Motherwort: Leonurus cardiaca

Plant Family: Lamiaceae

Nomenclature: Leonurus means "lion", as the flowering tops look like a lion's tail when in flower. Cardiaca refers to "heart", as this plant has a long traditional use for cardiac issues. I think of it as providing the "strength of a lion" in times of transition, grief, heartache, loss, fear, etc. The common name "motherwort" refers to the historical use of this plant during labor, as well as for the postpartum - it is a helpful ally for coordinating uterine contractions in labor as well as helping with afterpains/soothing anxiety in the postpartum and helping us move through intense transitions that we don't think we have the strength to face. It is a "mother" plant to us, and it brings out our inner warrior "mother".

Native Habitat: Motherwort is native to central Europe and Scandinavia, was introduced and has naturalized in North America.

Herbal Actions: Nervine tonic, nervine relaxant, nervine anxiolytic, cardiovascular tonic, bitter, hypotensive, anti inflammatory, heart rate normalizer, antispasmodic, uterine tonic.

Parts used: Leaves and flowers (aerial parts in leaf or flower). In flower, the plant will have the highest concentration of nervous system supporting compounds. The plant will also be highly bitter, which is important as these bitter compounds contain much of motherwort's medicine.

Forms: Fresh plant tincture, infusions (very bitter).

Season: Mid-summer.

Taste/ Smell: Bitter, acrid, mildly aromatic.

Energetic Qualities: Cool, slow, heavy, dull, dry to deep liver congestion/moistening to digestion.

Indications: Heart palpitations, transitions, nervous tension, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, fear, high blood pressure, sore muscles, heartache, grief, hyperthyroidism-associated anxiety and palpitations, overstimulated sympathetic nervous system, white coat hypertension (short term hypotensive), inefficient UC in labor, menstrual cramps, when we think we can't cope or move through something difficult.

Body system affinities: Nervous, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, digestive, female reproductive.

Harvesting: Harvest once the plant has gone to flower, and wear gloves as there are thorny flower axils.

Key Points: Motherwort offers us protection, calm, courage, and stability in times of intense emotional upwelling or transition. We learn from motherwort that our hearts and nervous systems are highly connected. In fact, she shows us that to truly find peace in our hearts, or balance from cardiovascular disease, we must tend to our emotional wounds. We must be courageous and go where it is hard to go, to fully integrate those aspects of ourselves that have become disconnected as a result of trauma or difficulty.