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Limited evidenceStress & mood

Motherwort

A traditional European herb for palpitations and nervous tension. Human evidence amounts to one small open-label study; the rest is laboratory and animal work.

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What the science says

  • Anxiety and sleep in hypertensive patients Limited evidence

    An open-label study in 50 patients with stage 1–2 hypertension and accompanying anxiety and sleep disorders reported improvement in anxiety and depression scores and a modest fall in blood pressure over 28 days of a motherwort oil extract. There was no placebo group and no blinding.

  • Cardiac and calming effects Limited evidence

    A review of the phytochemistry and pharmacology of Leonurus cardiaca describes negative chronotropic and sedative activity in isolated tissue and animal models, attributed to alkaloids and iridoids. These mechanisms have not been confirmed in controlled human trials.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseThe single clinical study used 1,200 mg/day of an oil extract. Traditional use is 2–4 g of dried herb as tea, or a tincture, two to three times daily; no optimal dose has been established.
SafetyMotherwort is a uterine stimulant and must be avoided in pregnancy. It may add to the effect of sedatives and of heart-rate-lowering or blood-pressure drugs, and has been associated with drowsiness. Anyone with a diagnosed arrhythmia should be evaluated medically rather than self-treating palpitations.

How to take it

TimingDivided doses through the day, or evening if you are using it for sleep or palpitations at night.
With food?With food; the dried herb and tincture are both bitter and can unsettle an empty stomach.
Worth knowingPalpitations need a diagnosis before they need a herb - an ECG and a thyroid test cost little and rule out things motherwort will not fix.

Interactions

With medications

  • beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, digoxin and blood pressure medication

    Motherwort can lower heart rate and blood pressure, adding to these drugs. do not combine without your prescriber's agreement, and monitor pulse and blood pressure

  • benzodiazepines, z-drugs, sedating antihistamines and alcohol

    Additive drowsiness - sedation is a reported effect of motherwort itself. do not combine, and do not drive until you know how it affects you

With other supplements

  • valerian, hawthorn and other sedative or cardiovascular herbs

    Additive sedation and additive heart-rate or blood-pressure lowering. use one at a time

Well-established interactions only — this is not a complete list. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist what you take.

Frequently asked questions

Does motherwort help anxiety or palpitations?

The evidence for motherwort is limited to one small open-label study of 50 patients with hypertension and anxiety, which had no placebo group; the rest is lab and animal work. Palpitations need a medical diagnosis before a herb.

Is motherwort safe in pregnancy?

No. Motherwort is a uterine stimulant and must be avoided in pregnancy.

Can I take motherwort with heart or blood pressure medication?

Not without your prescriber's agreement: motherwort can lower heart rate and blood pressure, adding to beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, digoxin and antihypertensives. It also adds to the drowsiness of sedatives and alcohol.

How much motherwort should I take?

The single clinical study used 1,200 mg/day of a motherwort oil extract; traditional use is 2-4 g of dried herb as tea two to three times daily, and no optimal dose has been established.

Scientific references

Related in Stress & mood

Herbal medicines: what the evidence says (335)