Motherwort

Monographs
Written By Malia Casal

Plant Name: Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)

Family: Lamiaceae

Part of Plant Utilized: leaves & flowers


 
 

Habitat & Growing Conditions

  • temperate conditions (zones 4-8)

  • native to Europe and Asia, grown in US, Canada

  • generally found between 4,000 and 8,000 ft near town and farming area, but overall not predictable habitat in West

  • full sun, poor soil

  • once established it easily self sows

Identification

Height - 1.5-3ft tall perennial

Stem - square stem (due to being in mint family), flat sides typically concaved with the edges slightly ridged

Leaves - opposing palmate leaves, deeply cleft, the upper three lobed , lower most commonly five lobed

Flowers - clusters of white or pink flowers that form among the upper leaves, in fall may extend up to a foot or more above the highest leaves in a neat, segmented fashion a very slight scent, if one at all

Collection & Harvesting

Harvest when in flower. Chinese studies have indicated active medicinal properties are strongest when in flower. Prior to flowering there is a significant reduction in the concentration of medicinal components.

Taste & Flavor

bitter, astringent, slightly pungent

Energetic & Degree

Cooling-2, Drying-2, Stimulating then Relaxing

Constituents

alkaloids .35% (incl, leonurine, betonicin, turicin, stachydrine), bitter glycosides, essential oil .05%, tannins 5-10%, cholin, malic/citric/vinitic acids, phosphoric acid, linolo, limonene, flavonoids, potassium chloride, phytosterol, stachyose, calcium, trace minerals, caffeic acids

Herbal Actions

nervine, emmenagogue, antispasmodic, cardiotonic, hypotensive, mild diuretic, hemostatic, carminative

Organ Affinity

cardiovascular, mental/emotional, female reproductive, nervous system, urinary, liver, kidneys, intestines, respiratory

Traditional Uses

  • Motherwort was utilized for conditions of the Mother (the uterus) and the knowledge of its use was passed down through the wise women tradition. With the rise of male legislated medicine and the active suppression of women healers Motherwort and its abilities were almost lost. “According to herbalist Willfort, the herb was rescued from this fate by certain English doctors.” (Holmes)

  • The Eclectics used it in the 19th century for promoting menses and as an aid in the expulsion of afterbirth.

  • Due to Motherwort’s action primarily being relaxing and its nontoxic nature, from the 1600’s onwards it became lost because the approach to medicine shifted to aggressive eliminant approaches. “As with many other trusted women’s allies-Cronewort, Yarrow, Lady’s Mantle, Sea Holly and White deadnettle, among others, the knowledge of Motherwort’s powers has only survived down recent centuries in the cloak of simplistic folk uses.” Holmes

  • Cardiotonic herb in Western herbalism

  • Greeks utilized it for Mothers experiencing anxiety. It was given the name Leonurus cardiaca. Leon for ‘lion’ ouros for ‘tail’ because they believe the plant resembled a lion’s tail. The species name of cardiaca arose from its affinity for its other main feature, its effects on the heart.

  • Traditionally species of Leonurus have been used in the Russian Far East, Japan and Siberia.

  • It was reputed to enhance longevity in ancient China.

Uses

Releases tension caused by emotional and mental stress, therefore can relieve local spasms in multiple areas

Reproductive Women

  • helpful for uterine and menstrual conditions

    • PMS, tension and irritability

    • painful and difficult periods

  • valuable for stimulating suppressed menses particularly due to stress, anxiety and tension

  • dysmenorrhea esp when caused by Qi constraint

  • helpful perimenopausal tonic with Hops and Black Cohosh:

    • hot flashes

    • night sweats

    • insomnia

    • palpitations

  • to help with the onset of labor, difficult, slow or painful labors

    • contains alkaloids that have shown in studies to induce contractions

  • postpartum uterine tonic, helps with pain and bleeding

    • used in many Chinese hospitals following labor as a decoction administered in high doses to assist with uterine contractions, stop bleeding and pain reduction

    • use after birth up to the 4th or 5th day to help prevent infection and clarify drainage

    • particularly with Uva Ursi or Manzanita sitz bath

  • calming effects on CNS → helps relax muscles → helps with menstrual cramps

  • “This is one of the many herbs which possess the apparently contradictory actions of relieving spasm and stimulating uterine activity, brought about by a reduction in the irritability (spasticity) of the uterine muscle. This allows contractions to be followed by an adequate rest period when blood can circulate through the uterine muscle again. The more orderly contractions reduce the pain of dysmenorrhea, and allow childbirth the proceed smoothly” Ruth Tricky

