AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Motherwort (LEONORUS CARDIACA)

Relaxes the heart & vessels, but stimulates uterine contractions. Motherwort is a kidney tonic, diuretic, and diaphoretic. Hemostatic.

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is a perennial herb native to Europe and Asia that has been naturalized in many other parts of the world. It is a tall, hairy plant with small, pink or purple flowers and large, hairy leaves.

As the botanical name Leo-norus suggests, it restores the heart to that of a lion. Motherwort was given to "restore the spirit" in someone debilited due to exhaustion, work, and stress. It is believed to work by increasing the availability of a chemical called GABA in the brain, which helps to calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety.

Motherwort for the Heart

Motherwort is often used to support heart health, as it is believed to have a number of cardiovascular benefits, including reducing anxiety and stress, lowering blood pressure, and regulating heart rate. It is a calming heart tonic and beta blocker for cases where palpitations and arrhythmias are due to nerves and hormones, rather than heart disease.

Its mild sedative effect can help to slow down the heart rate, and is sometimes used to treat menstrual cramps and other menstrual disorders.

In addition, it is thought to have a mild blood-thinning effect, which may help to prevent blood clots and improve blood flow to the heart. It's anti-inflammatory effects are also beneficial in cardioavascular health.

Effect on the liver

Some studies have found that compounds in motherwort may help to reduce inflammation in the liver and may have antioxidant effects, which could help to protect the liver from damage caused by free radicals. Additionally, motherwort has been shown to have a mild diuretic effect, which can help to increase urine production and flush toxins out of the body.

Effect on hormones

As with many mint family herbs, Motherwort may help to reduce levels of the hormone prolactin in the body. As prolactin stimulates production of breast milk and suppresses the menstrual cycle, the reduction of prolactin can improve fertility in PCOS clients with elevated prolactin / testosterone. Additionally, motherwort is thought to have a mild estrogen-like effect.

Summary

As an anti-inflammatory and sedative, motherwort reduces Vata and Pitta doshas. However, its bitter, drying effect can also reduce Kapha. Thus, motherwort is a tri-doshic herb. It is important to note that more research is needed to fully understand the effects of motherwort.

SUGGESTED USE

1 dropper full 2x/day or as directed by your practitioner.
How should I take my tincture?
Follow these guidelines

Metabolic Nature of Motherwort

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.
INCREASES
Guna Help

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.

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COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

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DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

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TASTES
Taste Help

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

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BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes, laxative, and drying.

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PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

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DOSHAS
Dosha Help

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.

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PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
HAS THE FOLLOWING
Affinity: Heart Circulation Blood, Reproductive Health
Family: Lamiaceae
HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Motherwort
Help
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Nerve Relaxant Grounding

NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING

Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth. Reduces agitation, irritation, stress and racing thoughts.

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Analgesic

ANALGESIC

Pain reliever, reduces pain without eliminating sensation. Also known as anodyne.

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Antidepressant

ANTIDEPRESSANT

Herbs that lift feelings of depression, benefit the mind and improve mental function.

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Anxiolytic

ANXIOLYTIC

Herbs that help people suffering from anxiety or panic. They promote a state of calm and often improve sleep. Most anxiolytic herbs are also nervines.

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Dopaminergic

DOPAMINERGIC

Dopamine lifts mood, but also reduces prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and lutenizing hormone (LH).

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Nervine

NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

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Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

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Antifibrotic

ANTIFIBROTIC

Fibrosis of an organ is often a progressive leading to organ failure (i.e lungs, liver, kidney). While vulneraries usually help restore collagen, antifibrotic herbs often clear collagen. Aka fibrinolytic.

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Vulnerary

VULNERARY

An herb used for the treatment of wounds (antiulcer, connective tissue tonic).

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Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

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Immune Calming

IMMUNE-CALMING

Herbs that interrupt an allergic reaction or calm the immune system, useful in allergies and autoimmune conditions.

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Calms Heart

CALMS-HEART

An herb that literally calms the heart. These herbs are helpful in the treatment of anxiety, sadness, depression, or other emotional imbalances in the heart. Related to the Chinese Herbal Category 'calms spirit.'

