Relaxant, Antispasmodic, Sedative, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Uterine stimulant, May reduce bleeding
Alkaloids (leonuride), Terpenoids, Glycosides, Phenolics (rutin, quercetin), Tannins, Essential oils
This Site is for Educational Use Only: The information on this page is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. I am not a licensed medical professional. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any medicinal plants, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
Motherwort has been used as a heart medicine for centuries, which feels appropriate given that the name itself is warm and nurturing and the plant backs that up medicinally.
It's a heart tonic, nerve tonic, relaxant, and mild bitter, which is a combination that makes it particularly useful for people whose physical symptoms are tangled up with anxiety or stress. An irregular heartbeat that shows up alongside nervousness? Motherwort. High blood pressure with a nervous disposition underneath it? Motherwort. It calms the nervous system and supports the cardiovascular system at the same time, which is a genuinely useful pairing.
It's also prescribed for angina and can help with an overactive thyroid, making it one of the more undervalued herbs in this database considering the range of conditions it addresses. It can decrease artery calcification and supports hormone balance in the endocrine system. There is even ongoing research into its potential for treating Graves disease, which is exciting territory even if the studies aren't conclusive yet. Worth watching.
For menstrual health it aids and regulates menstruation, relieves period pain, and is particularly noted as helpful where irregular or absent menstruation is connected to poor appetite or low body weight, addressing the hormonal disruption that can accompany those situations.
Safety note: Avoid during pregnancy as it stimulates uterine contractions. If you're on heart medications or anything for thyroid conditions, check with your provider before adding motherwort given its activity in both of those areas.
Motherwort's therapeutic uses https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/health-and-medicine/motherworts-therapeutic-uses
The effect of Leonurus cardiaca herb extract and some of its flavonoids on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in the heart https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24841965/
Leonurus cardiaca L. as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: An Update of the European Medicines Agency Assessment Report (2010) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6500680/
Medicinal Herbs by JJ Pursell
Herbal Remedies by Andrew Chevallier
Disclaimer: The content on this website is provided for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. No provider-patient relationship is created by use of this site. The author makes no representations regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information and assumes no liability for any adverse effects resulting from the use of plants or remedies described herein.
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