Motherwort

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Turkey, Spain, Europe, US, USSR, US(Appalachia)

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Amenorrhea, Analgesic, Antispasmodic, Debility

Science studied: AJUGOL, ALKALOIDS, APIGENIN-GLUCOSIDE, ASCORBIC-ACID

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Lamiaceae

Scientific name: Leonurus cardiaca

Common names: Motherwort, Agripaume cardiaque, Agripaume cardiaque, Queue-de-lion, Almindelig hjertespand, Cardiaca comune, Common Motherwort, Common motherwort, Echtes Herzgespann, Hartgespan, Herzgespann

POWO: 449168-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Elsewhere, Turkey, Spain, Europe, US, USSR, US(Appalachia).

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Amenorrhea
• Analgesic
• Antispasmodic
• Debility
• Diuretic
• Emmenagogue
• Expectorant
• Gall Bladder

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Elsewhere
• Turkey
• Spain
• Europe
• US
• USSR
• US(Appalachia)

Documented cultural uses

• Amenorrhea
• Analgesic
• Antispasmodic
• Debility
• Diuretic
• Emmenagogue
• Expectorant
• Gall Bladder
• Hysteria
• Nervine
• Palpitation
• Spasm

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Amenorrhea · Elsewhere · "
• Analgesic · Turkey · "
• Antispasmodic · Elsewhere · "
• Debility · Elsewhere · "
• Diuretic · Turkey · "
• Emmenagogue · Elsewhere · "
• Expectorant · Turkey · "
• Gall Bladder · Elsewhere · "
• Hysteria · Elsewhere · "
• Nervine · Turkey · "
• Palpitation · Spain · "
• Palpitation · Europe · "
• Spasm · Turkey · "
• Spasm · Elsewhere · "
• Stimulant · US · "
• Tonic · Turkey · "
• Tonic · Elsewhere · "
• Tonic · US · "
• Uterine Organs · Elsewhere · "
• Weakness · Elsewhere · "
• Astringent · Turkey · "
• Diuretic · US · "
• Heart · Elsewhere · "
• Sedative · Elsewhere · "

9 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Water Infusions of Motherwort (<i>Leonurus cardiaca</i>) as a Source of Chlorogenic Acid and Antioxidant Properties. · 2026 source ↗
• Leonurus cardiaca L. polysaccharide-stabilized Pd-Au nanozymes for NIR-responsive doxorubicin delivery and combined chemo-chemodynamic-photothermal therapy. · 2026 source ↗
• A Comparative Study of the Ability to Separate Isomers and Surface Properties of Leaves and Stems of Leonurus cardiaca L. Biomass. · 2025 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• AJUGOL
• ALKALOIDS
• APIGENIN-GLUCOSIDE
• ASCORBIC-ACID
• BUFENOLIDE
• CAFFEIC-ACID-4-RUTINOSIDE
• CHOLINE
• CITRIC-ACID
• GENKWANIN
• HYPEROSIDE
• ISOQUERCITRIN
• KAEMPFEROL-GLUCOSIDE
• LEONURIDE
• LEONURINE
• LINALOL
• MARRUBIIN

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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