Botanical Index No. 722

Motherwort

leonurus cardiaca

Medicinal Actions

Climacteric, Allergenic, Analgesic, Antiaggregant, Antiepileptic, Antiischemic, Antileukemic, Antipyretic, Antispasmodic, Antitumor, Antiviral, Astringent, Cardiotonic, CNS Depressant, Cytotoxic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Expectorant, Hypotensive, Hypotonic, Laxative, Lipolytic, Negative Chronotropic, Oxytocic, Sedative, Stimulant, Tonic, Uterotonic

Primary Conditions Treated

opathy Cardiosclerosis Catarrh Childbirth Cholecystosis Cold Constipation Convulsion Cramp Debility Delirium Depression Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Dyspnea Dysuria Epilepsy Fatigue Fever Gas Gastrosis Goiter Heart Hematuria High Blood Pressure Hyperthyroid Hysteria Infertility Insomnia Leukemia Menopause Nervous Heart Condition Nervousness Neuralgia Neurasthenia Neurosis Pain Palpitation Paralysis Parturition Prolapse Rabies Restlessness Rheumatism Roemheld Syndrome Sciatica Spasm Spine Sterility Stomachache Stroke Syncope Tachycardia Tuberculosis Tumor Typhoid Uterosis Vaginosis Virus Water Retention Worm Wound Nervine Amenorrhea Anemia Angina Anxiety Arrhythmia Asthma Bleeding BPH Bronchosis Cancer Cardiopathy

General Dosage

1.5–6 g/day; 4.5 g; 2–4 g/day; 2 tsp in cold infusion; 2–4 g in tea 3 ×/day; 2–4 g herb, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 1–2 tsp dry herb/cup water 1–2 ×/day; 2–4 g powdered herb; 2–4 mg liquid herb extract; 2–4 ml liquid herb extract 3 ×/day; 2–6 ml herb tincture 3 ×/day; 10–15 drops tincture up to 3 ×/day; 2–6 ml tincture/day; 2–4 ml liquid extract; 2–4 ml liquid extract 3 ×/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2b. Emmenagogue and uterotonic. None known. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. CAN cautions that the volatile oil may cause phototoxic dermatitis. Leaves may cause contact dermatitis. Because it is reputed to affect the menstrual cycle, and of reputed uterine activity in vitro, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. May interfere with cardiac therapy. One reference notes that doses exceeding 3 g may cause diarrhea, dyspepsia, and uterine bleeding. Inhibits pulsations of myocardial cells in vitro.

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