May 2026 Herb of the Month: Motherwort

In herbal medicine, we consider three main sites for anxious energy. Some herbal practitioners call these the “three seats of consciousness.” These are the gut, where we can feel our instincts, the heart, where we can interpret our intuition, and the brain, where we use our intellect. Now obviously, all three of these sites are activated when we experience natural anxiety; our stomach can get queasy, our heart can start to race, and we can get headaches and racing thoughts. But typically, one of these systems experiences stronger symptoms than the others.  Luckily, in herbal medicine, we can see that some herbs have special affinities for these systems. Motherwort, May’s Herb of the Month, has a special affinity for the heart. That means, this beautiful herb is indicated for those who experience cardiovascular symptoms when stressed (high blood pressure, excessive sweating, heart palpitations, etc.). It’s also a bitter emmenagogue, meaning it stimulates menses and supports digestion. It’s indicated for individuals with irregular or absent menstrual cycles. 

 

Common name: Motherwort

Latin name: Leonurus cardiaca

Part Used: aerial parts (anything above the ground!)

Properties: Nervine, emmenagogue (stimulates and promotes menses), antispasmodic (eases muscle spasms and cramps), hepatic (supports liver function – detoxification, metabolism, and tissue repair), anti-inflammatory, cardio tonic, hypotensive (can help lower blood pressure), uterine tonic, diaphoretic (increases perspiration so can help break a fever) 

Taste: Bitter, acrid, earthy

Energetics: Cooling, drying, relaxing

History

Motherwort has a relatively short history in Western literature. It doesn’t appear in De Materia Medica, Enquiry Into Plants, or Pliny the Elder’s The Natural History. However, its Asian counterpart, Leonurus japonica, with the Chinese name yi mu cao, which translates to “benefits the mother herb,” was first mentioned in the Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica in the 2nd century. We find it in Western documents closer to the 16th and 17th centuries. According to The Herball or Generall History of Plants, written by John Gerarde in 1598, motherwort was used to aid “convulsions, cramps, and palsies, to open the obstructions or stoppings of the intrals, and to kill all kinds of worms in the belly. The powder in wine provoketh not only urine and the monthly courses, but also is good for them that it is hard travail with child.” Throughout the 17th century, English herbalists and physicians came to understand the herb and its complexities by describing it as useful for transforming melancholy hearts into merry, cheerful ones. They began to see motherwort as a supportive nervine, aiding in anxiety and uplifting spirits, especially in new mothers, and bolstering them during a time of overwhelm and self-doubt. 

Benefits

Female Reproductive Health: Motherwort’s antispasmodic and hypotensive properties can benefit smooth muscle systems and ease cramps. Motherwort’s bitter properties can help stimulate and move blood flow down and out when menstruation is delayed or absent. It’s helpful for hot flashes and other menopause symptoms like irritability, headaches, and hormone imbalances (due to its ability to support the liver). Herbalists and midwives have used motherwort for centuries to support childbirth and its aftermath. They’ve used poltices of motherwort to help expel the afterbirth and tinctures to help tone the uterus and prevent uterine infections. 

 

Cardiotonic (Heart Health): Today, herbalists use motherwort for its many cardioprotective biochemical properties. So, while it supports the physical heart, it can also support the emotional and spiritual hearts. Because of this, motherwort is the top choice for when emotional pain or anxiety impacts heart health. Herbalist David Winston advises that individuals with stress-induced hypertension would also benefit greatly from motherwort. Additionally, it’s indicated for tachycardia, blood stagnation, lowering cholesterol, and improving blood vessel structure. 

 

Nervine: Motherwort works as a nervine, settling over-excited nerves. We see this in how it helps dispel nervous heart symptoms (shown above). However, motherwort can also extend its calming properties beyond the heart while remaining centered on it. Motherwort is an excellent companion for nervous conditions, particularly those that are accompanied by heat. Heat can be interpreted as literal heat, like a Virginia summer, or energetic heat such as anxiety, agitation, or anger. Motherwort helps us cool down and shift into our parasympathetic state (rest-and-digest). 

 

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Emotional Aspects of Motherwort

Motherwort is a plant that shows and tells you exactly who it is. Its Latin name, Leonurus cardiaca, means “lion-hearted.” Additionally, its soft, fuzzy pink flowers are protected by calyxes (little thorns) that become increasingly sharp as the season gets hotter and more severe. This is similar to its effects on the psycho-spiritual heart, as it helps mend the soft and “thorny” parts of your heart that have been impacted by emotional pain. Motherwort, like its thorny parts, can also act as a shield, setting a clear boundary and protecting the heart. Motherwort calms and strengthens the heart, instilling a sense of inner peace and the courage to get back up and face emotional challenges.