Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
Calms anxiety-related heart palpitations and rapid heartbeat while providing mild sedative and menstrual support effects.
Motherwort is a mint-family herb with a long history of use in both European and Chinese traditional medicine. Its Latin name 'cardiaca' reflects its traditional use for heart-related concerns, particularly palpitations and rapid heartbeat associated with anxiety. It's also valued for menstrual support and has mild sedative properties.
May help calm heart palpitations
Calms the nervous system
How Motherwort works — from molecular targets to health outcomes. Click an edge to see supporting research.This visualization is in beta — pathways are being refined and expanded.
300-600mg extract or 1-2g dried herb
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Take with food
| Form | Type |
|---|---|
| 💊Tincture or capsules | Recommended |
| 🍵Dried herb tea | Alternative |
| 💊Extract | Alternative |
Tincture allows flexible dosing. Tea is traditional but very bitter.
Minimum: 2 weeks
Optimal: 8 weeks
Cycling: Not required
Note: Can be taken as needed for acute anxiety or regularly for ongoing support. Very bitter as tea.
Reduced anxiety and nervous tension
May reduce palpitations and rapid heartbeat
Very bitter flavor when taken as tea
Avoid; may stimulate uterine contractions
May enhance sedative effects
May affect heart rhythm; consult doctor
Tip: Reduce dose; avoid driving if affected
Tip: Take with food
Top studies from 25+ peer-reviewed papers
Chen C et al. • Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (2025)
“Our study, from clinical phenomena to mechanism validation, demonstrates that the combined regimen of motherwort injection and oxytocin exhibits superior efficacy in preventing PPH compared to oxytocin monotherapy.”
Witkowska A et al. • Nutrients (2024)
“This short review focuses on six herbs that can constitute an interesting and potential therapeutic option in the management of cardiovascular disorders.”
Wang R et al. • Frontiers of medicine (2025)
“Higher Education Press.”
Cheng F et al. • Pharmacological research (2020)
“The cardioprotective and vasoprotective activities of stachydrine are related to its inhibition of β-MHC, excessive autophagy, SIRT1, eNOS uncoupling and TF, promotion of SERCA, and angiogenesis.”
Xia WT et al. • Explore (New York, N.Y.) (2020)
“MI could reduce post-abortion hemorrhage and improve uterine retraction in women undergoing surgical induced abortion, without serious adverse events.”
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