Motherwort - inconspicuous plant, which is not without reason has such a name. It is quite possible to take it as a weed, although it has healing properties that are recognized as traditional as well as classical medicine. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, this healing herb has been used to treat the heart and vascular diseases, adding to the soothing collections and making tinctures from it on alcohol. This article will discuss the effects of motherwort drugs on the human body and how to use them.
Description
Motherwort (lat. Leonúrus) is a perennial medicinal plant. In the people it is also called the core. It grows from 25-30 centimeters to a meter. The stem is tetrahedral, straight, has many branches. The whole plant is covered with hairs. The root is woody. There are petiolate leaves, the upper grow crosswise relative to each other. On top of the leaves are bright green, the underside is light.
Often gardeners and gardeners rush to get rid of weeds in the area, but many of them can be used to treat diseases. Learn how to apply euphorbia, quinoa, ambrosia, amaranth thrown back, dodder, bitter creeping for medicinal purposes.
The flowers are small, are in the axils of the leaves, grow on the top of the plant in the form of inflorescence, similar to intermittent ear. Corollas of flowers - bilabiate, pink or pink-purple. Each flower has four stamens and one pistil, on top of which is the ovary. Fruits fractional, break up into 4 grains. Plant blooms from early June until autumn. Medicinal raw materials are flowering tops of plants that collect all summer.
Did you know? This heart grass is a spinning plant: from the beginning of the 18th century, the inhabitants of Southeastern Europe made fiber from it, which was no worse than flaxseed.
Composition
In the ground part of motherwort (leaves and stems) there are alkaloids - up to 0.4 percent, tannins - up to 2 percent, essential oil, bitter, sugar, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, organic acids, vitamins C (leaves contain up to 65, 7 percent), A, E, beta-carotene, potassium, sodium, calcium, sulfur. The alkaloid stachydrin was found in flowers up to (0.4 percent), and in the seeds there are fatty oils (up to 30 percent). 
Spread
Did you know? The healing properties of motherwort have been known for more than one century, so in medieval Europe the plant was grown at every university and monastery.Motherwort is a widespread medicinal herb. It grows throughout the central part of Eurasia - from Belarus and mainland Ukraine to Western Siberia and Kazakhstan, and is also found on the Crimean peninsula, the Caucasus and in Central Asia.
Action on the body
Motherwort has a wide range of actions:
- tonic;
- soothing;
- decongestant;
- anticonvulsant;
- antispasmodic;
- diuretic;
- thinning sputum;
- relieving inflammation;
- antihypertensive;
- pain reliever.
In addition, if you take motherwort in different dosage forms, then there is a decrease in the level of bad cholesterol and glucose in the blood. Motherwort is able to regulate protein metabolism, can strengthen the myocardium and regulate the functioning of the heart.The work of the cardiovascular system is positively influenced by nettle, zyuznik, cumin, hellebore, wolfberry, radish, chervil, oxalis, marjoram.
Eliminates uterine bleeding, treats colitis, relieves swelling. It relieves conditions in gastritis, epileptic disorders, colds and persistent cough. Seeds of this herb are treated for glaucoma. In the treatment of tuberculosis strengthens the body and soothes the nervous system.
Medical applications
For therapeutic purposes, motherwort is used in the form of water infusions, alcoholic tinctures, decoctions of dry raw materials and tablets based on the extract of this plant. It should be emphasized that positive results in the treatment of various ailments are observed both when using the herb as a single component in the composition of the medicine, and as a collection with other plants. It is also used to enhance the effect of anticonvulsant and anesthetic drugs in the complex treatment of a number of diseases.
Important! The motherwort juice has the greatest healing properties, as it contains more active substances than tincture or decoction. Due to this, the process of juice treatment is more successful and faster.
The use of motherwort grass is recommended for the following diseases and conditions:- vegetative vascular dystonia;
- nervous irritability;
- insomnia;
- headaches;
- thyrotoxicosis;
- cardiopalmus;
- heart ischemia;
- myocarditis;
- obstruction of the coronary vessels;
- angina pectoris;
- heart failure;
- hypertension (stage I-II);
- hypotension (only in the form of cold baths);
- convulsions;
- metabolic disease;
- menopause, fibromyoma and irregular periods;
- spasmodic pain in the stomach, flatulence;
- inflammatory processes in the bronchopulmonary system.
Important! Taking drugs of motherwort, do not expect quick relief of painful conditions. Positive results appear only after their long and regular intake.
Now let us dwell in more detail on which disease this or that medicine is suitable for.- With the excitability of the nervous system, vegetative-vascular disorders, restless sleep, with neuroses of the heart and blood vessels, thyrotoxicosis as a sedative use alcohol tincture, herbal infusion and tablets. Also, with such problems will be useful bath with a core.
- In diseases of the stomach and intestines, with enteritis of the colon and spasmodic pains, bronchitis and pleurisy, infusion of the herb in combination with other medicinal herbs soothes, relieves inflammation, has an expectorant and diuretic effect.
