Motherwort ( leonurus cardiaca )

~there is no better herb for strengthening and gladdening the heart~Maud Grieve

I really enjoy Motherwort. She is a great heart herb, hence the name, Leonurus Cardiaca. An herbalist friend of mine once said Motherwort was like receiving a great big hug from your mama. I have a big beautiful patch of Motherwort in my herb garden. She is cooling and drying. She is antispasmodic, bitter, a cardio tonic, hypotensive and a nervine (when you just need to chill out) Use her aerial parts. Motherwort may be useful to ease menopausal issues or to ease PMS symptoms.

She is a biennial plant in the mint family. In the picture you notice her basal rosette leaves. Usually five lobes. Square stem. Second year leaves grow in opposite arrangement. Mothewort can tolerate many kinds of soil. Grows in open fields, along trails and gardens. Wildcraft the new leaves of motherwort in early spring, dry them on screens for later use in a tea. You may also wildcraft her beautiful flowers around July to use fresh in a tincture (google or YouTube how make a tincture) so easy you may pinch yourself for not trying it sooner! You could try motherwort as an oil infusion too.

You may want to use her benefits as a nervine tea to ease anxiety so you could add lavender, lemon balm and chamomile. You can sweeten your tea with local honey.

She has a ton of uses. Get to know motherwort.

Anyone can learn these plants, do your own research, make your own teas, tinctures, oils and medicine. If you are wildcrafting and are unsure of the plant, invest in a few used/new books of plants and use it to identify plants. Check books out at your local library. There are also apps you can download on your phone for plant identification. Have fun and enjoy all the plants God has put on this earth for us.

*Not for use in pregnancy. Always consult with your health practitioner if you are pregnant or have other health issues before taking herbs