crossover, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.. J Altern Complement Med. 2018. PMID 29741912. DOI 10.1089/acm.2017.0329. (abstract)
- NCBI PubChem. PubChem compound records: stachydrine, betaine, verbascoside (acteoside), caffeic-type acids, caryophyllene, germacrene D. PubChem PUG REST, checked 2026-10-25. 2026. (full-text)
- NCCIH. NCCIH health page for betony (not found). nccih.nih.gov, checked 2026-10-25. 2026. (summary-only)
- NIDDK LiverTox. LiverTox (NIH) entry for betony (not read). NCBI Bookshelf, checked 2026-10-25. 2026. (summary-only)
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (LactMed). Betony (Drugs and Lactation Database, LactMed record). Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). 2024. PMID 30000919. (abstract)
- Pashova S, Karcheva-Bahchevanska D, Ivanov K, et al.. Genus Stachys-Phytochemistry, Traditional Medicinal Uses, and Future Perspectives.. Molecules. 2024. PMID 39598736. DOI 10.3390/molecules29225345. (full-text)
- Slapšytė G, Dedonytė V, Adomėnienė A, et al.. Genotoxic properties of Betonica officinalis, Gratiola officinalis, Vincetoxicum luteum and Vincetoxicum hirundinaria extracts.. Food Chem Toxicol. 2019. PMID 31520668. DOI 10.1016/j.fct.2019.110815. (abstract)
- Tomou EM, Barda C, Skaltsa H. Genus Stachys: A Review of Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Bioactivity.. Medicines (Basel). 2020. PMID 33003416. DOI 10.3390/medicines7100063. (full-text)
- Yilmaz S, Fidan H. Pharmacological and toxicological profile of the Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl: a comprehensive review.. Z Naturforsch C J Biosci. 2025. PMID 40899416. DOI 10.1515/znc-2024-0222. (abstract)