Motherwort – Leonurus cardiaca

Common Names: Motherwort, Lion’s Ear, Lion’s Tail, throw-wort, heartwort, Motherwort herb, maiden’s herb, Leonurus cardiaca, buřina srdečník, máta srdeční, srdeční koření, devaterní kopřiva, Yimucao

Latin Name: Leonurus cardiaca (někdy špatně Leonotis leonurus, Leonotis nepetifolia)

Origin: Asia, Australia, Europe, South America

Short Introduction

When cultivating Motherwort, it's helpful to note that it thrives in uncut garden beds. Before winter, it's recommended to cut the stalks down to the ground, allowing new shoots to emerge in spring. The plant commonly grows in ditches, wastelands, and along field margins, preferring fertile, loamy soils with a neutral pH.

Motherwort is harvested during its flowering period, from June to September, ideally in the afternoon between 2 and 4 PM. The aerial parts are cut about 20 cm above the ground, and the plant readily regrows. The harvested herb is dried in bunches hanging on a string or spread out on screens in a warm, dry, and well-ventilated space. Properly dried Motherwort is odorless with a bitter taste. Store in glass and airtight containers. The dried herb maintains its therapeutic properties for 1–2 years.

Detailed Description

Motherwort is a traditional herb known for supporting heart health, calming the nerves, and addressing prostate inflammation.

Botanical Information

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is a perennial herb that typically grows 50 to 150 cm tall. Its stem is slightly hairy, square-shaped, extensively branched, and upright, often displaying a pinkish hue near the buds. The basal leaves are palmate and stalked; upper leaves are short-stalked, three-lobed or trifid, while the highest are undivided. All leaves are finely toothed, arranged oppositely, and taper at the ends. The flowers are sessile, grouped in whorls of about ten pale purple or pink cup-shaped flowers, each 6–8 mm long. Flowering occurs from June to September, and the fruit is a four-chambered schizocarp, known as a nutlet.

Origin and Distribution

Motherwort originates from Central Asia and Southeast Europe, from where it has spread worldwide thanks to its therapeutic uses. It was likely cultivated in these regions since ancient times. In the wild, Motherwort prefers abandoned fields, waste sites, and other disturbed locations. Its occurrence today spans almost all of Europe (except the far north), from the Urals to Siberia and the foothills of the Himalayas; people have introduced it to North America and Australia. In the Czech Republic, the plant thrives in warmer regions but becomes rare or absent in higher elevations above approximately 1000 meters.

Usage / Dosage

Motherwort has a longstanding tradition in folk medicine across Europe, Asia, and the Americas for treating many conditions. Middle-aged women used Motherwort to support uterine contractions and treat infections of the urogenital tract. The compound leonurine acts as a mild vasodilator and relaxes smooth muscle, making it a classic heart tonic, nerve relaxant, and emmenagogue.

In traditional herbal practice, Motherwort is most often used for cardiac arrhythmias of nervous origin, calming heart activity (palpitations), mildly lowering blood pressure, and easing insomnia, anxiety, and irritability. It is often combined with valerian in calming tea blends.

Further uses include supporting gynecological health by reducing menopausal discomfort and harmonizing the menstrual cycle, especially in cases of delayed or absent menstruation. Historical Czech herbals recommend Motherwort for stomach cramps, menopausal symptoms, and insomnia.

Properly dosed, the active compounds in Motherwort have shown a positive effect on cardiovascular health in both healthy and ill individuals and also support respiratory health. Medical organizations support the claim that long-term use of Motherwort can promote menstrual comfort, alleviate premenstrual symptoms, and balance the menstrual cycle. Animal studies support its traditional use for providing gentle calming effects under stress.

Western medicine has also explored the antibiotic potential of leonurine for various infections. Proper doses of leonurine have helped reduce symptoms of respiratory tract infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and hemolytic streptococci, as well as ear infections from Hemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. High doses have also reduced the effects of acute prostatitis (from Escherichia coli, Klebsiella), and have supported the elimination of certain Staphylococcus species in connective tissue, skeletal, and skin infections.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Motherwort possesses a bitter, spicy, and slightly cooling energy, affecting the pericardium and liver meridians. The blend of dried and fresh leaves is called Yimucao and is prepared by mixing 30 g of the herb with 500 ml boiling water. An extract is prepared by combining this solution with 25% ethanol, dosed either at 2–6 ml (1:5) or 2–5 ml (1:1), three times a day for at least two weeks, but often longer. Practitioners use these solutions to influence the bladder, heart, and liver meridians.

Since leonurine can stimulate uterine contractions, Motherwort is not recommended during pregnancy. It is also not advised for children under 3, individuals on anticoagulant medications (since Motherwort thins the blood), or those with bleeding disorders.

Active Compounds

Motherwort contains numerous active constituents, the most prominent being the iridoid glycoside leonurid, the bitter principle leonurine, diterpenes, alkaloids leocardin and stachydrine, flavonoids (including rutin and quercetin), saponins, anthocyanins, bufanolide glycosides, around 9% tannins (with a high tannin fraction), fatty substances, organic acids (citric, malic, tartaric), silicates, essential oils, and vitamins.

Traditional Dosage

In the Czech Republic, Motherwort is used as an infusion, tincture, wine decoction, tea, balm, macerate, bath, or a brief boiled decoction. Tinctures are considered especially effective. As a sedative, a tea mix of 5 parts Motherwort, 2 parts rue leaves, St. John's wort stems, hawthorn flowers, valerian roots, and 4 parts lemon balm is recommended: two tablespoons of the mixture are steeped in 500 ml water for 20 minutes, then strained, and sipped three times daily. Tincture dosing is 15–30 drops, 2–3 times per day.

To prepare a maceration, combine two tablespoons of dried Motherwort with two glasses of cold water and let rest for 12 hours. Drink 20–50 ml of the macerate twice daily. For heart complaints, a decoction (1–2 cups per day, optionally sweetened with honey) is made by adding one teaspoon each of Motherwort and yarrow to 250 ml water, bring to a boil, then strain. For a soothing bath, combine 150 g each of peppermint, buckbean, and Motherwort, pour over 3 liters of water, steep for 15 minutes, strain, and add to bathwater.