Name: Motherwort
Latin Name: Leomurus Heterophyllus Sweet
Pin Yin: Yi Mu Cao
Location: All temperate areas of the world

Overview: Leonurus is an excellent heart tonic, and research has shown that it is able to calm palpitations, tachycardia and irregular heartbeats. It is a specific remedy for tachycardia caused by anxiety, and may be used in all heart conditions associated with anxiety and tension. Treatment should normally be continued for several months. The alkaloid leonurine produces central nervous depressant and hypotensive effects in animals, and stachydrine may also be involved. The glycosides have a short-term ability to lower blood pressure.

Leonurus is valuable in the stimulation of suppressed or delayed menstruation, and to ease dysmenorrhoea, especially where there is anxiety or tension involved. It may be used to ease false labour pains, and the infusion, taken after childbirth, will help restore the uterus and reduce the risk of post-partum bleeding. The alkaloids encourage and ease uterine contractions. It is also helpful during the menopause. The infusion or diluted tincture may be used as a douche for vaginal infections and discharges. Other indications include diarrhoea. In Germany the plant is used as an adjuvant in treatment of an overactive thyroid gland.

History: In eastern China, women still drink syrup made from Motherwort to promote the recovery of the uterus after childbirth; the herb has a strong bitter taste, so visitors to a recovering mother often bring along sugar as a gift. Europeans used Motherwort as a sedative as well, inducing tranquility in times of anxiety, or when there is restlessness during fevers. Germany's Commission E has authorized Motherwort for the treatment of heart disorders caused by anxiety and stress, as well as part of an overall treatment plan for an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). These two uses are linked by the fact that both stress and high levels of thyroid hormone can increase the heart rate. Motherwort is an excellent heart tonic, and research has shown that it is able to calm palpitations, tachycardia and irregular heartbeats.

By the end of the nineteenth century, however, the wild root was near extinction in North America due to over-harvesting and the destruction of its natural habitat. At this point, farmers began cultivating the sensitive plant and after numerous failed attempts the first harvests of cultivated ginseng reached the market. From 1880 to1960 the ginseng trade experienced many ups and downs for reasons as diverse as blight and world wars but since the 1960s the trade in American ginseng has grown steadily.

In the 1990s more North Americans than ever have been converted by the wonderful and various curative properties of ginseng and in addition to the trade still flourishing with China, there is a sizeable domestic market for the root.

Primary Uses:

• Irregular heartbeat
• Weak heart
• Anxiety, Pregnancy and Post Partum

Parts Used: Aerial parts

Safety: Leonurus is a uterine stimulant and so should be avoided in pregnancy, although it may be used during labour. Stachydrine has the effect of hastening childbirth. Chinese research on L. heterophyllus has shown that decoctions of the plant are as effective as ergotamine in causing the uterus to contract after delivery. Contact with the plant may cause dermatitis in susceptible individuals.

Supporting Research:

• Painful menstruation with anemia and stagnation, add Blood and Qi moving herbs including Motherwort (Yi Mu Cao), cyperus (Xiang Fu), Corydalis (Yan Hu Suo).¹
• The effect of motherwort (Leorunus Heterophyllus Sweet, MW) on blood hyperviscosity was investigated in 105 patients. The experimental and clinical study indicated that MW has a favorable clinical impact and an effective improvement of hemorheology. MW 10 ml (5g/ml) in 250 ml of 5% glucose was given intravenously daily for 15 days. 94.5% of cases showed improvements in the form of a decrease in blood viscosity and in fibrinogen volume and an increase in the deformability of Rbc, a shorting of the time of Rbc electrophoresis and an increase in antiplatelet aggregation.²
• The enzyme system, prostaglandin E 9-ketoreductase, which catalyzes the reduction of prostaglandin E to form prostaglandin F has been partially purified from swine kidney. This NADPH-linked enzyme is studied spectrophotometrically. The KM of this enzyme for prostaglandin E2 was found to be 180 microM. Studies with the partially purified enzyme indicate that prostaglandin E 9-ketoreductase is affected by a Chinese herbal medicine i-mu-ts'ao (leonurus heterophyllus sweet). An increase in the concentration of i-mu-ts'ao aqueous extract may influence the conversion of prostaglandin E2 into prostaglandin F2 alpha. This finding offers a possible explanation for the physiological role of i-mu-ts'ao when it is treated as a medicine.³

¹Dr. Michael Tierra O.M.D., L.A.C., and Lesley Tierra L.A.C., [The Five Stagnations - The Mother of all Diseases], online articles.

²Zou QZ, Bi RG, Li JM, Feng JB, Yu AM, Chan HP, Zhen MX., Department of Internal Medicine, Shen Zhen, People's Hospital, Guangdong, China., [Effect of motherwort on blood hyperviscosity.], Am J Chin Med. 1989;17(1-2):65-70.

³Hsieh LS, Suen HF, Lee S., [The effect of i-mu-ts'ao on a partially purified prostaglandin E 9-ketoreductase from swine kidney.], Proc Natl Sci Counc Repub China B. 1985 Jul;9(3):197-201.