Yi Mu Cao
StarLeonurus japonicus
Synonyms: Leonurus sibiricus, Leonurus heterophyllus f. leucanthus, Leonurus artemisia, Leonurus japonicus f. albiflorus, Leonurus cuneifolius, Leonurus artemisia var. albiflorus, Leonurus intermedius, Leonurus altissimus, Leonurus sibiricus f. niveus, Leonurus sibiricus var. albiflorus, Leonurus japonicus f. niveus, Leonurus heterophyllus, Leonurus mexicanus, Stachys artemisia
Traditionally used for
- Digestion
- Urinary & fluids
- Menstrual & women's health
- Fertility & vitality
- Energy & fatigue
- Skin
Cautions & contraindications
- Pregnancy
☯ TCM Properties
Invigorates the Blood, dispels Stasis, regulates menstruation and reduces masses; Promotes urination and reduces swelling and edema; Clears Heat and resolves toxicity
Traditional Chinese Uses
Yi Mu Cao (Chinese motherwort herb) is a cool herb used in Chinese medicine primarily as a gynecological herb to invigorate Blood, regulate menstruation, and promote urination. It is used for menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain, and retained lochia from Blood stasis; for infertility and abdominal masses from Blood and Qi obstruction; and for acute edema with Blood stasis. It is also applied topically for sores and abscesses from toxic Heat accumulation.
Western Herbalism Properties
Pharmacological Effects
- Effect on the uterus: Decoction, ethanolic extract and leonurine stimulated uteri of rabbits, cats, dogs and guinea pigs (tone, amplitude, rhythm), pregnant or not; leonurine (active principle) stimulated rat uterus dose-dependently at 0.2-1.0 µg/ml, optimum 2 µg/ml.
- Cardiovascular effect: Leonurine 2 mg/kg i.v. gave transient hypotension in anesthetized cats (atropine-sensitive, vagotomy-insensitive); herb injection reduced isoproterenol/pituitrin-induced infarct lesions and in rats improved ischemic ECG, raised coronary flow, slowed heart rate and antagonized platelet aggregation.
- Other effects: Leonurine 1 mg/kg i.v. in rabbits increased urine output; i.v. leonurine also increased respiratory rate and amplitude.
Source: Zhu YP. Chinese Materia Medica: Chemistry, Pharmacology and Applications. Harwood Academic, 1998, p. 466.
Used In Formulas (7)
Relationships
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Gallery
Botanical Description
Leonurus japonicus is an annual or biennial herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae), growing 30-120 cm tall. Stems are square, erect, and branched, with fine hairs. Lower leaves are palmately 3-lobed, upper leaves become narrow and less divided. Small, pale pink to white, two-lipped flowers are produced in dense whorls in the axils of the upper leaves. The calyx has 5 spiny teeth. Seeds (Chong Wei Zi) are small, triangular, and dark brown. This is the primary TCM species for Yi Mu Cao (different from European L. cardiaca).
Roadsides, fields, waste places, forest margins, and disturbed habitats; native to East Asia (China, Japan, Korea), widely distributed throughout temperate Asia and naturalized elsewhere.
Leonurus japonicus is a common and widespread weed throughout East Asia. It is widely cultivated for medicinal use and is considered common in its native habitat. No conservation concerns.
Active Constituents
Leonurine
Guanidino / phenolic alkaloidConcentration: Characteristic alkaloid of the genus
Uterotonic and cardioactive alkaloid shared across the Leonurus genus; drives uterine contraction and shows vasorelaxant and cardioprotective effects.
Stachydrine
Pyrrolidine alkaloid (betaine)Concentration: Major alkaloid
Contributes to uterine activity and cardioprotection; a widely investigated Leonurus alkaloid.
Lavandulifolioside
Phenylethanoid (phenylpropanoid) glycosideConcentration: Characteristic phenylethanoid of L. cardiaca
Associated with negative chronotropic (heart-rate-slowing) and hypotensive activity, part of the basis for European use of motherwort in nervous cardiac complaints and mild hypertension.
Leocardin (labdane diterpene)
Labdane-type diterpenoid (bitter principle)Concentration: Characteristic bitter diterpene
A bitter labdane diterpene typical of Leonurus cardiaca contributing to its bitter, spasmolytic character.
Flavonoids (rutin, quercetin, hyperoside, quercitrin, genkwanin)
Flavonol / flavone glycosidesConcentration: Prominent flavonoid fraction
Antioxidant and vascular-protective flavonoids that contribute to the cardiovascular and anxiolytic effects attributed to the aerial parts.
Ursolic acid
Pentacyclic triterpenoidConcentration: Triterpene constituent
Triterpene with anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity reported for motherwort.