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Antiplatelet

STRONG ANTIPLATELET

An herb that inhibits clotting, dissolves clots, thins the blood, or destroys platelets, therefore reducing the tendency of blood to form clots. They are useful in cardiovascular disease, clots, and stroke. Aka anticoagulant.

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Alterative

ALTERATIVE

Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.

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Beta Adrenergic Blocker

BETA-ADRENERGIC-BLOCKER

Sedates the stympathetic nervous system. Used to calm the heart, manage abnormal heart rhythms, and reduce high blood pressure.

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Cardiac Tonic

CARDIAC-TONIC

Strengthens and tones the heart (heart-tonic). Cardiac tonics are used to treat a wide range of heart issues from arrhythmia, to cardiac insufficiency.

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Hemostatic

HEMOSTATIC

An herb that stops bleeding.

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Hypotensive

HYPOTENSIVE

An herb that lowers blood pressure.

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Vessel Tonic

VESSEL-TONIC

An herb that improves the tone and integrity of blood vessel walls. This is helpful in easy bruising.

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Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

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Kidney Tonic

KIDNEY-TONIC

An herb that strengthens the kidneys.

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Lowers Thyroid

LOWERS-THYROID

Reduces thyroid function. Useful for people with hyperthyroid.

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Antiandrogen

ANTIANDROGEN

Reduces androgen (testosterone), which can reduce excess growth, drive, and libido. Reduces skin oiliness. Helpful for prostate enlargement.

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Estrogenic

ESTROGENIC

Increases estrogen, helpful in menopause. Estrogen is anabolic and increases muscle growth, bone density, and moisture.

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Relaxant Parturient

RELAXANT-PARTURIENT

Used when labor is stalled due to irregular, colicky or spasmodic contractions (hypertonic). Ensures full dilation of cervix.

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Stimulant Parturient

STIMULANT-PARTURIENT

Used to induce labor when labor is stalled due to weak or ineffective contractions. Includes both stimulants and oxytocic parturients.

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Uterine Stimulant

UTERINE-STIMULANT

Causes contractions in the uterus often by stimulating production of oxytocin. These herbs are contraindicated during pregnancy.

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Muscle Relaxant

MUSCLE-RELAXANT

Herbs that relax muscles. Helpful for chronic pain or tension as well as healing from physical trauma.

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Relieves Tension

RELIEVES-TENSION

An herb that releases tightness, constriction, and rigidity in a muscle.

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Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, hear palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

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Constituents:
Tannins,
Rosmarinic Acid

ROSMARINIC-ACID

Inhibits autoantibodies from binding to TSH receptors in the thyroid.

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Foods with a Similar Nature to Motherwort

Sage

Sage has these Actions in Common

Diaphoretic, Nervine, Uterine-stimulant, Analgesic, Estrogenic, Relaxant-parturient, Vulnerary, Antidepressant, Immune-calming, Stimulant-parturient

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Chamomile

Chamomile has these Actions in Common

Antispasmodic, Immune-calming, Vulnerary, Analgesic, Anxiolytic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Anti-inflammatory, Diaphoretic, Nervine

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Basil

Basil has these Actions in Common

Antiandrogen, Anxiolytic, Immune-calming, Antidepressant, Diaphoretic, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Diuretic

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Turmeric

Turmeric has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Antiandrogen, Antispasmodic, Analgesic, Antifibrotic, Immune-calming, Anti-inflammatory, Antiplatelet, Vulnerary

LEARN MORE

Mustard

Mustard has these Actions in Common

Cardiac-tonic, Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Diaphoretic, Relieves-tension, Antispasmodic, Diuretic

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Lavender

Lavender has these Actions in Common

Antispasmodic, Nervine, Vulnerary, Anxiolytic, Relaxant-parturient, Analgesic, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulant-parturient

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Fennel Seeds

Fennel Seeds has these Actions in Common

Analgesic, Diuretic, Nervine, Antiandrogen, Estrogenic, Vulnerary, Antispasmodic, Immune-calming

