botanical name(s): Leonurus cardiaca
synonyms: motherwort, lions tail, lion's ear, Roman motherwort, throwwort, herzgespann, agripaume
part(s) used: leaves, tops
qualities: bitter, pungent, cool, dry
affinities:
actions: emmenagogue, laxative, nervine, sedative, antispasmodic
dosage:
» tincture: 2 - 4 ml.
therapy: palpitation; tachycardia; amenorrhea from colds; suppressed lochia; hysteria; chorea; nervous complaints; delirium tremens; neuralgic pains in stomach and head; nervous debility (Felter and Lloyd, p. 1126); cardiac debility; amenorrhea (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 130)
AHPA Botanical Safety Rating: 2b
toxicity: 0
» caution is advised during pregnancy (Brinker, p. 118) due to its emmenogogue effect and the uterine stimulant action of its constituents stachydrine and leonurine on animal uteri (Lust, Farnsworth)
» handling of fresh leaves may cause contact dermatitis (Duke, pp. 277-278)
» essential oil may cause photosensitization (Duke, pp. 277-278)
constituents: iridoids, labdane diterpenes, flavonoids, kaempferol glycosides
footnotes
Brinker F. 1996. The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines, rev. 2nd ed., Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.
British Herbal Medical Association. 1983. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. West Yorks, England: The British Herbal Medical Association.
Duke, J.A. 1985. C.R.C. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: The C.R.C. Press.
Farnsworth NR, Bingel AS, Cordell GA, Crane FA, Fong HHS. 1975. Potential Value of Plants as Sources of New Antifertility Agents I. J. Pharm. Sci., 64:535-98.
Felter, H. W.; Lloyd, J. U. 1983. King's American Dispensatory, Vols. I and II. Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications.
Lust, J. 1983. The Herb Book. New York: Bantam Books.