The motherwort herb is a potent nutraceutical that dates back to the early Greeks and Romans. Without modern-day medicine at their fingertips, they found motherwort to be a calming agent for pregnant women struggling with anxiety. Native Americans knew the medicinal properties of motherwort and used it for gastrointestinal relief and its sedative qualities. Motherwort powder is also especially beneficial for a woman’s reproduction system and hormones.
This multifunctional herb originated in central Asia and has been introduced to many places worldwide, including North America. It can be found in woods, fields, empty parking lots, and riverbanks (spreading as a weed) or can be bought as a plant for your garden. Motherwort is used extensively as a medicinal plant and frequently taken in its powder form. The wide array of health benefits from motherwort powder might surprise you1.
What Is Motherwort?
Motherwort is a tall perennial plant with green leaves and small pinkish flowers close to the plant’s stem. “Leonurus Cardiaca” is the Latin name for motherwort and comes from the Greek word meaning “lionhearted2.” The prolific use of this “mothering herb” has been well-documented throughout history3.
Health Benefits of Motherwort Powder
Motherwort has an assortment of names such as mother’s herb, throw-wort, lion’s tail, and lion’s ear. Motherwort powder taken with other supplements like licorice root and wild yam has been linked to alleviating menopausal symptoms, anxiety, and postpartum difficulties.
Although motherwort is within the mint family, it has a strikingly bitter taste, which when bought in powder form, can be easily mixed with other ingredients to mask the bitterness. On top of being an antioxidant and having anti-inflammatory properties, motherwort powder also has many other health benefits. It has been used to treat:
- High Blood Pressure
- Rapid Heartbeat
- Irregular Heartbeat
- Anxiety Attacks
- Depression
- Overactive Thyroid (which causes irregular heartbeats)
- Blood Clots
- Heart Damage
- Heart Attacks4
Motherwort’s Link To Hormones
The thyroid gland produces three hormones that are essential for controlling many systems in our body. These hormones are:
- Triiodothyronine (T3)
- Tetraiodothyronine (T4)
- Calcitonin
The hormones T3 and T4 work in combination to regulate energy use in our body. These hormones also play a vital role in weight management, the nervous system, body temperature, and muscle development. Every cell in our body depends on the hormones produced by the thyroid to function appropriately. The thyroid controls the functioning of our heart, metabolism, and the reproductive system in women.
Motherwort and Women’s Bodies
Motherwort powder can significantly impact many different aspects of a woman’s health. This “Mothering Herb” has been used to treat women for:
- Menopausal symptoms
- Postpartum Blood Loss
- Anxiety and Nervousness
- Reproduction System Support
- Uterine Tone & Blood Flow During Childbirth
- Irregular or Painful Menstruation5
Since this herb is a sedative, it has often been used throughout many cultures to soothe one’s nerves and reduce feelings of anxiety. Leonurine is a compound found in motherwort that aids in delayed labor in pregnant women and promotes contractions. It is suggested to drink motherwort in a tea form for relief from afterbirth pain. Motherwort can also help women with menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disorders, fainting, and frayed nerves5.
Other Uses of Motherwort
Though motherwort has many health benefits for women, it also can be taken regularly as a supplement by both genders. Taken daily, motherwort may help form new blood vessels, leading to increased electrical activity in the heart. It can be a pain reliever for fibromyalgia, back pain, and chronic fatigue6.
Like all supplements, check with your doctor for any contraindications with other medications you are taking. With the wealth of health benefits, motherwort powder can be mixed with most beverages, such as delicious smoothies, teas, or protein shakes. Due to the herb’s bitterness, the more sweetening ingredients you combine with the powder, the better tasting you may find it to be. The early Greeks and Romans discovered motherwort health benefits millenniums ago, and their discovery is just as relevant today.
Contact your sales rep. or email us at sales@vitajoyusa.com to take advantage of special pricing.
**These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
References:
- Motherwort, https://www.rxlist.com/motherwort/supplements.
- What Is Motherwort?, https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-benefits-of-motherwort-88640.
- Motherwort Through History, https://theherbalacademy.com/motherwort-through-history/.
- Motherwort The Healer, https://thegreenparent.co.uk/articles/read/motherwort-the-healer.
- 6 Healing Benefits of Motherwort for Women, https://www.euphoricherbals.com/blogs/news/6-healing-benefits-of-motherwort-for-women.
- Motherwort, https://www.sawmillherbfarm.com/herb%20profile/motherwort/.