Motherwort
BotanicalLeonurus cardiacaAlso calledCommon motherwort
A very bitter herb with a fierce look and a soft heart, traditionally brewed on tense, wound-up days to settle the mood.
Motherwort is a tall, spiky plant from Europe and central Asia that has made itself at home in North American gardens and roadsides. Its Latin name, Leonurus cardiaca, means something like "lion-hearted." Old herbals tied it to the heart, both the beating one and the emotional one, and to mothers and the women who cared for them.
Be ready for the taste. Motherwort is one of the most bitter teas on our shelf. That strong bitterness is why modern Ayurvedic teachers call it cooling. It is often brought out when someone feels irritable and overheated at once, the kind of day when everything feels like too much.
Ayurvedic Properties
Not described in classical Ayurveda; modern Ayurvedic writers describe it as bitter and pungent in taste and cooling, with a pungent post-digestive effect (Frawley and Lad, The Yoga of Herbs, and other modern Ayurvedic teachers).
- RasaTastes
- ViryaHeating or cooling
- Cooling
- VipakaPost-digestive effect
- Pungent
- AgniEffect on digestion
- Neutral for agni
Little direct effect on digestion.
- GunaQualities
- TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
- Vata: increases in excess
- Pitta: decreases
- Kapha: decreases
- ↓decreases (calms that dosha)
- ↑increases (can aggravate it)
- =neutral or balancing
- ?not known
- V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha
Motherwort's bitter coolness speaks to pitta heat and helps move sluggish kapha. Vata types should use it sparingly and blend it with warming, sweeter herbs, since too much bitter can feel drying and scattering.
Traditional Uses
- Traditionally used to support a calm heart and a steady mood during tense times.
- Traditionally used to support ease and comfort during the monthly cycle.
- Traditionally used to support emotional balance during the menopause years.
- Traditionally used to support relaxed sleep when worry keeps you up.
How People Use It
- TeaSteep 1 teaspoon of dried herb in a cup of just-boiled water, covered, for 5 to 10 minutes. Start small. It is very bitter, so most people blend it with milder herbs.
- HoneyA spoonful of honey in the warm tea makes it much easier to drink.
Wind-Down Motherwort Tea
A bitter-sweet cup for an evening when you feel wound up.
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon dried motherwort
- 1 teaspoon dried lemon balm
- 1 teaspoon dried rose petals
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Pour just-boiled water over the herbs.
- Cover and steep for 8 minutes.
- Strain, let it cool a little, then stir in the honey.
- Sit with one hand on your heart and take a few slow breaths before you drink.
Pairs Well With
Cautions
- Do not use motherwort during pregnancy. It is also best avoided while breastfeeding, since safety has not been established.
- Do not use it to self-treat heart symptoms. If you notice a racing or irregular heartbeat, see a doctor first.
- Motherwort may add to the effects of sedatives and sleep medicines, and it may interact with blood thinners and heart or blood pressure medicines. Talk with your doctor if you take any of these.
- It is meant for adults. Avoid it before surgery and if you have heavy menstrual bleeding, unless your doctor approves.
- Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before using it.
In Our Shop
Organic Motherwort, from $5.75. Weighed and packed by hand at our Rockville Centre studio.
Shop Motherwort →Sources and Further Reading
This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.