Motherwort – Leonorus cardiaca

Common name: Motherwort, Lion’s tail

Family: Lamiaceae

Botany: Erect perennial herb. 60-120 cm. 5-7 lobed leaves, coarsely toothed, upper leaves 3-5 sharp lobes.  In leaf axils whorls of numerous flowers. 6-15 flowers/whorl, ink petals in funnel shaped calyx with pronounce prickly teeth. Strong odour.  A related species L. heterophyllus is used in China and is also used for eczema and sores

Parts used: Dried aerial parts gathered during flowering

Harvesting, cultivation and habitat:  Waste places, hedgerows.  Europe, Asia, North America.  Avoids most northerly reaches. Cultivation from seed, any position, will naturalize and spread easily from self-seeding. Harvest July-September.  To dry separate leaves from the stem

History/Folklore/Taste/energetics: Pungent, bitter, drying, cool.

Constituents Alkaloids, including stachydrine), Bitter glycosides, Tannins, Volatile oil, Vitamin A

Actions Uterine stimulant, Relaxant, Cardiac tonic, Carminative

 Traditional and current uses

• Menopausal symptoms, especially with anxiety, raised blood pressure
• Period pains, associated with tension
• Lack of periods
• To facilitate labour; the key constituents are the alkaloids. In isolation they cause womb contractions (especially stachydrine _, particularly at the end of pregnancy when uterine muscle changes. Encourages coordinated contractions and removes spasms.
• Nervous tension associated with menopause or menstruation
• Heart tonic for HBP 
• Tachycardia
• Nervous indigestion with wind and bloating
• Vaginal infections and discharges
• Palpitations with nervous tension
• Effort syndrome
• Promotes relaxation rather than drowsiness, sedative effect due to bitter glycosides
• Do not use with heavy periods unless combined with herbs to ameliorate this possible side effect. I have used it with other herbs such as Geranium sp, Mentha sp, Viburnum opulus to good effect
• Some feel it is contra-indicated in pregnancy, others recommend it

This herbal monograph is based on educational material provided by the Plant Medicine School.

This herbal monograph is used with the permission of The Plant Medicine School.