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Stinging Nettles

Stinging Nettles has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Hemostatic, Vulnerary, Antiandrogen, Immune-calming, Alterative, Diuretic, Kidney-tonic

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Mint

Mint has these Actions in Common

Antispasmodic, Dopaminergic, Analgesic, Anxiolytic, Immune-calming, Antidepressant, Diaphoretic, Nervine

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Garlic

Garlic has these Actions in Common

Antispasmodic, Diuretic, Alterative, Anxiolytic, Hypotensive, Antifibrotic, Diaphoretic, Vulnerary

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Rosemary

Rosemary has these Actions in Common

Diaphoretic, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Immune-calming, Analgesic, Cardiac-tonic, Muscle-relaxant, Antidepressant

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Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Motherwort

Dong Quai

Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

Analgesic, Immune-calming, Anti-inflammatory, Muscle-relaxant, Antifibrotic, Nervine, Antiplatelet, Relieves-tension, Antispasmodic, Stimulant-parturient, Calms-heart, Uterine-stimulant, Estrogenic, Vessel-tonic, Hypotensive

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Black Cohosh

Black Cohosh has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Muscle-relaxant, Antidepressant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Antispasmodic, Nervine, Anxiolytic, Relaxant-parturient, Diaphoretic, Dopaminergic, Estrogenic, Analgesic, Hypotensive

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Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

Anxiolytic, Diuretic, Immune-calming, Alterative, Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Anti-inflammatory, Nervine, Antidepressant, Relieves-tension, Antispasmodic, Vulnerary

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Yarrow

Yarrow has these Actions in Common

Analgesic, Uterine-stimulant, Anti-inflammatory, Vessel-tonic, Antispasmodic, Vulnerary, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Estrogenic, Hemostatic, Alterative, Immune-calming

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Ginkgo

Ginkgo has these Actions in Common

Antidepressant, Antifibrotic, Antiplatelet, Cardiac-tonic, Immune-calming, Diuretic, Nervine, Alterative, Hypotensive, Vessel-tonic, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory

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Blue Cohosh

Blue Cohosh has these Actions in Common

Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Analgesic, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Stimulant-parturient, Anxiolytic, Uterine-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Estrogenic

LEARN MORE

Hawthorne Berry & Flower

Hawthorne Berry & Flower has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Anti-inflammatory, Hypotensive, Antidepressant, Immune-calming, Antifibrotic, Vessel-tonic, Antiplatelet, Beta-adrenergic-blocker, Calms-heart, Cardiac-tonic

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St. John's Wort

St. John's Wort has these Actions in Common

Anxiolytic, Calms-heart, Dopaminergic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Analgesic, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Vessel-tonic, Antidepressant, Vulnerary, Antispasmodic

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Blue Vervain

Blue Vervain has these Actions in Common

Anxiolytic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Dopaminergic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Alterative, Nervine, Antidepressant, Relaxant-parturient, Antispasmodic

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Cramp Bark

Cramp Bark has these Actions in Common

Muscle-relaxant, Nervine, Analgesic, Relaxant-parturient, Anti-inflammatory, Relieves-tension, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Estrogenic, Hypotensive

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Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS

Motherwort may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS

Motherwort may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

HERB DRUG INTERACTION RISK

Here are some potential herb drug interactions. Please see your health care provider for more information.
  • Alterative: Anything that strengthens or cleanses the liver can clear drugs mroe quickly, requiring a higher dose.
  • Analgesic: If the mechanism of pain relief is narcotic, do not combine with antihistamines.
  • Antidepressant: Do not combine with antihistamines.
  • Cardiac-tonic: Caution when taking alongside cardiac pharmaceuticals. Inotropic herbs (that affect heart contractile strength) may interact with digoxin.
  • Diuretic: Diuretics may clear pharmaceutical drugs more quickly, lowering the effect.
  • Hypotensive: Herbs that lower blood pressure can magnify the effect of blood pressure reducing pharmaceuticals.
  • Lowers-thyroid: May magnify or reduce other thyroid medications.
  • Muscle-relaxant: Do not combine muscle relaxants with antihistamines.

Look for similar items by category

Tinctures, Heart-Circulation-Blood, Reproductive-Health

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