Caffeic acid derivatives (chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic-type)
Hydroxycinnamic (phenolic) acidsConcentration: Phenolic-acid fraction
Antioxidant phenolic acids supporting the anti-oxidative and cardioprotective actions of the herb.
⚠ Drug Interactions
Cardiac and antihypertensive drugs (beta-blockers, digoxin, antihypertensives)
Leonurus cardiaca constituents (e.g., lavandulifolioside) exert negative chronotropic and hypotensive effects; combined with cardiac/antihypertensive drugs these actions may be additive.
Clinical note: Monitor blood pressure and heart rate when combined with cardiovascular medication; adjust as needed under supervision.
CNS depressants and sedatives (benzodiazepines, sedative hypnotics)
Motherwort is used for anxiety and sleep disturbance and has calming activity, so it may add to the sedative effect of CNS-depressant drugs.
Clinical note: Use cautiously with sedatives; monitor for excess drowsiness.
Anticoagulants and antiplatelets (warfarin, aspirin)
As a Blood-invigorating herb, motherwort may add to anticoagulant/antiplatelet drug effects and increase bleeding tendency.
Clinical note: Use cautiously with blood-thinning drugs; watch for bruising or bleeding. Contraindicated in pregnancy owing to uterotonic activity.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9–30 g | daily | — | adult | 中国药典 2020年版 一部 【益母草】【用法与用量】9～30g；鲜品12～40g。 【注意】孕妇慎用。 — Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020, Vol. I. Avoid during pregnancy (invigorates Blood). |
Preparation Methods
Water decoction (Tang)
Parts: Dried aerial parts
In Chinese practice the dried aerial parts (9–30 g) are decocted for menstrual irregularity, postpartum stasis pain and edema. Contraindicated during pregnancy because of uterotonic activity.
Infusion / tea (Western herbal use)
Parts: Dried aerial parts (flowering tops)
In European herbalism the flowering tops are infused as a tea for nervous heart complaints, palpitations and anxiety, reflecting the plant's name 'cardiaca.'
Tincture / oil (liquid) extract
Parts: Aerial parts
Hydroalcoholic tincture or standardized oil extract used for mild hypertension with anxiety and for functional cardiac symptoms; the oil extract form was the preparation studied clinically.
Evidence Tier
Limited evidence · 1 studyRecorded studies by study design, strongest design at the top. This is a study-design tier only, not a GRADE rating: it does not weigh risk of bias, consistency or precision.
Systematic review / meta-analysis
0
Randomized controlled trial
0
Other clinical trial
0
Observational / case report
0
In vitro / animal
0
Other / unclassified
1
0 verified · 1 unverified
Verified: design read from PubMed for a DOI that resolves to the cited paper Unverified: taken from the study's recorded description
Clinical Studies
Effect of Leonurus cardiaca oil extract in patients with arterial hypertension accompanied by anxiety and sleep disorders
In patients with stage 1–2 arterial hypertension and accompanying anxiety and sleep disturbance, 28 days of Leonurus cardiaca oil extract improved blood pressure and psycho-emotional status, with significant or moderate improvement in anxiety/depression symptoms in the majority of patients.
⚠ Safety & Contraindications
- Pregnancy
Contraindications
Its use is cautious in pregnant women, and prohibited in patients with yin deficiency and insufficiency of blood or no blood stasis.
Source: Xi S, Gong Y. Essentials of Chinese Materia Medica and Medical Formulas. Academic Press/Elsevier, 2017, pp. 237–243.
Side Effects
- Low toxicity; repeated long-term oral doses produced no toxic reactions.
- Intramuscular injection caused only dry mouth and shortened sleep.
Source: Zhu YP. Chinese Materia Medica: Chemistry, Pharmacology and Applications. Harwood Academic, 1998, p. 466.
⚠ Rule-Based Cautions
These entries come from the deterministic rule tables that gate Verscienta's formula tools — classical pair prohibitions, pregnancy and lactation contraindications, and dose ceilings.
Pregnancy
Avoid uterine stimulant / emmenagogue
Historical Texts
De Materia Medica, Dioscorides
1st century CE (Greco-Roman)Culpeper's Complete Herbal, Nicholas Culpeper
1653 (England)References
- Wojtyniak K, Szymanski M, Matlawska I. Leonurus cardiaca L. (Motherwort): A Review of its Phytochemistry and Pharmacology . Phytotherapy Research (2013) [DOI]
- Fierascu RC, Fierascu I, Ortan A, et al.. Leonurus cardiaca L. as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: An Update of the European Medicines Agency Assessment Report (2010) . BioMed Research International (2019) [DOI]
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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