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Hedge woundwort

Traditionally used for: Minor cuts and grazes; Boils and small skin sores; Bruises and sprains; Cramps and stomach upset.

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What is Hedge woundwort? Hedge woundwort is a tall, hairy plant of the mint family. Its botanical name is Stachys sylvatica. It grows in hedges, woods and shady banks across much of Europe. European country healers crushed the leaves and bound them over cuts. That is where the name woundwort comes from. The bruised plant has a strong, sour smell that many people dislike. Here is the honest verdict. No human trial shows that it heals wounds or treats any other complaint. Long folk use is not proof that it works, and it is not proof that it is safe. How does Hedge woundwort work? The key point is simple: nobody has shown how this plant acts in people. The ideas below come from the lab bench. In test-tube studies, extracts of Stachys sylvatica slow the growth of some bacteria and fungi. Whether that happens on a real wound has not been tested. The leaves hold tannins. In test tubes, tannins bind protein and tighten tissue. Folk users may have read this as less bleeding and less weeping from a graze. Related Stachys species have eased swelling in animal tests. Animal results often fail to repeat in people. Treat all of it as unproven. What forms does Hedge woundwort come in? Hedge woundwort is a folk herb, not a shelf product. You will not find it in a normal pharmacy. Forms that do turn up: - Fresh leaves, bruised and laid on the skin - Dried herb, loose or in tea bags, from specialist herb sellers - A tincture, which is the herb soaked in alcohol - Ointments and salves that mix it with other herbs - Live plants and seed, sold for the garden Quality checks are weak. Few sellers test what is in the jar. Different Stachys species are also sold under the same common name. Marsh woundwort and betony are the usual mix-ups. Where it comes from: Hedge woundwort was a wound herb of northern and western Europe. Country people bruised the leaves and tied them over cuts, grazes and boils. The 16th-century herbalist John Gerard praised it for stopping bleeding. Later herbals copied the claim. Some writers also listed it for cramps, joint pain and stomach upset. The custom faded through the 20th century. Clean dressings and antiseptics took its place. None of the old use was ever put to a trial.

Helps

What does Hedge woundwort help with? Minor cuts and grazes: Folk healers bound crushed leaves over small cuts. In test tubes, extracts slow some bacteria. No human study shows faster healing, and clean water with a dressing is still the tested approach. Small bleeding wounds: The old claim was that the herb staunched bleeding. Tannins tighten tissue in test tubes, which may explain the idea. In people this has never been measured, and firm pressure with a clean pad is the proven step. Boils and minor skin sores: Warm poultices were laid on boils and weeping sores. Lab work shows some action against bacteria. Whether that works on living skin is unknown, and a spreading infection needs a doctor, not a leaf. Bruises and sprains, as a poultice: Country use included poultices for aches, bruises and sprains. Related Stachys species reduced swelling in animal tests. Nothing has been tested in people, so treat this as folklore. Cramps and stomach upset, as a tea: Some herbals listed the tea for cramps and loose bowels. Tannins are astringent, which may be where the idea came from. There are no trials, and the taste is strong and unpleasant.

Hedge woundwort

Quick Facts

  • What it is: A hairy European mint-family plant, Stachys sylvatica, used in folk medicine as a wound herb.
  • Main uses: Minor cuts and grazes, Boils and small skin sores, Bruises and sprains, Cramps and stomach upset
  • Active ingredients: Verbascoside (acteoside), Harpagide and 8-acetylharpagide, Flavonoids, Tannins, Stachydrine
  • Forms: Fresh leaf poultice, Dried herb tea, Tincture, Ointment or salve
  • Time to effect: Not known; may do nothing
  • Side effects: Mostly skin irritation or allergy; the tea can upset the stomach.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Not studied in pregnancy; avoid unless your clinician advises otherwise.

Educational information, not medical advice — ask your doctor or midwife.

What is Hedge woundwort?

Hedge woundwort is a tall, hairy plant of the mint family. Its botanical name is Stachys sylvatica. It grows in hedges, woods and shady banks across much of Europe.

European country healers crushed the leaves and bound them over cuts. That is where the name woundwort comes from. The bruised plant has a strong, sour smell that many people dislike.

Here is the honest verdict. No human trial shows that it heals wounds or treats any other complaint. Long folk use is not proof that it works, and it is not proof that it is safe.

How does Hedge woundwort work?

The key point is simple: nobody has shown how this plant acts in people. The ideas below come from the lab bench.

In test-tube studies, extracts of Stachys sylvatica slow the growth of some bacteria and fungi. Whether that happens on a real wound has not been tested.

The leaves hold tannins. In test tubes, tannins bind protein and tighten tissue. Folk users may have read this as less bleeding and less weeping from a graze.

Related Stachys species have eased swelling in animal tests. Animal results often fail to repeat in people. Treat all of it as unproven.

What forms does Hedge woundwort come in?

Hedge woundwort is a folk herb, not a shelf product. You will not find it in a normal pharmacy.

Forms that do turn up: - Fresh leaves, bruised and laid on the skin - Dried herb, loose or in tea bags, from specialist herb sellers - A tincture, which is the herb soaked in alcohol - Ointments and salves that mix it with other herbs - Live plants and seed, sold for the garden

Quality checks are weak. Few sellers test what is in the jar.

Different Stachys species are also sold under the same common name. Marsh woundwort and betony are the usual mix-ups.

Where it comes from:

Hedge woundwort was a wound herb of northern and western Europe. Country people bruised the leaves and tied them over cuts, grazes and boils.

The 16th-century herbalist John Gerard praised it for stopping bleeding. Later herbals copied the claim. Some writers also listed it for cramps, joint pain and stomach upset.

The custom faded through the 20th century. Clean dressings and antiseptics took its place. None of the old use was ever put to a trial.

Who should avoid Hedge woundwort?

  • Do not use it on deep, gaping or dirty wounds, on burns, or on bites from an animal or person.
  • Do not use it in place of washing a wound and covering it with a clean dressing.
  • Do not use it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, as there is no safety data.
  • Do not give it to babies or young children.
  • Avoid it if you are allergic to mint-family plants such as mint, sage or betony.
  • Do not put it on broken skin if you have diabetes or poor circulation; have the wound seen by a nurse or doctor.
  • Do not use it on a wound that is already red, hot, swollen or oozing pus.
  • Do not use it if your immune system is low, for example during chemotherapy or after a transplant.
  • Never use plants you have picked yourself unless an expert has confirmed what they are.
  • Do not drink the tea alongside prescribed medicines without asking your doctor or pharmacist first.

When should you see a doctor?

Stop using it and get medical help if a wound looks infected. Warning signs are spreading redness, heat, pus, red streaks on the skin, or fever.

See a doctor or nurse if: - Bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes of firm pressure - The wound is deep, gaping, or caused by a bite or dirty metal - You have not had a tetanus jab in the last 10 years - A rash, swelling or itching starts where you applied the herb - A wound has not healed within two weeks

Get emergency help for swelling of the lips, face or throat, or trouble breathing. That can mean a severe allergic reaction.

Is Hedge woundwort legal where you live?

In the UK, the EU and the US, hedge woundwort is not a licensed medicine for any condition. It is sold as a dried herb, a tincture or a garden plant. In the US it would sit under dietary supplement rules; in the UK it is not covered by a registered herbal licence.

Evidence grades and traditional-use labels are explained in our methodology. Nothing here is medical advice.

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