Written by Stachys officinalis (formerly Betonica officinalis)
There are herbs that whisper their secrets, and then there’s Betony – an herb that practically shouts its power from the hedgerows and meadows where it grows. Once considered so magically potent that it could protect against both evil spirits and lightning strikes, Betony has been somewhat forgotten in modern herbalism. But for those who know, Betony remains one of the most powerful allies in a witch’s garden.
A Herb Steeped in Ancient Power
The Romans held Betony in such high regard that they wrote entire treatises about its virtues. The physician Antonius Musa, personal doctor to Emperor Augustus, listed 47 different ailments that Betony could cure. But it wasn’t just the Romans who revered this humble plant.
The Anglo-Saxons considered Betony one of their most sacred herbs, including it in the Lacnunga, an Old English collection of herbal remedies and charms. They believed it could protect against frightening nocturnal visions, shield against serpents, and guard against “monstrous nocturnal visitors.”