Regularly consuming motherwort tea is a great way for women to give their nervous and reproductive systems a healthy boost, among many other benefits for both men and women.
What is Motherwort Tea?
Motherwort tea is a traditional remedy made from a popular herb, motherwort, which has the scientific name Leonurus cardiaca. Most commonly used as a feminine tonic, the tea brewed from these leaves is also a rich source of antioxidants and flavonoids, such as malic acid, oleic acid, terpenoids, and alkaloids, which can help many different systems in the body. Another variety of this herb, Chinese motherwort, is also known as yi mu cao and has been used for many of the same medicinal issues in that part of the world. There are antispasmodic, antihypertensive, stimulant, and diuretic properties in this tea that make it so widely popular, both in Asia and the rest of the world. [1]
Motherwort Tea Benefits
You can enjoy a number of benefits from this tea, including better heart health, calmer nerves, less severe menstrual cycles, stimulated appetite, and regulated cardiac function, among others.
Motherwort is used as a tea or tincture for its potential medicinal properties. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Heart Health
As the taxonomic name implies, this herbal tea has long been known to positively affect heart health; more specifically, it is able to soothe heart palpitations, which may be caused by problems in your thyroid. [2]
Relieves Anxiety
If you are constantly stressed or anxious, a cup of this tea at night can soothe your nerves and reduce levels of stress hormones, helping you get a full night’s sleep and a clear head in the morning. [3]
Healthy Reproductive System
Most famous for its effects on reproductive health, this tea can soothe symptoms of menopause, while also optimizing the hormonal health of women of reproductive age. [4]
Eases Menstruation
If your periods are irregular, a cup of this tea every day can help to regulate periods, which can reduce the unexpected nature of the mood swings and physical side effects of monthly menstruation in women. [5]
How to Make Motherwort Tea?
Making motherwort tea at home is very simple, provided you get properly prepared and stored tea leaves. The dried tea leaves can be made into a tincture, which can be purchased, or you can brew the leaves into a unique tea. Remember, the flavor of motherwort is unusually bitter, so a natural sweetener like honey is highly recommended for this beverage to be palatable. Here, take a look at the recipe below.
Motherwort Herbal Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- 1-2 tsp of dried motherwort leaves
- 2 cups of boiling water
- 1 tsp of honey or any other sweetener
Instructions
- To make motherwort tea, add 1-2 teaspoons of dry motherwort leaves to a teapot, depending on what strength of tea you want.
- Add 2 cups of boiling water to the teapot.
- Allow the mixture to steep for 5-10 minutes; the longer it steeps, the stronger the tea will be.
- Strain the leaves out of the tea.
- Stir in 1 teaspoon of honey or another sweetener to taste.
Motherwort Tea Uses
As mentioned, motherwort leaves are most commonly used to make tea, but you can also make a powerful tincture of this herb for topical applications. If you allow the hot tea to cool, it can also be used topically for inflammatory conditions, but its internal effects are much more noticeable. Before adding this herb to your regimen, however, it is best to speak with your doctor about any pre-existing conditions it could affect. [6]
Motherwort Tea Side Effects
Motherwort tea isn’t beneficial for everyone, particularly those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The powerful effects that this “maternal” herb include affecting the reproductive system and stimulating menstruation or menstrual bleeding. If you are pregnant, this could be dangerous for the baby growing inside of you. Furthermore, the fluctuation of hormones this herbal tea can cause may not be the best choice if you are breastfeeding.
