Key Constituents

Phenylethanoid and iridoid glycosides (acteoside, harpagide, harpagoside, aucubin, betonyosides)^{[9, 10, 11]}

Anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic constituents.

Iridoid glycosidesHarpagosideGlycosidesVerbascoside (acteoside)

Alkaloids (stachydrine, betaine)^[11]

Characteristic nitrogen-containing constituents.

Alkaloids

Phenolic acids (rosmarinic, caffeic, chlorogenic), tannins and volatile oil^{[2, 3, 4, 7, 11, 12]}

Antioxidant, astringent and aromatic constituents; methanolic extract of the herb showed strong free-radical-scavenging and lipid-peroxidation-inhibiting activity in vitro.

Phenolic acidsEssential (volatile) oilChlorogenic acidRosmarinic acidCaffeic acidTannins

Pharmacological Actions

Anti-inflammatory^{[9, 11]}

Anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic

Antioxidant^{[1, 2, 5, 8, 12]}

Antioxidant - among the strongest free-radical scavengers in a comparative study of Lamiaceae herbs

Antispasmodic^[11]

Anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic

Anxiolytic / calming^{[11, 13]}

Gentle calmative for anxiety; Nervine / relaxant for nervous tension and tension headaches (especially headache worsened by anxiety or muscle tension)

Digestive aid^[11]

Digestive bitter for indigestion, mild stomach upset and bloating

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Anxiety^{[11, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

Gentle calmative for anxiety; Nervine / relaxant for nervous tension and tension headaches (especially headache worsened by anxiety or muscle tension)

more plants for anxiety →detailed sources →

Arthritis / joint pain^[11]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

more plants for arthritis / joint pain →detailed sources →

Bloating^[11]Traditional · 1/10

Digestive bitter for indigestion, mild stomach upset and bloating

more plants for bloating →detailed sources →

Headache^{[11, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

Nervine / relaxant for nervous tension and tension headaches (especially headache worsened by anxiety or muscle tension)

more plants for headache →detailed sources →

Indigestion^[11]Traditional · 1/10

Digestive bitter for indigestion, mild stomach upset and bloating

more plants for indigestion →detailed sources →

Inflammation (general)^{[9, 11]}Traditional · 2/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

more plants for inflammation (general) →detailed sources →

Menstrual cramps^[11]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

more plants for menstrual cramps →detailed sources →

Muscle spasm^[11]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

more plants for muscle spasm →detailed sources →

Nervous tension^{[11, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

Nervine / relaxant for nervous tension and tension headaches (especially headache worsened by anxiety or muscle tension)

more plants for nervous tension →detailed sources →

Skin irritation^[11]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

more plants for skin irritation →detailed sources →

Stress^{[11, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anxiolytic action

more plants for stress →detailed sources →

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^[11]Info

Generally well tolerated, with occasional mild nausea the main reported effect.

Safety note^{[11, 13]}Caution

Traditionally avoided in pregnancy (uterine reputation), and it may lower blood pressure - use caution with blood-pressure medicines.

References

REF-1055, REF-1056, REF-1057, REF-1058, REF-1059, REF-1042, REF-1060, REF-1061, REF-1062, REF-1063

References & Sources

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2019.110815
Apostolescu, G.F., Popescu, D.I., Botoran, O., Sandru, D. and others (2023) 'Chemical and Antioxidant Profile of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Stachys officinalis L., Stachys palustris L., Stachys sylvatica L. from Romania', Acta Chimica Slovenica, 70(2), pp. 231-239. doi:10.17344/acsi.2023.8046 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.17344/acsi.2023.8046
Hajdari, A., Mustafa, B., Franz, C. and Novak, J (2011) 'Variability of essential oils of Betonica officinalis (Lamiaceae) from different wild populations in Kosovo', Natural Product Communications, 6(9), pp. 1343-1346. Preclinical
Find this source
Giuliani, C., Pellegrino, R.M., Selvaggi, R., Tani, C. and others (2017) 'Secretory structures and essential oil composition in Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevisan subsp. officinalis (Lamiaceae) from Italy', Natural Product Research, 31(9), pp. 1006-1013. doi:10.1080/14786419.2016.1261347 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2016.1261347
Benedec, D., Oniga, I., Hanganu, D., Tiperciuc, B. and others (2023) 'Stachys Species: Comparative Evaluation of Phenolic Profile and Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Potential', Antibiotics, 12(11), pp. 1644. doi:10.3390/antibiotics12111644 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12111644
Ohiienko, T., Kutsyk, R., Kurovets, L., Ohiienko, S. and others (2023) 'Screening of medicinal and aromatic plants extracts for the synergism with fluconazole against Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis fungi associated with denture stomatitis', Wiadomosci Lekarskie, 76(7), pp. 1615-1620. doi:10.36740/WLek202307115 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.36740/WLek202307115
Lazarevic, J.S., Dordevic, A.S., Kitic, D.V., Zlatkovic, B.K. and others (2013) 'Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevis. (Lamiaceae)', Chemistry & Biodiversity, 10(7), pp. 1335-1349. doi:10.1002/cbdv.201200332 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.201200332
Stegarus, D.I., Lengyel, E., Apostolescu, G.F., Botoran, O.R. and others (2021) 'Phytochemical Analysis and Biological Activity of Three Stachys Species (Lamiaceae) from Romania', Plants, 10(12), pp. 2710. doi:10.3390/plants10122710 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122710
Háznagy-Radnai, E., Balogh, Á., Czigle, S., Máthé, I. and others (2012) 'Antiinflammatory activities of Hungarian Stachys species and their iridoids', Phytotherapy Research, 26(4), pp. 505-509. doi:10.1002/ptr.3582 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.3582
Bilušić Vundać, V (2019) 'Taxonomical and Phytochemical Characterisation of 10 Stachys Taxa Recorded in the Balkan Peninsula Flora: A Review', Plants, 8(2), pp. 32. doi:10.3390/plants8020032 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8020032
The Naturopathic Herbalist (n.d.) 'Stachys officinalis (Wood Betony)'. Available at: https://thenaturopathicherbalist.com/herbs/r-s/stachys-officinalis/ Traditional / reference
https://thenaturopathicherbalist.com/herbs/r-s/stachys-officinalis/
Matkowski, A. and Piotrowska, M (2006) 'Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of some medicinal plants from the Lamiaceae', Fitoterapia, 77(5), pp. 346--353. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2006.04.004 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2006.04.004
PeaceHealth (n.d.) 'Wood Betony (Health Information Library)'. Available at: https://www.peacehealth.org/medical-topics/id/hn-3662000 Traditional / reference
https://www.peacehealth.org/medical-topics/id/hn-3662000

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