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.

Blue Cohosh

Caulophyllum thalictroides

Monograph

1. Plant Family:
• Berberidaceae, or the barberry family ^[1]
2. Habitat & Cultivation:
• It is found in hardwood forest of the eastern United States, and favors moist coves and hillsides, generally in shady locations, in rich soil. It grows in eastern North America, from Manitoba and Oklahoma east to the Atlantic Ocean. ^[1]
3. Parts Used:
• Fresh or dried roots/rhizomes ^[1]
4. Herbal Actions:
• Anticonvulsant
• Antirheumatic
• Febrifuge
• Emetic
• Sedative
• Emmenagogue
• Uterine tonic
• Antispasmodic ^[1]
5. Indications:
• Labor induction, uterine tonic, labor augmentation, parturifacient, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, hormonal imbalance, muscular tension ^[1]
6. Plant Constituents:
• Alkaoids, glycosides, saponins ^[1]
7. System Affinities:
• Musculoskeletal, reproductive, endocrine ^[1]  
8. Energetics:
• Warm, sharp, clear, dry, liquid ^[2]
9. Safety:
• Not safe for pregnancy (*labor ONLY*). Toxicity from large doses has been linked to fetal tachycardia. Large doses may also cause maternal hypertension. Labor dosing discussed in detail below. ^[1]
10. Interactions:
• None known. ^[1]

Personal Experience

1. Organoleptics:
• The tincture of Blue Cohosh is clear and golden in color. Light yellow and smooth – not thick. However, the taste is extremely bitter. It’s not as unbearable as black cohosh, just a different feeling.
2. Preparation Method:
• Make or source blue cohosh tincture with a medium to high ethanol percentage (50-75% ideally). A small amount of vinegar added to acidify tinctures will also increase extraction of alkaloids in the plant.  Do not recommend infusions or decoctions, as saponins are highly water soluble and you may concentrate them too much. ^[1]
• Tincture: Use low-dosing: 1-5 drops per hour, or 5-10 drops every 2 hours along with other herbs to help coordinate uterine ctxs (ie: Black Cohosh, Cramp Bark, Cotton Root). After 3 or 4 doses, STOP dosing. ^[1]
3. Usage Notes:
•  I couldn't sense any uterine effects from the dosage I took. I did however sense some of the sedative effects pretty quickly. It made me feel super sleepy! The bitterness did linger in my mouth for a long time – especially the back of my mouth.

Sources:

1. Zollinger, R. & Riccio, L. (2018). Week 6 Study Questions. Bastyr University: FA-18_MW5124-A Botanicals 4: Labor.
2. Frawley, D. & Lad, V. (2001). The Yoga of Herbs. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press.