Lamiaceae
Wood Betony
Betonica officinalis
✓ Generally Safe
Caution in Pregnancy
Native to: Europe, Western Asia, North Africa
Also known as: Bishop's Wort, Lousewort, Purple Betony
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA
Parts Used
LeafFlower
Therapeutic Uses
Headaches (especially tension and digestive origin), nervous exhaustion, poor digestion, anxiety with digestive symptoms, neuralgia, convalescence. Traditional English remedy for head-related complaints — 'headache herb'.
Herbal Actions
Nervine, bitter tonic, astringent, mild analgesic, digestive tonic, vulnerary
Active Constituents
Iridoid glycosides (harpagide, aucubin), alkaloids (betonicine, turicine, stachydrine), tannins, phenylethanoid glycosides, betaines
Preparation Methods
☕ Herbal Tea🏺 Tincture
Traditional Preparation Notes
| Herbal Tea | 1–2 tsp dried herb per 250ml, steep 10 min, 3x daily |
| Tincture | 2–4 ml (1:5, 40% ethanol), 3x daily |
| Notes | Best used fresh dried herb — old dried material loses potency. Particularly effective for headaches arising from digestive disturbance or nervous tension. Combine with meadowsweet for digestive headaches. |
Safety Information
Safety Rating
✓ Generally Safe
Pregnancy
Caution in Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
None known
Contraindications: Avoid in pregnancy (emmenagogue). High doses may cause GI irritation. No significant interactions known.
Side Effects: Mild GI upset at high doses. Generally very well tolerated.