Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly in European and Chinese traditions, for supporting nervous system health and easing symptoms of nervousness, anxiety, and emotional distress. Historical herbal texts from the Middle Ages and Renaissance frequently mention motherwort as a remedy for “melancholy,” palpitations related to anxiety, and as a general calming agent for women, especially around menopause and menstruation. Its calming effects are attributed to its mild sedative and antispasmodic properties, likely due to constituents such as leonurine and stachydrine.

While modern scientific studies specifically investigating motherwort’s effects on nervousness are limited, there is some pharmacological evidence that certain compounds in motherwort may have mild sedative and anxiolytic effects in animal models. However, the quality and quantity of clinical studies in humans are insufficient to draw firm conclusions. Most contemporary herbalists base their recommendations on centuries of traditional use rather than robust clinical evidence. Accordingly, the use of motherwort for nervousness is justified primarily by tradition, with a moderate level of evidence (rating: 2), reflecting both long-standing historical use and a modest amount of preliminary pharmacological data.

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