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Botanical illustration of Motherwort
MedicinalSourced entry

Motherwort

Leonurus cardiaca

A plant from the mint family, traditionally used as a heart tonic and for women's health. Recognized in Europe for nervous heart complaints such as palpitations.

Motherwort may interact with some medicines. If you take any medicine, read Interactions with medicines below and talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using it.

What is Motherwort?

Plant family
Lamiaceae, the mint family
Parts used
The flowering parts
Where it grows
Native to Asia and southeastern Europe; now found around the world
Genus
Leonurus
Species
cardiaca

Traditionally used for

  • Palpitations
  • Nervous tension
  • Women's health

Traditionally described as

  • Calming
  • Heart tonic

Health topics

Where Motherwort appears in symptom search, and why. Being listed doesn't mean it's a proven treatment.

  • Heart Palpitations

    Traditionally used in Europe for nervous heart complaints such as palpitations, once a doctor has ruled out serious conditions.

  • High Blood Pressure

    One small, short study suggested it may lower blood pressure in people with anxiety, but firm conclusions can't be drawn.

Traditions that use it

  • European Folk Medicine

    Recognized by the European Medicines Agency as a traditional herbal medicine for nervous tension and nervous heart complaints such as palpitations.

Natural compounds

LeonurineStachydrine

Safety

Interactions with medicines

  • Motherwort may increase the risk of bleeding with blood thinners and anti-platelet medicines, and has been reported to strengthen the effect of warfarin. Taken with benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety and sleep medicines), it may add to their sleep-inducing effect; this has been reported to result in coma.[1]

Who should avoid it

  • Motherwort medicines should only be used by adults. See a doctor if symptoms last longer than 4 weeks or get worse.[2]

Side effects

  • At the time of the European assessment, no side effects had been reported with motherwort medicines.[2]

  • Taking 3 g of powdered extract a day has been linked to diarrhea, bleeding from the womb and stomach irritation.[1]

Pregnancy

  • Motherwort medicines must not be taken during pregnancy.[2]

  • Motherwort is listed as an herb to avoid in pregnancy, mainly because it may stimulate the womb and bring on menstruation.[1]

Before surgery

  • Motherwort has been listed as an herb linked to bleeding problems, which matters for anesthesia and surgery.[1]

What does the research say?

Traditional use

These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.

  • Motherwort has been used since ancient times as a heart tonic and for women's health problems such as missing or painful periods, anxiety around menopause and depression after childbirth.[1]

    Technical detail: cardiotonic; amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, menopausal anxiety, postpartum depression.

  • Based on at least 30 years of safe use, the European Medicines Agency recognizes motherwort as a traditional herbal medicine to relieve nervous tension and nervous heart complaints such as palpitations (more noticeable heartbeats), once a doctor has ruled out serious conditions.[2]

Laboratory & animal research

Lab and animal results show what might be worth studying in people. They don't show that the herb has these effects in humans.

  • In lab studies on rat heart cells, motherwort extracts reduced the production of harmful free radicals. In mice, leonurine, a compound found in motherwort, reduced inflammation.[1]

Research in people

  • In one study, 50 people with stage 1 or 2 high blood pressure took 1,200 mg of motherwort oil extract a day for 28 days. Their blood pressure and heart rate changed significantly, and anxiety, headaches and sleep problems improved, especially in people with stage 1 high blood pressure.[1]

    Technical detail: Shikov et al. 2011, Phytotherapy Research; changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and ECG.

  • The European Medicines Agency considered that study. A possible blood-pressure-lowering effect was seen, but the study was short and didn't compare motherwort with any other treatment, so firm conclusions couldn't be drawn.[2]

In short

Must not be taken during pregnancy; may increase bleeding risk with blood thinners.

Sources

  1. [1] Leonurus cardiaca L. as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: An Update of the European Medicines Agency Assessment Report (2010) — BioMed Research International · DOI: 10.1155/2019/4303215Peer-reviewed study
  2. [2] Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L., herba): summary of the HMPC conclusions (EMA/165476/2019) — European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC)Government health agency

This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.