Gardening Blog

Motherwort

Leonurus cardiaca, lion’s ear, lion’s tail, Roman motherwort, throw-wort

Motherwort is a perennial indigenous to central Europe and Scandinavia, and is present in temperate areas of Russia and central Asia. The medicinal components are obtained from aboveground parts of Leonurus cardiaca. Motherwort contains leocardin, ajugoside (leonuride), ajugol, galiridoside, reptoside, and other constituents, including flavonoids, leonurin, betaine, caffeic acid derivative, tannins, and traces of volatile oil. Alkaloids responsible for major herb activity include stachydrine, betonicine, turicin, leonurine, leonuridin, and leonurinine.

Motherwort has mild negative chronotropic properties, and hypotonic, cardiacinhibitory, antispasmodic, and sedative actions. Leonurine may stimulate uterine tone and blood flow, and stachydrine may stimulate oxytocin release. Ursolic acid may have antiviral, tumorinhibiting, and cytotoxic activity. K substance, an extract of motherwort, may decrease blood viscosity through platelet aggregation inhibition and inhibitory effects on cardiac function. Motherwort is available as powdered herb, leaf and flowering tops, fluid extract, solid extract, and alcohol extracts.

Reported uses

Motherwort is use for hyperthyroidism, management of mild to moderate cardiac insufficiency (New York Heart Association classes I and II), arrhythmias such as tachycardia, and other nervous cardiac conditions. It’s also used for flatulence,
amenorrhea, itching, and shingles, and as a generalized tonic and antiplatelet agent. It’s used in combination with other herbs to treat symptoms of benign prostatic byperplasia. Motherwort is used topically to improve eyesight.

Administration

• Fluid extract 1:1 (g/ml; contains 12% to 15 % organic alcohol): 1 to 2 ml by mouth three times a day as a dietary supplement
• Dried above-ground parts: 2 g by mouth three times a day
• Infusion: 4.5 g herb a day
• Tea (steep 2 g dried above-ground parts in 5 oz boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes, and then strain): 1 cup three times a day
• Tincture 1:5 (g/ml; tincture contains 56% to 62 % grain alcohol): 22.5 ml daily
• Long-term use: 5 gtt, 1 tablet, 10 pellets, by mouth once daily to three times a day
• Acute conditions: 5 gtt, 1 tablet, 10 pellets by mouth every 30 to 60 minutes.

Hazards

Motherwort may cause diarrhea, stomach irritation, uterine bleeding, contact dermatitis, photosensitivity reaction, and allergic reactions. There is risk of increased sedation when motherwort is taken in conjunction with antihistamines Or central nervous system depressants. When taken with cardiac glycosides, motherwort may cause additive effects and Possible cardiac glycoside toxicity. Caution should be used when taking motherwort with herbs containing cardiac glycosides, such as black hellebore, Canadian hemp root, digitalis leaf, figwort, hedge mustard, lily-of-the-valley roots, oleander leaf, pheasant’s-eye plant, pleurisy root, squill bulb leaf scales, strophanthus seeds, and uzara owing to possible cardiac glycoside toxicity. Alcohol and motherwort may potentiate sedative effects. When taken with anticoagulants, there may be an increased risk of bleeding. Photosensitivity reaction may occur; caution should be used with exposure to sunlight.

Motherwort shouldn’t be used by pregnant women because of possible uterine stimulating properties. It should also be avoided by breast-feeding women. Patients currently receiving treatment for cardiac dysfunction or arrhythmias shouldn’t use motherwort because of the risk of increased toxicity.

Safety Risk Avoid preparations containing alcohol in patients concomitantly taking disulfiram or metronidiazole.

Clinical considerations

• Tinctures, fluidextracts, and flowering tops contain a large amount of alcohol and shouldn’t be used by children, alcoholic patients, or patients taking disulfiram or metronidazole.
• Advise patient that motherwort has an unpleasant odor.
• Tell patient to notify health care provider about planned, suspected, or known pregnancy. Discourage taking of herb while breastfeeding.
• Tell patient that doses higher than recommended may cause diarrhea, stomach irritation, or uterine bleeding.
• Warn patient that herb may cause sedation and that he should avoid hazardous activities.
• Tell patient to keep fluidextract, tincture, and flowering tops out of the reach of children.
• Teach patient that motherwort may make him more sensitive to the effects of sunlight; explain the need for adequate sunscreen when going outdoors.
• Advise cardiac patients to consult with their health care provider prior to using motherwort.
• Tell patient to remind prescriber and pharmacist of any herbal or dietary supplement that he’s taking when obtaining a new prescription.
• Advise patient to consult his health care provider before using an herbal preparation because a treatment with proven efficacy may be available.

Research summary

The concepts behind the use of motherwort and the claims made regarding its effects haven’t yet been validated scientifically.