Motherwort
Leonurus cardiaca
No one knows exactly where the motherland of the motherwort is in Eastern Europe or Central Asia. In Europe, it is widespread almost everywhere. Motherwort is a honey-bearer, pollinated by bumblebees. In the people it is often called cardiac
gold or lion's tail.
Description: a perennial plant reaching a height of 1 m. Of a short rhizome, several upright branched rigid stems are formed - tetrahedral, grooved, inside hollow, often reddish-violet. The leaves on the petioles are located opposite, glandular-dissected, the upper ones - only three-lobed. Leaves are densely pubescent. The small pale-red bicuspid flowers are collected in false whorls. Blooms from July to August.
Composition: contains bitter glycosides, alkaloids, essential oils( in trace amounts), flavonoids, saponins, provitamin A, ascorbic acid and tannins.
Cultivation: a fairly thermophilic plant. Loves sunny and spacious areas, nutrient-rich soil, planted with an interval of 40-50 cm, cut in autumn. Breeding is carried out by sowing in spring or dividing bushes with subsequent planting of chunks in autumn.
Collection: during flowering, only the flowering tips of shoots are collected, which are dried and used as a component of tea collection is possible several times a year. The collected grass is tied into bundles, suspended and dried in the air in the shade.
Medicinal properties: pharmacological activity of motherwort preparations is explained by the presence in its composition of a whole complex of compounds. Tincture, tea and alcohol extract of herb Leonurus have a strong sedative effect, superior to a similar effect of valerian. Motherwort depresses the functions of the central nervous system, normalizes the activity of the autonomic nervous system, slows down the ritus of
heartbeats, slightly lowers blood pressure.
Application: along with Valerian Leonurus used for cardiovascular neurosis, hypertension and angina pectoris. Due to the strong sedation of the motherwort, it is recommended for increased nervous excitability, neurasthenia, disturbances in sleep functions. Together with the root of valerian, Leonurus is included in the soothing tea. Tincture of motherwort take on 40 drops before bedtime as a sedative. The medical effect of the motherwort appears slowly, so you should carefully choose the dosage so that there are no symptoms of depression.