What Is Motherwort Used for Today?
Germany’s Commission E has authorized motherwort for the treatment of rapid or irregular heatbeat caused by anxiety and stress , as well as part of an overall treatment plan for an overactive thyroid ( hyperthyroidism , a condition that also causes irregualr heartbeat). 3 However, as yet there is no real evidence to support these uses of the herb. The best that can be said is that in one test tube study motherwort slowed the beating of normal rat heart cells and inhibited the effects of substances that usually speed up heart cell contractions. 4 Two other test tube studies suggest that leonurine, a compound found in some species of motherwort, may affect the uterus. 5,6 One of these studies found that low concentrations of leonurine induced uterine contractions, but that higher concentrations inhibited contractions. 7 These opposing effects might explain how motherwort could induce both labor and menstruation, and yet could also relax the uterus after childbirth (as it is traditionally
Germany’s Commission E has authorized motherwort for the treatment of rapid or irregular heatbeat caused by anxiety and stress, as well as part of an overall treatment plan for an overactive thyroid ( hyperthyroidism, a condition that also causes irregualr heartbeat).3 However, as yet there is no real evidence to support these uses of the herb. The best that can be said is that in one test tube study motherwort slowed the beating of normal rat heart cells and inhibited the effects of substances that usually speed up heart cell contractions.4 Two other test tube studies suggest that leonurine, a compound found in some species of motherwort, may affect the uterus.5,6 One of these studies found that low concentrations of leonurine induced uterine contractions, but that higher concentrations inhibited contractions.7 These opposing effects might explain how motherwort could induce both labor and menstruation, and yet could also relax the uterus after childbirth (as it is traditionally said
