UniProt Consortium (2014). SPECIES Leonurus japonicus (Chinese motherwort) (Leonurus artemisia). Retrieved from: hengduan.huh.harvard.edu
Botanical Name: Leonurus cardiaca
Common name: Motherwort (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562)
Family: Lamiaceae (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562)
Parts used: Aerial parts (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562)
Constituents: Iridoids (incl. leonuride); labdane diterpenes (incl. leocardin); flavonoids (incl. apigenin, kaempferol, and quercetin glucosides); caffeic acid; alkaloids (incl. tachydrine, betonicine, turicin, leonurine); tannins; and volatile oil (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562).
Actions
- Nervine (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562; Bone, 2003, p. 331)
- Emmenagogue (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562; Bone, 2003, p. 331)
- Antispasmodic (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562; Bone, 2003, p. 331)
- Hepatic (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562)
- Cardiotonic (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562; Bone, 2003, p. 331)
- Hypotensive (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562; Bone, 2003, p. 331)
- Anti-arrhythmic (Bone, 2003, p. 331)
Indications
- Delayed or suppressed menstruation (esp. when related to anxiety and tension) (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562).
- Congestive amenorrhea (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562; Bone, 2003, p. 331)
- Dysmenorrhoea (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562; Bone, 2003, p. 331)
- False labor pains (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562)
- Menopausal symptoms (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562)
- Tachycardia (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562; Bone, 2003, p. 331)
- Anxiety and tension (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562)
- Insomnia (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562)
- Anemic nervousness (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562)
- Cardiac weakness following infection (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562)
- Hyperthyroidism (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562)
- Neuralgia (Bone, 2003, p. 331)
Dosage & Preparation:
- Liquid extract (1:2):2,0-3.5mL/day or 15-25mL/week (Bone, 2003, p. 331)
- Tincture (1:5 in 40%): 1-4mL/tds (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562)
- Infusion: 1-2tsp/1cup water/tds (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562)
Contraindications
- Pregnancy (Bone, 2003, p. 331)
Interactions: May interfere with cardiovascular medications (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 562)
