Tincture
Motherwort tincture
Motherwort''s Latin name is Leonurus cardiaca, lion''s tail at the heart, and the English name says the rest: it has been used for women for a thousand years, in childbirth, in palpitations, and in the restlessness that has no named cause.
It grows on waste ground and old farmyards, tall and square-stemmed, with small pink flowers in whorls.
It is bitter. Very bitter. There is an old saying that motherwort tastes like the patience it gives you.
It suits particularly the kind of menopause where the heart races for no reason, and where the unease settles in the chest rather than the head.
Ingredients
- Dried motherwort, flowering tops and leaves
- 40% vodka, enough to cover
Equipment
- Jar with tight lid
- Cloth or coffee filter
- Dark dropper bottle
Method
- 1
Fill a jar ⅓ full with dried motherwort, cover with 40% vodka, let steep in the dark for 4 weeks.
- 2
Strain and take 20-30 drops in water when restless.
Dosage
20-30 drops in a little water for unease or palpitations, up to 3 times daily.
Can also be taken regularly for periods, but take a break after 6-8 weeks.
It works within half an hour for acute unease, but for hot flushes and palpitations over time it needs a couple of weeks.
Shelf life
2-3 years, dark and cool.
Safety
Not during pregnancy. Motherwort stimulates the womb and has historically been used to bring on labour. The name motherwort comes from exactly that, and it is not a recommendation for pregnant women.
Not while breastfeeding, it has not been studied enough.
Motherwort can slow the pulse. If your pulse is already slow, or you take beta blockers, digoxin or other heart medication, speak with your doctor before starting.
It is sedative. Take care if you also take sleeping or sedative medication, and do not drive if you become drowsy.
It can affect thyroid function. If you have a thyroid condition, ask your doctor.
It can upset the stomach in some people. Start at the low dose.
And most important: palpitations should be investigated the first time they happen. An irregular pulse, palpitations with breathlessness, chest pain, dizziness or fainting are not menopause until a doctor has said so. Get an ECG, so you know what you are dealing with.
How the herbs work
Motherwort contains leonurine and alkaloids, which are mildly sedative on the nervous system while damping the heart''s conduction system. That is why it carries both a heart and a mother in its name: it works on the pulse and on the unease at once.
In menopause it is often exactly that combination that troubles. Palpitations without exertion, inner unease settling in the chest, and sleep turning shallow. Motherwort goes after all three by the same route.
The bitter compounds also aid digestion, a classic side benefit of bitter plants.
The tradition is long and well described. The modern evidence is modest, mostly animal studies and a few small trials, so take it as a well-founded herb rather than a proven treatment.
The content here is general knowledge and folk herbal lore, not medical treatment. In illness, pregnancy, breastfeeding or alongside medication: always talk to your doctor first.