Motherwort Extract

Employed by the ancient Greeks to reduce anxiety during childbirth, motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is primarily used as a tea or tincture for its potential medicinal properties ( 1 ). Also called lion's tail, motherwort is an upright, prickly bush with dark green leaves and furry purple or pink flowers ( 1 ). White to purple flowers produced in leaf axils of terminal stems. Key ID traits: Palmately lobed leaves (resembling maple leaves) with deep veins. Plant has square stems, a trait of the mint family. Miscellaneous: Motherwort was brought to North America due to its medicinal properties. Also called lion's tail, motherwort is an upright, prickly bush with dark green leaves and furry purple or pink flowers ( 1 ). It's native to Asia and Southeastern Europe but can now be found worldwide. In the United States, it's considered an invasive species (2).