Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is found growing in the wild in vacant lots and gardens. It’s easy to spot as motherwort grows to a height of 5 feet and has the typical square stem of plants in the mint family. This plant self seeds very well but it’s not invasive like peppermint because motherwort doesn’t spread by creeping roots.
How Does Motherwort Help You?
Motherwort has an affinity for the digestive system, liver, cardiovascular system especially the heart and vascular system, nervous system, and female reproductive system, particularly the uterus.
It is also used for the absence of menstrual periods, intestinal gas, menopause, night sweats, anxiety, pain relief, digestion and hyperthyroidism.
This herb is very bitter and best used as a tincture instead of a tea.
Heart Health
Motherwort is used for heart conditions, including heart failure, irregular heartbeat, fast heartbeat, and heart symptoms due to anxiety.
This plant eases heart palpitations caused by stress, it has a mild antispasmodic effect on the heart. Motherwort shows us how many things are affected by our emotional response to stress.
This herb has healing properties for both your physical and emotional heart. It strengthens your physical heart and calms your emotional heart.
Provides Pain Relief
Motherwort relieves pain! Abdominal pain, lower back pain, gas pain, tooth pain, almost any kind of pain.This herb helps people in pain from MS, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and other nerve conditions. Women with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia respond strongly to motherwort with pain relief evident in a few hours to a few days.
Start with 10-20 drops of tincture, and repeat it every 15 minutes until you get relief.
It’s An Excellent Tonic
Motherwort tincture regulates and tones the functioning of your thyroid, blood vessels, liver, heart and uterus. For best results use 5-25 drops of tincture in a glass of water daily for 3 months. Women who use this regularly have their hot flashes lessen in frequency, severity and duration.
Use this tincture for night sweats to help you get back to sleep. Take 10-15 drops in water as soon as you wake. Taking this tincture as a heart tonic, helps prevent heart attacks in women.
But this isn’t just for women! Men and women who use this regularly find motherwort calms, supports and strengthens them and helps relax and release any tension. This plant is not sedating, but calming, leaving you ready for your day. Try 10-20 drops as soon as you feel your nerves starting to fray or just before a stressful event. Repeat every five minutes if needed.
Stimulates Appetite and Digestion
This plant has a bitter taste that is beneficial for your digestion, liver, and appetite. Like other bitter herbs, motherwort helps to stimulate both your liver and gallbladder to increase bile production. It also stimulates your digestive system, promoting healthy digestion, improving a sluggish digestion or a poor appetite. Combining motherwort with chamomile or lemon balm can help a loss of appetite due to nerves.
If you want to learn how to make a tincture check out my article here, or you can purchase the tincture in my Shopify store.
This herb is a great natural remedy for men and women and is useful as a general tonic. Motherwort is one of best heart tonics. It assists in promoting blood circulation, lowering cholesterol, slowing a too rapid heart rate and relieving stress on the heart muscle. It is diuretic and reduces swelling, helping to lower blood pressure.
Always consult with a healthcare practitioner before using. This is not recommended for people taking anticoagulants – blood thinners, aspirin, garlic, willow bark, vitamin E in supplement form, or people with clotting disorders. Do not use if pregnant or lactating.