Common Name Standardized: wood betony Botanical Name Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevis.Plant Family: Lamiaceae Synonyms Betonica officinalis, Stachys betonica Overview Introduction"Sell your coat and buy betony," admonished an Italian proverb of the Middle Ages. Wood betony was once considered an herbal "magic bullet" for dispelling a wide variety of diseases. Antonius Musa, chief physician to the Roman emperor Caesar August, catalogued 47 conditions he treated with the herb. Wood betony is an herb native to Europe bearing a spike of purple flowers on a long, central stem reaching 1-2 feet (60 to 90 cm) high. All the leaves are rough to the touch and are also fringed with short, fine hairs; their whole surface is dotted with glands containing a bitter, aromatic oil.ConstituentsBetaine, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, harpagide, rosmarinic acid, stachydrine, tannins.Parts UsedThe whole herb, collected in dry weather.Typical PreparationsGargles, extracts and teas. Seldom found encapsulated. Precautions Specific: No known precautions.General: We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications. For educational purposes only This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.