Also known as lions ear, lions tail, or throwwort, this perennial plant has been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments and concerns. Leonurus cardiac, commonly known as motherwort, is an herbaceous perennial of the mint family that typically grows to 24 tall. Source large mammals small mammals water birds terrestrial birds. Motherwort is a mint with dull green, hairy leaves and an intensely bitter taste.
Leonurus cardiaca motherwort, common motherwort pfaf plant. The following pdf document, from the materia medica of the traditional herbalist program, provides. A beautiful but weedy species, common motherwort is often found at woodland edges and is common throughout much of minnesota. The latin species name cardiaca comes from the plants reputation in the past as an effective medicine to treat heart diseases. It has a clumping habit and can grow up to 4 ft tall. Motherwort is a herbaceous perennial plant in the mint family, lamiaceae. Research points to this as being one of the top honey plants. Stem upper part branching, 4edged, shorthairedalmost glabrous, usually partly with purple shades. Motherworts miniature blooms are delicately painted soft pink, and resemble the. Leonurus cardiaca in the germplasm resources information network grin, u.
The name cardiac comes from kardiaca, meaning heart. Imagine my horror when, for the first time in many years, the city decided to. It is often found in country gardens, where it was formerly grown for medicinal purposes, but it is rare to find it truly wild in england, and by some authorities it is not considered indigenous, but merely a garden escape. The plants database includes the following 1 subspecies of leonurus cardiaca. Stems begin erect but tend to sprawl as they mature. Leonurus cardiaca reports also motherwort 1 total retrospective summary.
Originally from central asia and southeastern europe, it is now found worldwide. Leonorus cardiaca, known as motherwort, is an herbaceous perennial plant in the mint family, lamiaceae. Leonurus cardiaca motherwort medicinal uses charles. Botanical specimen motherwort or leonurus cardiaca. Leonurus cardiaca is a perennial plant indigenous to central europe and scandinavia, but it is also found in the area spanning temperate. The alkaloids in motherwort may contribute to the activity of the herb. Leonurus cardiaca leonurus cardiaca health effects and herbal facts. The species is hermaphrodite has both male and female organs and is pollinated by bees. Health benefits and uses of motherwort leonurus cardiac. Motherwort is a perennial plant that is best known as an herb that helps the heart and womens disorders. Motherwort in europe is traditionally used as folk medicine to treat anxiety, indicating its neurological modulating activity. The tea was not too bad, with mildly relaxing effect. Lions tail also being a common name for leonotis leonurus, and lions ear, a common name for leonotis nepetifolia. This is a bold name, bestowed in part due to the plants resemblance to a lions tail.
Closeup view of the wildflower motherwort leonurus cardiaca. The species name cardiaca is based upon its use by herbalists for heart problems. The stalks, flowers, and leaves of motherwort are typically harvested during full bloom in mid to late summer foster, 1993. If you prefer to dry them, lay the leaves and stalks onto screens. Leonurus cardiaca is a perennial growing to 1 m 3ft 3in by 0. Pdf effect of leonurus cardiaca oil extract in patients. Motherwort leonurus cardiacais a perennial, herbaceous. Motherwort is also an interesting herb for the ornamental landscape. Motherwort demonstrated cytotoxicity during an in vitro study on lymphocytic leukemia, kb cells, human lung carcinoma, mammary tumors and human colon kuohsiung et al. Apr 26, 2016 motherwort is found throughout europe, north america, and asia, and while some consider it to be an obnoxious weed, others have come to appreciate the many benefits that motherwort offers.
Leonurus cardiaca is a perennial plant indigenous to central europe and. Hannah writes on her blog, my first experience with motherwort leonurus cardiaca was enough to make me a lifelong believer of this plants supportive actions. The ancient greek and roman civilizations used motherwort to treat physical and emotional troubles, a variety of female ailments hence the name motherwort as well as irritability and other. Leonurus cardiaca motherwort panacea health limited. Oct 16, 2016 how to plant in clay, poorly draining, and compact soils. All mints lamiaceae or labiatae, as they were formerly called have three features in common. Tincture the leaves and flowers as soon as you pick them.
