Motherwort
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
A calming herb traditionally used for heart palpitations, anxiety, and menstrual support.
Motherwort is a mint-family herb with a long history of use in both European and Chinese traditional medicine. Its Latin name 'cardiaca' reflects its traditional use for heart-related concerns, particularly palpitations and rapid heartbeat associated with anxiety. It's also valued for menstrual support and has mild sedative properties.
Mechanisms of Action
Cardiac Support
May help calm heart palpitations
Nervine Action
Calms the nervous system
Recommended Dose
300-600mg extract or 1-2g dried herb
Loading: Not required
Optimal Timing
- As needed for acute anxiety
- 2-3 times daily for ongoing support
Take with food
Best Form
Tincture or capsules
Alternatives: Dried herb tea, Extract
Tincture allows flexible dosing. Tea is traditional but very bitter.
Duration
Minimum: 2 weeks
Optimal: 8 weeks
Cycling: Not required
Note: Can be taken as needed for acute anxiety or regularly for ongoing support. Very bitter as tea.
Personalized Dosage Calculator
Get a dosage recommendation tailored to your body weight, age, goals, and health profile.
Set up your health profile for personalized recommendations
Calming Effect
Reduced anxiety and nervous tension
Heart Rhythm Support
May reduce palpitations and rapid heartbeat
Bitter Taste
Very bitter flavor when taken as tea
Avoid; may stimulate uterine contractions
Who Should NOT Take This
- Pregnancy (may stimulate uterus)
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
Drug Interactions
May enhance sedative effects
May affect heart rhythm; consult doctor
Possible Side Effects
Tip: Reduce dose; avoid driving if affected
Tip: Take with food
Warnings
- Avoid during pregnancy
- May cause photosensitivity in some
Top studies from 26+ peer-reviewed papers
Chen C et al. • Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (2025)
“Our study, from clinical phenomena to mechanism validation, demonstrates that the combined regimen of motherwort injection and oxytocin exhibits superior efficacy in preventing PPH compared to oxytocin monotherapy.”
Key Findings:
- We found 88.71 % deliveries with cesarean section used a combination of motherwort injection and oxytocin to prevent PPH among 51,312 included pregnancies.
- Compared to oxytocin alone, motherwort injection combined with oxytocin could reduce bleeding at postpartum 2 h and 24 h (2h: WMD = -40.95, 95 % CI -58.04 to -23.86; 24h: WMD = -54.80, 95 % CI -72.09 to -37.51) and reduced the half of PPH risk (RR = 0.49, 95 % CI 0.41 to 0.59).
- Our study, from clinical phenomena to mechanism validation, demonstrates that the combined regimen of motherwort injection and oxytocin exhibits superior efficacy in preventing PPH compared to oxytocin monotherapy.
- A key mechanistic insight is the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway, which underpins the synergistic action of motherwort injection with oxytocin in enhancing uterine contraction.
Witkowska A et al. • Nutrients (2024)
“This short review focuses on six herbs that can constitute an interesting and potential therapeutic option in the management of cardiovascular disorders.”
Key Findings:
- Such herbal-originated medication therapy may include Morus alba L. (white mulberry), Elaeagnus rhamnoides (L.) A.
- Nelson (sea-buckthorn), Allium sativum L. (garlic), Convallaria majalis L. (lily of the valley), Leonurus cardiaca L. (motherwort), and Crataegus spp. (hawthorn).
- Valuable herbal raw materials include leaves, fruits, seeds, and even thorns.
- This short review focuses on six herbs that can constitute an interesting and potential therapeutic option in the management of cardiovascular disorders.
Wang R et al. • Frontiers of medicine (2025)
“Higher Education Press.”
Key Findings:
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system and central nervous system are "major health threats" that threaten human life and health worldwide, however, many drugs have certain side effects right now.
- This paper reviews the potential molecular therapeutic effects of leonurine on cardiovascular system and central nervous system diseases, highlights the current findings of research progress, and focuses on the therapeutic effects of leonurine in various diseases.
- At present, leonurine is in the stage of clinical experiment, and we hope that our summary can provide guidance for its future molecular mechanism study and clinical application.© 2025.
- Higher Education Press.
Cheng F et al. • Pharmacological research (2020)
“All rights reserved.”
Key Findings:
- The cardioprotective and vasoprotective activities of stachydrine are related to its inhibition of β-MHC, excessive autophagy, SIRT1, eNOS uncoupling and TF, promotion of SERCA, and angiogenesis.
- In addition to its anticancer action, regulation of the uterus, neuroprotective effects, etc. the pharmacokinetic properties of stachydrine are also discussed.Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd.
- All rights reserved.
Xia WT et al. • Explore (New York, N.Y.) (2020)
“MI could reduce post-abortion hemorrhage and improve uterine retraction in women undergoing surgical induced abortion, without serious adverse events.”
Key Findings:
- The amount of vaginal bleeding and duration of bleeding were significantly reduced in MI group compared with on-treatment group in Full Analysis Set (FAS) and Per Protocol Set (PPS) populations (P < 0.001).
- MI could reduce post-abortion hemorrhage and improve uterine retraction in women undergoing surgical induced abortion, without serious adverse events.
- It was a safe and effective treatment in preventing post-abortion hemorrhage after induced abortion.
Study Type Distribution
Goals This Supplement Supports
Related Goals
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any supplement.