Cardiovascular

  • beneficial heart tonic → strengthens, without straining, the heart

    • typically long term use is necessary for improvement in symptoms to present

    • the presence of cardiac glycosides in Motherwort play a role in this

    • taken for an extended duration of time w Hawthorn berry for strengthening and tonifying effects for the heart

  • a specific herb for tachycardia and mild hypertension in particular when brought on by stress and/or anxiety

    • specific presenting chronic symptoms of chest discomfort, sleep loss, irritability, palpitations, anxiety, excessive worry

    • little or no beneficial effects if from simple adrenaline-induced palpitations

Mental & Emotional

  • relaxing effect on the nervous system, which can relax muscles, therefore aiding and helpful when one is experiencing anxiety

  • specific to anxiety or overstimulation of a Mother (ie many things going on, multitasking)

Thyroid

  • hyperfunctioning, has thyroid inhibiting actions, but will not depress normal thyroid functioning

  • stress induced thyroid elevation

    • if symptoms of thyroid stress are tachycardia and palpitations Motherwort is best

    • if they are sweating, rapid gut transit time and nervous lethargy Bugleweed is best

Intestines

  • colicky abdominal pains

  • flatulence that worsens with tension

  • with its ability to relieve spasm esp caused by stress and tension, it can be beneficial to spasm in GI much like Valerian, Hops or Cramp Bark

Respiratory

  • dispels heat (fever, chills, unrest, coughing) and opens the chest to relieve wheezing

  • phlegm damp (wheezing, expectoration of white sputum, cough)

Kidneys

  • where there is kidney water retention esp showing in lower limbs

  • scanty or obstructed urination

  • edema (cardiac incl)

  • acute renal failure

  • albuminuria

  • presentation of kidney stagnation with metabolic toxicosis seen as rashes on the skin, pyogenic abscesses, skin ulcers, eczema

  • mild diuretic

Astringent Properties

  • due to astringent properties stops bleeding and discharge, spec to

    • blood in urine or stool

    • menorrhagia

    • postpartum

    • diarrhea or leucorrhea

Tissue Repair

  • wounds, bruises, ulcers

Preparation & Dosage

Infusion

  • 2-4 tsp of dried herb to 8oz water, steep 10-15 min, 3x a day up to 40 grams for acute bleeding

Tincture

  • Fresh plant 1:2 95%

  • Dry 1:5 60%

  • 30-60 drops 1-4x a day

  • Inducing labor → “To promote labor contractions and ease pain ½ tsp of the tincture until labor resumes” Holmes

  • Postpartum → “To help the uterus contract after delivery, lessen afterpains and prevent, reduce or stop hemorrhage: take ½-1 tsp of the tincture every hour or two.” Holmes

Formulations

Uva Ursi or Manzanita sitz bath

  • for use after birth up to the 4th or 5th day to help prevent infection and clarify drainage

Cramp Bark, Wild Yam and White Peony

  • also helpful for dysmenorrhea due to Qi constraint

Bugleweed, Lisgusticum Chuan Xiong, Lemon Balm

  • for specific presenting chronic symptoms of chest discomfort, sleep loss, irritability, palpitations, anxiety

Hawthorn berry

  • both are regulating, supportive tonics for the heart, for cumulative benefits both should be taken for an extended duration of time

Hops, Black Cohosh

  • perimenopausal insomnia, night sweats, palpitations and hot flashes

Don Quai

  • this combination is used by the Chinese as a menstrual regulator

Safety & Low Dose Herbs

na

Contraindications

  • avoid while pregnant due to emmenagogue capabilities

  • may interfere with other cardiovascular treatments if used in excess

Notes

  • The energetic connections of the heart and uterus are described in many traditional medical systems. It was termed “uterus rising” in Greek medicine. Steiner also commented on the relationship between these two organs in his medical lectures. Motherwort affects and treats both of these organs. “Motherwort herb is an important example of a plant that treats both the heart and uterus, tailor made for women presenting PMS with anxiety, frustration, palpitations and insomnia.” Holmes

  • Modern China makes the most use of Motherwort than any other country.

References

‘Medical Herbalism’ -Hoffman

‘Women, Hormones & the Menstrual Cycle’ -Ruth Trickey

‘The Energetics of Western Herbs’ -Holmes

Teachings of Hannah Jordan

PubMed

‘Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West’ -Moore

Herbalpedia

Malia Casal