Motherwort (leonurus cardiaca)
Synopsis
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is a perennial herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae), native to central Asia and southeastern Europe but now naturalized throughout much of the world. It features serrated leaves and small pink to purple flowers and emits a distinctly bitter, earthy aroma. The name “motherwort” reflects its traditional association with women’s reproductive health, and the species name cardiaca indicates its long-standing use as a cardiac tonic. The plant contains a variety of bioactive compounds, including leonurine, stachydrine, alkaloids, flavonoids, and iridoids, which contribute to its antispasmodic, sedative, hypotensive, and uterine-stimulating effects.
Motherwort is primarily used in modern herbalism for its effects on the nervous and cardiovascular systems, as well as for menstrual and postpartum support. It may help relieve palpitations linked to anxiety, regulate erratic menstrual cycles, and ease symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menopausal transition. It is also considered a mild nervine, used to reduce restlessness, emotional tension, and irritability. Typically administered as a tea, tincture, or extract, motherwort is valued for toning the uterus, calming the heart, and easing hormonally linked nervousness.
Historical Use:
Motherwort has a rich tradition in European herbal medicine, dating back to Dioscorides and Pliny the Elder, who both referenced its use for treating "hysteria" and promoting menstrual flow. In the Middle Ages, it was frequently employed by midwives and herbalists to ease childbirth pains, prevent postpartum cramping, and stimulate uterine recovery. Its reputation as a “mother’s herb” earned it a central role in folk remedies for female reproductive disorders, including missed periods, painful menstruation, and afterbirth pains.
Nicholas Culpeper, the 17th-century English herbalist, wrote extensively on motherwort, stating that it “makes women joyful mothers of children” and praised it for clearing melancholy, calming the heart, and reducing agitation. In early American herbalism, particularly among Eclectics and Appalachian folk practitioners, motherwort was used not only for women’s issues but also to relieve heart palpitations, fainting spells, and nervous exhaustion.
Though not a major herb in Ayurvedic or Traditional Chinese Medicine, motherwort has been incorporated into some modern formulations in those systems due to its adaptogenic and uterine-toning properties. Its cousin Leonurus japonicus is used in Chinese medicine under the name yi mu cao, with overlapping uterine and cardiovascular applications.
Today, motherwort remains a staple in Western herbal traditions, particularly for menopausal and anxiety-related symptoms, and is increasingly being researched for its cardiovascular effects—validating centuries of traditional use for “strengthening the heart” and soothing emotional unrest.
Uses: Health Conditions
Amenorrhea (Traditional)
Anxiety (Traditional)
Anxiety Disorders (Traditional)
Arrhythmia (Traditional)
Cardiovascular Disease (Traditional)
Cramps (menstrual) (Traditional)
Dysmenorrhea (Traditional)
Heart (weakness) (Traditional)
Heart Fibrillation or Palpitations (Traditional)
Hypertension (Traditional)
Insomnia (Traditional)
Menopause (Traditional)
Menstrual Irregularity (Traditional)
Menstruation (scant) (Traditional)
Nervous Exhaustion (Traditional)
Nervousness (Traditional)
PMS (general) (Traditional)
PMS Type A (Traditional)
Stress (Traditional)
Worry (Traditional)
Body Systems
Female Reproductive System (Traditional)
Heart (Traditional)
Nerves (Traditional)
Parasympathetic Nervous System (Traditional)
Specific Hormones (Traditional)
Arteries (Traditional)
Blood (Traditional)
Circulatory System (Traditional)
Digestive System (Traditional)
Glandular System (Traditional)
Reproductive System (Traditional)
Respiratory System (Traditional)
Uterus (Traditional)