MOTHERWORT HERBAL MONOGRAPH
For women who feel everything and carry too much, for nervous systems stretched thin. For sexual trauma, grief and rage. For a tight chest and pounding heart. Motherwort was midwife’s medicine, given after birth to calm the mother. Used in spells for protection, and heartbreak, and written about in old herbal texts as a herb that could gladden the heart and ease ‘female hysteria’.
Botanical name: Leonurus cardiaca
Common name: Motherwort, Lion’s Heart, Heartwort.
Family name: Lamiaceae (mint).
Description: Motherwort is a common perennial herb that grows 5-10 feet tall. With a square stem, the soft green leaves are opposite each other in pairs. The lower leaves have toothed palmate lobes, the middle leaves have three toothed lobes and the upper leaves become lanceolate with two teeth. Cluster of pink and purple flowers rest in above where the leaves emerge from the stem. Motherwort self seeds freely and may become invasive.
Parts used: Aerial parts.
Energetics: Cooling.
Taste: Bitter, spicy.
Actions: Nervine, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, cardio-tonic, hypotensive, bitter, diuretic, circulatory stimulant, diaphoretic, hepatic, uterine tonic, emmenagogue, balances hormones.
Constituents: Alkaloids (leonurine, L-stachydrine, tachydrine, bentonicine, turicin), triterpenes (ursolic acid), iridoid glycosides (leonuride), phenylpropanoid (lavandulifolioside), tannins, flavonoids (apigenin, kaempferol, quercetin glycosides), volatile oils, acids (palmitic, oleic, stearic, linoleic, linolenic).
Folklore & traditions: In Europe, Motherwort has been used as a cardio-tonic in households for generations. Known in China and Ancient Europe to cure all kinds of ailments related to the physical and emotional heart, this bitter ‘mother herb’ is traditionally utilised for its calming properties, for easing anxiety, regulating the heart beat and lowering blood pressure. A potent heart tonic, effective in strengthening the heart, supporting the ‘mother wound’, for grief and a ‘broken heart’. Used historically to regulate the menstrual cycle and ease symptoms of menopause. In Europe, the name Motherwort has a literal meaning of “mother-herb.” Motherwort’s latin name, Leonurus cardiaca, is depicted from the Greek word Leon, meaning Lion, and Cardiaca, meaning heart.
Medicinal uses: Cardiovascular tonic. Anti-oxidant rich Motherwort is a powerful cardiovascular tonic & nervine for heart conditions including heart failure, irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) rapid heartbeat & heart palpitations caused by anxiety & stress. Motherwort regulates blood circulation, and is indicated for tachycardia (heart palpitations), stagnant blood, lowering blood cholesterol and to improve the elasticity of the blood vessels.
Uterine and menstrual complaints. Motherwort has a long history of use for ovulation pain, pre-menstrual headaches, mood swings and irritability, and has a special affinity for the uterus and ovaries. Motherwort’s anti-spasmodic and hypotensive actions can help smooth muscle cramps and parasympathetic cramps caused by stress, tension or anxiety. Motherwort’s nervine and anxiolytic actions calms emotional irritability, and also promotes hormonal balance.
Emmenagogue. As an emmenagogue, Motherwort brings on delayed menstruation (dysmenorrhea) stemming from nervous conditions, and can help resolve amenorrhea due to cold and stagnant blood conditions. Motherwort’s emmenagogue action helps to relax the uterus to stimulate and move the blood flow down and out. Useful in a Yoni steaming blend for preconception and postpartum cleansing.
Childbirth. As an ally during early labour, Motherwort stimulates uterine contractions and can bring on labor (this may be due to the alkaloids leonurine and stachydrine). Motherwort may also calm anxiety for the mother during childbirth or the postpartum period, but should only be used once uterine bleeding has stopped. Herbalists and Midwives throughout history report applying a Motherwort poultice on the lower abdomen to assist throughout labor, and help expel afterbirth. Useful in a Yoni Steam in the first 5 days after birth, Motherwort can assist in drainage and can help prevent uterine infection. Because of its uterine tonic properties, it can also strengthen the overall structure of the uterus postpartum.
Menopause. With its bitter and cooling actions, Motherwort is an ally during menopause, helping moderate hormone levels and ease hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood swings and depression. The bitter compounds in Motherwort help stimulate the liver to filter hormones. The compounds in Motherwort affect the thyroid, suppressing thyroid function when the thyroid is in a stressed and overstimulated state.
Hyperthyroid. Motherwort helps to bring balance to the thyroid, soothing some of the complaints of hyperthyroidism, including heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, anxiety and sleeplessness. The herbal regulating body of Germany has authorised Motherwort as part of an overall treatment for hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), particularly in combination with Lemon balm and Bugleweed.
Hypertension. Motherwort is beneficial for hypertension caused by stress. Motherwort’s action as an anti-hypertensive and relaxing nervine may be linked its leonurine content.
Digestion and appetite. Motherwort’s bitter taste acts as a stimulant for the digestive system and liver to improve sluggish digestion. Due to its relaxant action Motherwort can ease constipation due to anxious tension, and also helps ease indigestion due to nervousness.
Grief, hysteria and sexual trauma. Motherwort’s relaxing nervine and anxiolytic actions give powerful relief for overwhelm, stress, anxiety and distressing emotional states. This can be helpful in soothing extreme emotional responses, and for calming those in extremely distressing situations, including post-traumatic recovery. The calcium content in Motherwort is nourishing to the nerves, and the alkaloid leonurine has hypotensive (blood pressure reducing) action to regulate heart rate and blood pressure, and may also play a part by soothing and depressing the central nervous system.
Chakra: Heart
Astrological correspondence: Venus and Leo.
Cautions & contraindications: At higher doses Motherwort can be sedating and may cause drowsiness. Motherwort is contraindicated during pregnancy, unless at the end of pregnancy under guidance of a qualified practitioner, as it stimulates mild uterine contractions Contraindicated in Hypothyroidism. (See Hyperthroid benefits above).
“There is no better herb to take melancholy vapours from the heart. Makes a merry, cheerful soul.” -Nicholas Culpepper
SHOP LOVE HEART TEA WITH MOTHERWORT HERE.
SHOP MAGA TEA WITH MOTHRERWORT HERE.
SHOP YONI STEAM TEA WITH MOTHERWORT HERE.
References: Ayales, Adriana. The Herbal Astrology Oracle. Hay House, 2022.
Gladstar, Rosemary. Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide. Storey Publishing, 2012.
Grieve, M. A Modern Herbal,1931.
Hardin, J & Rose, K. Materia Medica : Profiles & Uses of Herbs, 2016.
https://www.herbrally.com/monographs/motherwort
https://theherbalacademy.com/motherwort-monograph
Tierra, Michael. ‘The Way of Herbs’, 1998.