Leonurus cardiaca
| Leonurus cardiaca | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 3' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Leonurus cardiaca (common name: motherwort)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer.
If you have sufficient seed then it can be sown in an outdoor seedbed, or even in situ.
Division in spring or autumn[1]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Cultivation: An easily grown plant that succeeds in most soils[2], preferring one on the poor side[3].
This plant was at one time cultivated for its medicinal uses[2].
The whole plant is deliciously pungent when handled[4].
The plant often self-sows when well-sited[5].
Range: Europe. Naturalized in Britain.
Habitat: Hedge banks, waste places etc[6][7], usually on gravelly or calcareous soils[2].
Edibility: The fresh or dried flowers can be used as a flavouring in soups, particularly lentil or split pea[8]. They are also used as a flavouring in beer[8].
Fresh or dried flowers can be used to make a tea[8].
Medicinal: Motherwort is especially valuable in the treatment of female weaknesses and disorders, allaying nervous irritability, inducing quiet and passivity of the whole nervous system[2]. It is also seen as a remedy for heart palpitations, it has a strengthening effect, especially on a weak heart[9]. The antispasmodic and sedative effects promote relaxation rather than drowsiness[9].
The leaves are antispasmodic, astringent, cardiac, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, nervine, sedative, stomachic, tonic and uterine stimulant[2][6][10][11][12][13]. They are taken internally in the treatment of heart complaints (notably palpitations) and problems associated with menstruation, childbirth and menopause, especially of nervous origin[1]. Although an infusion can be used, the taste is so bitter that the plant is usually made into a conserve or syrup[14]. An alcoholic extract is said to possess superior action to valerian (Valeriana officinalis)[15]. The plant has been found effective in the treatment of functional heart complaints due to autonomic imbalance, and also as an anti-thyroid treatment, though it needs to be taken for several months for these effects to be noticed[14]. The whole herb is harvested in August when in flower and can be dried for later use[2]. It should not be prescribed in the earlier stages of pregnancy or where periods are heavy[1][9].
A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[6]. It is used in the treatment of heart complaints, amenorrhoea, menopausal problems and flatulence[6].
Usage: A dark olive-green dye is obtained from the leaves[11][16][17].
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Skin contact with this plant can cause dermatitis in susceptible people[10].
The fragrant essential oil can cause photosensitization[18].
Grazing animals can have their mouths injured by the sharp teeth of the calyces[18].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association, 1981.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
- ↑ Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
- ↑ Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Singh, Gurcharan and Premnath Kachroo. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1976.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Diggs, George and Barney Lipscomb. Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas. Botanical Research Institute, 1999.