Motherworts latin botanical name is leonurus cardiaca. Plants profile for leonurus cardiaca cardiaca common motherwort. Purchase wise woman herbals leonurus cardiaca motherwort from natural partners online store at wholesale prices. The treatment of mice with leonurus cardiaca resulted in an inhibition of the formalininduced licking in the early phase and inflammatory pain late phase of the formalin test. The herb is fresh and fluffy, ive smoked it and made tea with it. Motherwort is especially valuable in the treatment of female weaknesses and disorders, allaying nervous irritability, inducing quiet and passivity of the whole nervous system. The herb is also used to calm the nervous system and help treat stress, anxiety, worry, and panic attacks. Motherwort leonurus cardiaca motherwort has a squarish stem which is clad in short hairs and is often purplish, especially near the nodes. Common motherwort, throwwort, lions ear, lions tail, hjertespand danish, herzgespann german, agripalma spanish, agripaume cardiaque french. This herbaceous perennial plant is 25 tall and sparingly branched below the inflorescence. Motherwort leonurus cardiaca mint family lamiaceae description. The leaf structure is very unique, and the purpleblueish flower is a cool, soothing addition to the garden. Other common names include throwwort, lions ear, and lions tail.
Produces nectar in abundance for many types of bees, especially attractive to honeybees and widely acclaimed bee plant producing amber honey with a strong mint flavour which remains liquid for months. How to plant in clay, poorly draining, and compact soils. Leonurus cardiaca motherwort leonurus cardiaca motherwort. Motherwort leonurus cardiaca for heart and spirit, nervine. Click on an acronym to view each weed list, or click here for a composite list of weeds of the u. Leonurus cardiaca is a perennial plant, with stems from 2 to 5 feet in height, wandlike, minutely downy, acutely quadrangular, with intermediate channels, purplish, beset with numerous pairs of opposite, longstalked, rough, darkgreen, somewhat downy leaves in 4 vertical rows. Motherwort common motherwort lions ear lions tail matherwort mother worth throwwort. Some of the activities described are dangerous andor illegal and none are recommended by erowid. This mintfamily member has the ubiquitous squarestems that run in the family. Presently, motherwort is found in the terrain ranging from nova scotia to montreal and southern parts of north america to texas and north. Leonurus cardiaca motherwort, wise woman herbals, wholesale.
It is in flower from july to september, and the seeds ripen from august to september. Leonurus cardiaca motherwort register now to see prices and order online. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for subspecies profiles. The botanical name leonurus refers to a fanciful resemblance of the leaves to a lions tale. This common motherwort, leonurus cardiaca is of very good quality. This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. Leonurus cardiaca motherwort herb seeds outsidepride. The square stems are ribbed and somewhat pubescent. Motherwort is a twoyearold herbaceous plant of the labiatae family. Motherworts miniature blooms are delicately painted soft pink, and resemble the healthy womb and reproductive. Alkaloids leonurine, betonicine an d stachydrine, flavonoids. May 10, 2017 i gave her a young motherwort start and motherwort tincture was a perfect plant ally for her. Some believe that an extractor tincture of motherwort is equally effective in treating anxiety as valerian.
Similar is the related siberian motherwort leonurus sibiricus, which has finely divided leaves, flowers that are much less hairy, and is far less. Users and scientists alike agree that motherwort is a natural moodlifter, and can be utilized by anyone feeling depressed or just a little melancholy. The root system is made up of both shallow fibrous roots and rhizomes. Motherwort shows its relevance to menstrual and uterine conditions whilst cardiaca indicates its use in heart and circulation treatments.
