* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Description
Motherwort Leonurus cardiaca L.
Family: Lamiaceae.
Other Names: Agripaume (French); Herzgespann (German); cardiaco (Italian); agripalma (Spanish).
Description: Motherwort is an erect perennial herb of up to 1.5 m in height, with distinctive toothed, usually drooping leaves and small pink flowers arranged in axillary clusters on the elongated flowering branches. Chinese motherwort or yi mu cao (L. heterophyllus, = L. japonicas) , Siberian motherwort or marahuanilla (L. sibiricus), and L. quinquelobatus have been used in the same way as L. cardiaca.
Origin: Central Europe, northern Europe and Asia; naturalised in North America. The herb is wild-harvested during the flowering season in summer, and is commonly cultivated in gardens.
Parts Used: Aboveground parts (Leonuri herba).
Therapeutic Category: Cardiotonic.
Uses and Properties: The main use of the herb is to treat nervous heart conditions (as the name "cardiaca" implies); also employed in the supportive treatment of thyroid hyperactivity. Traditionally used as a spasmolytic, hypotensive and in case of climacteric ailments. The English common name refers to the traditional use of calming anxiety during childbirth and it is considered to be a uterine contractant.
Active Ingredients: The main compounds of interest are alkaloids (stachydrine, leonurine), iridoid glycosides (such as ajugol, ajugoside, galiridoside), labdane diterpenes and diterpene lactones (leocardin, marrubiaside), flavonoids, phenolic acids and tannins.
Pharmacological Effects: The iridoid glycosides (or the metabolites formed in the body) are likely to interfere with prostaglandin formation, the alkaloids with neuroreceptors and the various phenolics with proteins. It is likely that the diterpenes and diterpene lactones exhibit biological activities (they show some weak structural resemblance to cardenolides). Cardioactivity, uterotonic and oxytocic effects have been documented. Experimental studies, that would explain these properties, are not available.
Status: Traditional medicine; Pharm.; Comm. E+.
Preparation and Dosage: A tea can be made from 2 - 4 g of the dried herb and taken three times a day. An average daily dose of 4.5 g or equivalent preparations has been recommended. The herb is mainly taken as an ingredient of various cardiovascular teas and combination products. In folk medicine, mixtures of volatile oils including mothenvort extract are applied topically to specified areas around the heart.
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Directions
Stir 1/4 of a teaspoon into a glass of water and consume 3 times daily, with meals.
Cautions
Not to be used during pregnancy or lactation.
Additional Information
The TerraVita Premium Collection uses only the finest, purest and most potent plant extracts from around the world.
The TerraVita Premium Collection is hallmarked by the highest possible standards of purity, potency, stability and freshness. Our highest possible standards are certified by independent laboratories and backed by our personal guarantee.
The TerraVita Premium Collection is packed in child-proof, tamper-proof pharmaceutical-grade recyclable containers.
ZooScape is proud to be the exclusive distributor of TerraVita teas, herbs and supplements in the United States, Canada and around the world. Please direct all wholesale and bulk inquiries to Simona Heather at 905-494-1785.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
