Motherwort, Leonurus cardiaca

catclaw, burro-bush, black grama, bush muhly, and desert needle-grass.

Edible Use: Both the fruit and seeds are edible. The fruit is sweet with a mild flavor, while the seed has a bitter taste and can be used cooked. It is sometimes roasted and ground to make bread. However, this plant is famous for its tea. Steep the green or dried twigs in boiling water until the tea turns an amber or pink color. Medicinal Use: Mormon tea foliage is considered toxic but is used for medicinal purposes. It is a blood purifier, diuretic, fever-reducer, poultice, and tonic. Urogenital Complaints: Use the stems for urogenital complaints including kidney problems, gonorrhea, and syphilis, if caught in its early stages. Asthma and Respiratory Problems: Mormon tea and other members of the ephedra family are valuable for the treatment of asthma and respiratory system complaints. It does not cure asthma, but it opens the airways and relieves the symptoms of an attack. It is also useful for allergies and hay fever. Heart Stimulant (Caution): Members of the ephedra family are known to contain ephedrine, which stimulates the heart and central nervous system. However, Ephedra nevadensis has little to none of the stimulant effects of ephedrine. However, drug potency varies from plant to plant, use it with care and do not use it on people with known arrhythmias or other problems where ephedrine is contraindicated. Sores and Skin Infections: A poultice made from the powdered stems can be applied to sores for effective treatment. Warning: Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should never use Mormon Tea. Harvesting: Harvest the seeds of this plant by hand from native stands. On good years abundant collections of ephedra seeds can be obtained by flailing the fruiting branches over an open tray. Its stems can be harvested at any time of the year - dry them for future use. Recipes: Mormon Tea Infusion. Break the stems into small pieces and wash them well. Add them to water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer the twigs for 10 to 15 minutes. Once cooled, strain the liquid.

Mormon Tea: To make Mormon Tea, follow the instructions for Mormon Tea Infusion, then dilute the infusion with water until it is the strength you like. I dilute it to the color of tea. You can sweeten it with raw honey, if desired. Mormon Tea Powder: Dry and powder the branches and twigs of the Mormon Tea Shrub. Moisten the powder to make a paste and use to make a poultice for sores and burns.

Ripe Female cones with seeds. Photo by Le.Loup.Gris, CC by SA 3.0

Motherwort is a perennial member of the mint family that is often found at the edges of woodlands and in disturbed soils. It is widely distributed throughout North America and Europe and is sometimes considered invasive. Identification: Motherwort is an upright bush that can grow to 6 1/2 feet tall (2m) and 3 feet (0.9m) or more wide. Motherwort leaves vary in size and shape along the stem. They are dark green on top and pale below. Lower leaves are deeply lobed with large teeth and can resemble maple or oak leaves. They can reach five inches long and wide, and are hairy. Moving up the plant, the leaves become smaller with smaller lobes and teeth. At the top of the plant, leaves are usually small, narrow, and unlobed. The stems are square, hairy, and branch only at the upper part of the plant.

Hairy pale pink to lavender flowers grow in whorls alternating up the stem at the leaf nodes on the upper part of the plant. They bloom June through early September. The calyx remains on the plant through the winter, becoming brown and stiff when dry. Inside the lobes are 4 nutlets. Edible Use: The flowers are edible and is used as a flavoring in pea soups, beer, or for making tea. The flavor is very bitter, so the leaves are rarely eaten. Medicinal Use: Motherwort is best known for its benefits to the heart and for treating women’s complaints. The leaves and flowers are the parts of the plant usually used for medicine. Heart Health: Motherwort has a reputation for treating a wide variety of heart conditions. It is used to prevent calcification of the arteries, treating high cholesterol, hypertension, and other heart conditions. Motherwort regulates the heart rate, treating rapid heartbeats and improves blood circulation in the body. Prevents Strokes: This herb reduces the risk of blood clots forming in the body, thereby reducing the risk of strokes from blood clots.

Women’s Health Issues (Birth, Delayed

Menstruation, PMS): Expectant mothers use motherwort to reduce stress and tension at delivery time (do not take while pregnant). During delivery, it strengthens uterine contractions. It is believed that motherwort can also help the uterus recover after birth. The herb is also effective at treating menstrual issues and regulating female hormones. It is an emmenagogue (stimulates menstrual flow) and thus helps with delayed menstruation. Herbalists use it to tone the

uterus when menstruation is scant or to relieve cramps associated with delayed menstruation and PMS. ADHD: Motherwort, along with Lemon Balm, Valerian, and Wild Oats, (Avena sativa), is often used to help people with ADHD. Anxiety and Depression: Motherwort is believed to have a calming effect on the central nervous system and reduces stress, anxiety, worry, and panic attacks. It lifts the mood and reduces depression. For best results in reducing anxiety and depression, use motherwort regularly. Hyperthyroidism: Motherwort relieves many of the symptoms of an over-active thyroid (hyperthyroidism). It regulates the metabolism, the nervous system, Photo by D. Gordon, Own Work, CC and relieves heart palpitations and anxiety caused by BY-SA 3.0 an over-active thyroid. It also helps increase the appetite and improves the overall thyroid health. Insomnia and Sleep Problems: The calming effects of motherwort help improve sleep problems such as insomnia and restlessness. Warning: Pregnant women should use the herb under the supervision of a medical professional. It can expedite labor and increase contractions. Consult a medical professional before taking the herb is you are taking heart medications or have heart problems. Add the dried leaves to boiling water and allow it to steep for 10 minutes. Strain and enjoy. Sweeten the tea with honey or lemon if desired to improve the flavor. Recipes. Motherwort Tea: 1 teaspoon of dried leaves, 1 cup of boiling water.