- In the treatment of increased heart rate, ischemia of the heart, angina, blockage of the coronary vessels and other heart problems, in addition to water infusion, tincture of the herb core with alcohol is also used.
- Motherwort affects myocardial contractions, so with myocarditis it will be effective to take tinctures on alcohol or tablets based on this herb.
- In hypertension (I-II stage), both water infusion and alcohol tincture are taken, and herbal extracts (hot) are also recommended.
- With hypotension, on the contrary, the baths are taken cold, and the ingestion is contraindicated.
- In case of severe menopause, unstable menstrual periods with pain, gynecologists prescribe a drug in the form of herbal tea, water infusion and alcohol tincture.
- For metabolic disorders, headaches, convulsions, it is recommended, in addition to the infusion of herbs and alcohol tinctures, to take motherwort in pills.
Ways of use
With each ailment, there are indications for the use of various drugs on the basis of motherwort, such as water infusion, alcohol tincture, powdered dried leaves, as well as tablets from the extract of this medicinal plant. Let's stop on features of the use of each of the specified medicines and we will describe the step-by-step recipe of preparation of some drugs.
Water infusion
To prepare a water infusion, you will need 2 tbsp. l dried herbs, 0.5 liters of boiling water. Grass pour boiling water and insist two hours. Then strain.
The infusion is used for vegetative-vascular dystonia, nervous excitability and insomnia, for ailments of the heart and vessels, and diseases of the thyroid gland. Take before meals for 0.5 glass twice a day, the course - a month. After a 10-day break, the course of administration is recommended to be repeated.
Verbena officinalis, anemone, catnip will help to cope with insomnia.
During menopause, with uterine fibroids, unstable menstrual herbal infusion, you need to take a third cup three times a day.
For hypertension, the infusion is taken 4-5 times a day, 2 spoons before meals.
Alcohol tincture
The finished spirit tincture of the herb core is sold in pharmacies. But it is easy to make it yourself. For this 2 tbsp. l pounded dried leaves pour 100 ml of 70% medical alcohol and insist from 7 to 14 days.
This remedy relieves neurosis, relieves shortness of breath, treats insomnia, tachycardia, ischemia of the heart, myocarditis, cardiosclerosis, angina, heart failure, hypertension.
Important! People who are intolerant of alcohol, it is better not to use alcohol tincture.Also, the tincture will help regulate sleep, reduce psychomotor excitability, and alleviate the condition in vegetative-vascular dystonia and menopausal syndrome. Take the tincture you need 30-40 drops three to four times a day.
In powder form
If you do not have the time or desire to prepare infusions and tinctures, you can take motherwort powderwhich is powdered dry leaves.
You need to take 1 teaspoon 3-4 times a day before meals, while squeezing a half cups of water. The powder is very good for headaches.
Linden, clover, willow, periwinkle, cloves, Indian onions will help you to get rid of headaches.
In pill form
If infusions, tinctures and powder can be prepared by yourself, then you will have to go to the pharmacy for the pills. The pharmacy network offers several neurotropic drugs in the form of tablets with aurea extract as part of. They are released without a prescription. By their action, the tablets are similar to all the above preparations, but in use they are more convenient: you can take them anytime, anywhere.
They have a regulatory effect on the heart and blood vessels, help with hypertension in the initial stage, normalize sleep, eliminate the symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia, soothe an increased heartbeat, help with stressful situations and nervousness. It is recommended to take pills one by one three to four times a day before meals with water. 
You need to take within two weeks. Core tablets are well combined with valerian.
Contraindications
It should be noted that this medicinal herb is not a universal remedy for all diseases. Like all drugs, motherwort drugs can both help and harm. Especially if you take them uncontrollably.
You can not take motherwort:
- patients with hypotension (only external use is permissible);
- suffering gastritis and ulcers;
- during pregnancy, women who have a miscarriage or abortion, as well as breastfeeding. In the first and second cases - due to the ability of this herb to cause a reduction in the muscles of the uterus, which can result in bleeding, and in the third - due to the presence of alkaloids in the composition of the herb, which can damage the infant;
- at children's age up to five years;
- taking sedatives is not recommended even with a reduced heart rate (bradycardia);
- if there is an individual intolerance to this medicinal herb, then this also serves as a contraindication to the use of drugs;
- Because of the ability to cause drowsiness, medications cannot be taken by persons who operate various machines and mechanisms;
- patients suffering from thrombosis, thrombophlebitis take motherwort is necessary only on the recommendation of a doctor. In case of exceeding the dose of the drug may experience vomiting, body aches, thirst, bloody stools.
Drugs with this medicinal herb must be taken strictly according to the instructions or as directed by the attending physician. If you follow all the recommendations and take the dose prescribed by your doctor, motherwort will only benefit.
