Womb wisdom. Grounded. Nurtured. Cared for.
One of my favourite herbs, Motherwort, was used to cure ‘hysteria’ once upon a time. It was also said to provide protection against ‘wykked speritus’. This wicked spirit was simply the powerful, loving force that women hold in their wombs, hearts and hands; their inner knowing perhaps, their voice of truth.
Sitting with Motherwort and tuning in; touching her beautifully textured leaves, spiky seeds, her red stems… one can begin to feel a sense of calm and ease. Similar to taking a few drops of her tincture.
Motherwort begins with the womb. It goes there first, pulling us to the ground, to rootedness, to the mother within. Then, working up to the heart and she slows the quickened pulse, releasing the grip of anxiety before proceeding to the head where she reminds us to breath and find our inner voice.
I’ve always had Motherwort on hand. This bitter herb is not one I add to tea so much as take by the dropper in its tinctured form. It’s become by ally, my nurturer and inner mother.
I gathered motherwort from a large patch growing near the old barn where it’s taken over the edge of the woods, fighting back the wild garlic. I felt called this year to combine her with other female supporting herbs including Red Raspberry leaves that grow thick along our fence, Nettles that grow in great swaths by the river and Red Clover that grows happily at the edge of our trails. These nourishing herbs not only support womb health, emotional resilience, fertility and overall female wellness, but energetically they call us to savour our joy, to speak our minds and to bring us back to our true selves. Something I feel many of us could benefit from. Something many of us can support each other in calling in more.
Check out Womb Tonic here.
Motherwort has been used to treat hot flashes, prevent hemhorage after vaginal birth, tone the womb, treat endometriosis, hypertention, anxiety and sleep disorders among other things.
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References
Motherwort and Red Clover as they relate to cardiotonic health, the lymphatic system, detoxification and bile production, extracted fresh to determine active compounds.
Motherwort (Leonaris family) and it's possitive effects on cardiovascular issues, it's ability to regulate cytotoxicity (preventing cancer), its ability to provide neuroprotection by decreasing cerebral damage and its potential in treating diabetes by regulating insulin.
Leonurus cardiaca L. (Motherwort) as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: An Update of the European Medicines Agency Assessment Report (2010). Showing its use as a cardiovascular tonic as a vasoconstrictor. It also highlights its ability to down regulate cytokines, balancing the immune system and its anti-inflammatory uses.
In a 2010 study on those suffering from hypertension accompanied by anxiety and sleep disorders, motherwort extract was given over 28 days and was shown to have dramatic improvement in 32% of subjects and a moderate improvement in 48% of subjects.