Leonurus cardiaca motherwort medicinal uses charles w. Plants profile for leonurus cardiaca common motherwort. Department of agriculture agricultural research service. Creating a local materia medica with motherwort herbal. Leaves cutlobed, with close clusters of flowers in their axils. Motherwort, the only british representative of the genus leonurus, is a native of many parts of europe, on banks and under hedges, in a gravelly or calcareous soil. The first video is on motherwort leonurus cardiaca. Early greeks gave pregnant women motherwort who suffered anxiety. Or mama lion, from its latin name leonurus cardiaca, which translates to the lionhearted one bennett, 2014 motherwort plant profile. Its natural habitat is beside roadsides, in vacant fields, waste ground.
Leonorus cardiaca illegal spelling almindelig hjertespand hjertespand hjertesp. Or mama lion, from its latin name leonurus cardiaca, which translates to the lionhearted one bennett, 2014. Leonurus cardiaca, known as motherwort, is an herbaceous perennial plant in the mint family, lamiaceae. It is also seen as a remedy for heart palpitations, it has a strengthening.
The stems are 4angled, heavily ridged, and slightly pubescent. Motherwort leonurus cardiaca by brian johnston canada motherwort grows in the shade of a row of black locust trees near where i live. My plan over the summer was to record the life cycle of this strange plant with a view to writing an article for micscape. Growing from 2 to 10 feet tall this strong fragranced perennial is a traditional female tonic from puberty to menopause and also used for heart and lungs. It is likely more widespread than the distribution map indicates. Motherwort is probably native to the southeastern part of europe and central asia where it has been cultivated since ancient times. Organic motherwort dried 1 ounce leonurus cardiaca. For practical information about using motherwort medicines, patients should read the package leaflet that comes with. Leonurus cardiaca is a perennial herbaceous plant is 25 ft 0. Leonurus cardiaca as been used since ancient times to treat a variety of ailments including rapid heart beat tachycardia, palpitations and depression. Historically, a tea made from the plant was used to treat mothers during childbirth and this resulted in the common name motherwort. Used for female support hence the name to control hot flashes, heart palpitations, menses, vaginitis, childbirth, spasms, fevers, nervous heart condition, palpitations, hyperthyroidism, insomnia, stomachache, diuretic, immune system help, sedative. Leonurus cardiaca is a perennial plant, with stems from 2 to 5 feet in height, wandlike, minutely downy, acutely quadrangular, with intermediate channels, purplish, beset. Aug 03, 2015 motherwort is a mint with dull green, hairy leaves and an intensely bitter taste.
The opposite leaves are variable in size and shape, although they all have long petioles that are slightly pubescent. The leaves are opposite with handles, almost half, top dark green, below pale green, flowers are small, petite, located vertigo several in the bosom of the upper leaves. Lions ear lions tail lions tart motherwort although motherwort is indigenous to europe, over the years, the plant has acclimatized itself to the different conditions all over north america. Health benefits analgesic activity, cure for painful menstruation, overall health, rapid heartbeat, normalize blood pressure leonurus cardiac is an herbaceous and perennial plant that belongs to the mint family lamiaceae which includes over 3000 species of plants. Motherwort leonurus cardiaca organic herbmedicinal seed. Motherwort may help an overactive thyroid but does not depress normal thyroid function. Motherwort has been used for centuries as a remedy for tachyarrhythmia and heart. A mature plant has many white, fuzzy hairs associated with the blooms and this fact probably suggested the name. Extract of leonurus compound pills of motherwort related entries. Leonurus cardiaca article about leonurus cardiaca by the.
Pretreatment with leonurus cardiaca 250 or 500 mgkg demonstrated a significant and dosedependent antinociceptive activity in the tail flick test figure 2. It is native to southeastern europe and central asia, but has over time been introduced and spread to many places around the world. Plants profile for leonurus cardiaca cardiaca common. It is valuable in the stimulation of delayed or suppressed menstruation, especially where there is anxiety or tension involved.