Motherwort (Leonurus) is a perennial or biennial plant and belongs to the family Lamiaceae, or, as they are called today, Labiaceae. Representatives of this genealogy can be found in Europe and Asia. Certain species of motherwort have settled on the mainland of North America. The described herbaceous perennials are taken to the most scarce areas of the soil and do not make any special claims to weather conditions. Under natural conditions, the motherwort plant grows along the coast of rivers, in fields and wastelands, near railway tracks or in quarries. In folk medicine, only two names of motherwort have found application, which have medicinal properties. We are talking about motherwort of the heart and shaggy.
Description of motherwort herb
Motherwort grass has weakly branched herbaceous shoots capable of reaching two meters in height. The root system is represented by a rod-shaped central root trunk. The lower layer of leaves usually does not exceed 15 cm in length. The shape of the leaves is lobed, with dissected edges. Closer to the top, the leaf blades begin to shrink. The base of the plates is petiolate. The flowers are woven into small inflorescences-spikelets, which are formed in the axillary part of the stems. When the motherwort matures, a coenobium is formed, called the fruit of the motherwort. It is divided into four different parts. Most of the herb varieties are melliferous.
Planting motherwort in the open field
Without transplantation, cultivated species of motherwort can grow for about 5 years in one area. The grass is not picky about the composition of the soil and calmly tolerates prolonged drought. Freshly harvested seeds give poor germination, so the planting material is left to ripen for two months. During this time, the seeds will be able to get stronger. If sowing in moist soil at 4 to 6 ºC, green shoots will most likely appear on the fourth or fifth day after planting.
Sowing is best done in winter or at the very beginning of spring. Before spring sowing, seeds need to go through a stratification period of 1.5 months in a cold place, for example, in a refrigerator. They are sprinkled with sand, sprinkled with water and placed in a plastic box or bag. Autumn sowing into the ground is performed shortly before the onset of frost. The seeds are buried in the soil by 1.5 cm, keeping the gaps between the rows at least 45 cm. The material consumption for winter sowing exceeds the spring planting of the crop.
Motherwort care in the garden
Planting and caring for motherwort is not difficult, but it is important to follow some rules. When the first shoots begin to appear, young shoots are thinned out, leaving 4-5 bushes in one row within one meter. During the planting season, only weeding is needed, otherwise the weeds will interfere with the development of seedlings.The plant makes do with natural moisture from the rains. The exception is periods of prolonged drought. The soil around the biennials is loosened and mineral fertilizers containing Nitroammofoska are applied. Stems that have been growing for more than a year are best pruned.
Collection and storage of motherwort
Motherwort harvesting is allowed after the second growing year. The tops of the stems and lateral cuttings are cut off from the bushes. It is recommended to carry out activities for the preparation of raw materials in the middle of summer. It was during this period that most of the inflorescences open buds. Only dry stems are harvested. Re-collection is carried out after 1.5 months.
The cut grass is evenly poured onto a paper sheet and left to dry, remembering to turn it over periodically. Some gardeners dry motherwort in bunches and hang tied sheaves from the ceiling in a room with constant air access. For these purposes, an attic, balcony or veranda is suitable. To speed up the process, you can arm yourself with a dryer. The temperature in the dryer is set at 50 ºC. The finished herb is crushed by hand into a dusty mass. Well-dried stems are easy to break. The crushed raw material has a pronounced odor and bitter taste.
To store motherwort herb, fabric bags and paper bags are used. They are left in a dry, closed place, protected from sunlight. Subject to the storage conditions, the shelf life of raw materials is three years.
Types and varieties of motherwort with a photo
Representatives of this family of Lipocytes has about 24 varieties, subdivided into five groups. In Europe, traditional healers use one type of herb, and in the east, it is customary to use completely different types of motherwort. Consider some of the most famous cultural garden forms of motherwort found in our region.
Common hermit (Leonurus cardiaca)
Or motherwort cordial is a perennial plant with a leathery root shaft with a network of lateral layers located close to the soil surface. The stems have four edges. Having a straight base, they begin to branch out closer to the apex and are covered with long protruding hairs. The color of the stems is green or purple-red. The height of the bush can reach about 2 meters.
The leaves are arranged in opposite order, have a petiole base. The outer surface of the leaves is painted in a more saturated green color, and the lower one is distinguished by a grayish tint. The lower herbaceous layer contains ovate leaf blades divided into five lobes, the middle layer has lanceolate leaves with three lobes, and the leaves at the very top of the bush contain lateral teeth. The flowers are combined in pink whorls. Further, spike-shaped inflorescences are formed from them. Common motherwort bears fruit with nuts called coenobium. In the European part of the continent, this species is cultivated exclusively for medicinal purposes.
Gray motherwort (Leonurus glaucescens)
The grass is gray in color, with densely pubescent leaves and stems. The hairs are directed downward and slightly pressed against the surface of the stem. During the budding period, pale pink flowers open.
Motherwort tatar (Leonurus tataricus)
It is a low bush with stems covered with long hairs, and leaves cut along the edges, devoid of pubescence. A purple corolla emerges from the center of the bud.
Motherwort five-lobed (Leonurus quinquelobatus)
It is considered to be a modification of the heartwort. The only difference is that in the described species, the lower and middle tier of leaves grows five-part. As for the upper leaves, there are three-lobed plates.
Useful properties of motherwort
The medicinal properties of motherwort
Grass tissues contain flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, essential and tannins, useful unsaturated acids, vitamins and trace elements (potassium, calcium, sulfur, sodium).The medicinal properties of motherwort have been known since antiquity.
Even in the Middle Ages, motherwort was widely used. Beginning in the late 19th century, dried raw materials were sold in pharmacies and used by doctors. If we compare the sedative properties of motherwort with valerian medicinal, then the latter herb is several times inferior in strength of action.
Thanks to the intake of motherwort raw materials, the work of the heart muscle is normalized, the myocardium is strengthened, which contributes to an increase in the number of contractions in diseases such as tachycardia, myocarditis, cardiosclerosis, angina pectoris and heart failure.
The substances found in motherwort reduce the level of blood pressure, so the herb is recommended to be consumed by patients suffering from hypertension. They have an antispasmodic effect and stop seizures.
Motherwort is prescribed for the treatment of diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract, with neuroses and colitis. The dried raw material demonstrates effective anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties, cures insomnia, psychasthenia and other cases of neurosis.
In the gynecological field of medicine, motherwort preparations are used to stop uterine bleeding and stabilize the menstrual cycle in women.
The seeds have found use in the treatment of glaucoma, and herbal decoctions are prescribed for epilepsy, Graves' disease and chronic cough.
In pharmacy kiosks, manufacturers offer a wide range of motherwort medicines in the form of alcoholic tinctures, tablets, extracts or dry preparations.
Contraindications
Perennial substances sometimes cause cases of allergies in people with individual intolerance to plant components. Motherwort and preparations made on its basis are prohibited for pregnant women and women who have undergone an abortion. Otherwise, the walls of the uterus are exposed to excessive stimulation. It is not recommended to use the herb for patients suffering from stomach ulcers and gastritis, as well as arterial hypotension.
Due to the frequent use of raw materials, increased drowsiness is observed. For this reason, medicinal tinctures and collections of motherwort should be avoided by people whose work requires concentration and attention.
