Motherwort

Leonurus cardiaca

Monograph

1. Plant Family:
• Lamiaceae, or the mint family ^[1]
2. Habitat & Cultivation:
• Motherwort is probably native to the southeastern part of Europe and central Asia where it has been cultivated since ancient times. Its natural habitat is beside roadsides, in vacant fields, waste ground, rubbish dumps and other disturbed areas. This plant prefers well drained soil and a partly shady location. Introduced to North America as a bee-foraging plant and to attract bumble bees, this perennial herb is now considered invasive. ^[1]
3. Parts Used:
• Aerial parts ^[2]
4. Herbal Actions:
• Nervine (tonic, anxiolytic, mild hypnotic)
• Emmenagogue
• Antispasmodic
• Hepatic
• Cardiotonic
• Hypotensive ^[2]
5. Indications:
• False labor pains
• Anxiety/tension
• Amenorrhea/dysmenorrhea
• Menopause
• Tachycardia
• Heart palpitations
• Lack of appetite
• Insomnia ^{[1, 2]}
6. Plant Constituents:
• Iridoids, labdane diterpenes, flavonoids, caffeic acid, alkaloids, tannins, volatile oils ^[1]
7. System Affinities:
• Cardiovascular, reproductive, endocrine ^[2]  
8. Energetics:
• Cool, dry, bitter ^[1]
9. Safety:
• Safe in pregnancy. ^[1]
10. Interactions:
• May interfere with other cardiovascular treatments. ^[2]

Personal Experience

1. Organoleptics:
• The dried aerial parts are very dark green. They smell extremely pungent and bitter – almost rancid and sulfuric. The tea is *VERY* bitter and drying to the mouth. I almost feel like it’s astringent, although this is not one of the noted herbal actions.
2. Preparation Method:
• Tincture: (1:5 in 40%) 1 - 4 ml 3x/day
• Hot Infusion: 1 -2 tsp dried herb in 1 cup boiling water. Drink 3x/day ^[2]
3. Usage Notes:
•  After drinking two cups of tea, I felt like my appetite was increased. I think it did help with heart palpitations a bit but overall it was an unpleasant experience to drink. I tried sweetening it with honey but that did nothing. If I was to offer this to a client, I would want to make a tincture preparation - probably with glycerite.

Sources:

1. Zollinger, R. & Riccio, L. (2018). Week 7 Study Questions. Bastyr University: FA-18_MW5124-A Botanicals 4: Labor.
2. Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.