Motherwort Herb Profile

Also known as

Leonurus cardiaca, lion's ear, lion's tale, throwwort.

Introduction

Motherwort is a mint with dull green, hairy leaves and an intensely bitter taste. The botanical name Leonurus refers to a fanciful resemblance of the leaves to a lion's tale. One rather odd Hindu tale relates that if you make a tea of motherwort and add it to the laundry when you wash your socks and underwear, you will bring peace to your home.

Constituents

Motherwort contains four groups of medicinally active chemicals:

• Caffeic acid 4-rutinoside.
• Diterpenes of the labdane type, such as leocardin, a mixture of two epimers of 8b-acetoyx-9a, l3a, l5, l6-bisepoxy-l5-hydroyx-7-oxo- labdan-6b, l9-olide.
• Flavonoids; rutin, quinqueloside, genkwanin, quercitin, quercetrin, isoquercetrin, hyperoside, and apigenin and kaempferol glucosides.
• Iridoids: leonuride and others not yet identified.

Parts Used

All the above-ground parts of the plant, gathered after flowering, dried, and cut.

Typical Preparations

Traditionally used as a tea. Frequently combined with hawthorn. May also be taken as an extract or capsule.

Summary

Precautions

Consult your physician before using this herb if you take prescription medication for your heart. Not recommended while pregnant.