Motherwort herb

Motherwort: Materia Medica


Motherwort herb

Motherwort

Botanical name: Leonorus cardiaca

Pertinent Information on the Plant

  • Emmenagogue (agent that regulates and induces normal menstruation)
  • Suppressed menstruation
  • Female disorders
  • Relieving menstruation cramps
  • Menopause (water retention, hot flashes, M=mood swings)
  • Aids in child birth
  • Heart tonic
  • Heart palpitations
  • Add to cough formula when someone has bad heart
  • Add to asthma formula when someone has a bad heart
  • Nervine relaxant (calm nervous tension and nourish the nervous system)
  • Sedative (exerts a soothing, tranquilizing effect on the body)
  • Antispasmodic (calming nervous and muscular spasms or convulsions)
  • Hepatic (having to do with the liver)
  • May be used to alleviate false labor pains
  • Diuretic (increases flow of urine)
  • Carminative (causing the release of stomach or intestinal gas)
  • Antioxidant (prevents or inhibits oxidation)
  • Fevers
  • Stomach aches

Habitat and Growing area

  • Found on our farm in Ontario Canada
  • Likes to grow in disturbed ground; pasture land and fence line

Extra Notes

  • A beautiful addition to heart tonic tea and menstruation teas


Reference Books:

Holistic Herbal, by David Hoffmann

Pages:  26, 27, 28, 38, 39, 65, 78. 99, 101, 104, 144-147, 183, 215

 The Way of Herbs, by Michael Tierra

Pages: 158-159

 The Complete Encyclopedia of Herbs, by Nico Vermeulen

Pages: 168

 Family Herbal, by Rosemary Gladstar

Pages: 203, 205, 228, 261, 295, 350

 Peterson Field Guide: Easter/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke

Pages: 182, 183