Motherwort tincture, how to prepare

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

Motherwort is a herbaceous perennial plant, classified by botany into the Lamiaceae or Lamiaceae family. The generic scientific name of this plant translated from Latin sounds like “lion’s tail”, due to the distant similarity of the apical leaves with the tassel of a lion’s tail. Other common names are dog nettle (grass), heart grass , dead nettle, heart grass . From these names themselves, it becomes clear what motherwort helps with and for what diseases its medicinal properties will be useful.

Photo of the Motherwort plant

Motherwort herb, medicinal properties and contraindications

According to Wikipedia, in medical practice and folk recipes for the preparation of motherwort tincture, the benefits and harms of which will be discussed below, two types of this medicinal herb are used, namely: Motherwort Five-lobed (shaggy) and Motherwort Heart (ordinary), since the effects of other types of plants have been studied not good enough. The infusion is prepared from the dried upper parts of the plant, including flowers and leaves, for which the extractant can be ethanol ( ethyl alcohol ), more suitable for adult patients, or water (boiling water), which is the preferred solution base for children.

The medicinal properties and contraindications for motherwort tincture are dictated by the properties of the plant components included in the prepared raw materials. Dry motherwort herb includes alkaloids (stahydrine, leonuridine, choline , leonurine), beta-carotene , flavonoids ( quercetin , rutin , quinqueloside, cosmosin, quercimeritrin, hyperoside, etc.), leonuride, saponins , mineral salts (sulfur, potassium, sodium, calcium), approximately 5% tannins , vitamins (A, C, E), up to 0.05% essential oil, sugary and bitter ingredients, organic acids (citric, vanillic, malic, ursolic, tartaric), due to which similar effects occur valerian is sedative in nature .

Photo of motherwort grass

Motherwort is characterized by its positive effect on the functionality of the central nervous system, calming effects, potentiation of sleep (without a hypnotic effect), reduction of high nervous excitability , antagonism towards analeptics and their convulsive effects. The effectiveness of this remedy is observed in neurasthenia , psychoasthenia and neuroses occurring against the background of insomnia , a feeling of overexertion and increased reactivity. The drug is capable of correcting disorders of the nervous system of a functional nature that occur during premenopause and menopause .

Motherwort is also an effective remedy for blood pressure ( lowers blood pressure or increases blood circulation, heart rate and slows down the heart rate), is used for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular pathologies ( angina pectoris , myocarditis, cardiosclerosis , palpitations, etc.), and is used for VSD ( vegetative-vascular dystonia ) to regulate heart rate.

The use of motherwort herb is useful in the treatment of gastrointestinal ulcers , painful menstruation, epilepsy , dyspeptic symptoms, thrombosis , bronchial asthma , Graves' disease , shortness of breath , uterine bleeding, paralysis , neuralgia , cough and other painful conditions in which its positive medicinal properties are manifested. The drug has a general strengthening, diuretic, antispastic and anti-inflammatory effect. In homeopathy it is used in case of patient complaints of flatulence , cardiac dysfunction and hyperthyroidism .

However, when using this herbal preparation, it is necessary to take into account not only the beneficial properties, but also the contraindications of motherwort, because often the benefits and harms of motherwort herb depend on the dosage of the remedy, the appropriateness of its use and the correctness of use. For example, motherwort in any form is contraindicated for pregnant women due to the increased threat of miscarriage , provoked by stimulation of uterine contractile function, for hypotensive patients due to a decrease in the drug , for women with heavy, prolonged menstruation , due to the possibility of their intensification. Alcohol tincture should not be taken by people suffering from alcoholism , and an aqueous solution and other motherwort preparations should not be taken by people with allergies .

Motherwort

In total, there are about 15-20 species of motherworts, including motherwort cordial, Japanese, Mongolian, variegated, Persian, Siberian, Tatarian, nettle-leaved, shaggy, horehound, etc.

But in medical practice, mainly 2 types of motherworts are used: motherwort cordial and motherwort five-lobed (or hairy). It is used as an effective remedy for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases that does not cause side effects (motherwort tincture).

motherwort, prepare motherwort tincture

Let's focus on the last one, the five-lobed motherwort. This is a perennial herbaceous plant with a characteristic tetrahedral erect stem. Hairy motherwort is found in different places, along beams, in vacant lots, and is cultivated by amateur gardeners as a medicinal plant.

Indications for use

Indications for use of Motherwort tincture include:

• arterial hypertension in the initial stage;
• neurotic and asthenoneurotic painful conditions occurring with sleep disturbances ;
• neurocirculatory dystonia;
• feeling of irritability;
• neurasthenia;
• manifestations of vegetative-vascular dystonia ;
• tachycardia and increased excitability observed with hyperthyroidism ;
• neuroses of cardiovascular origin;
• vegetative neuroses during premenopause, accompanied by cardialgia , tachycardia and elevated blood pressure;
• mild sleep disturbances
• emotional excitement.

Is it possible to use motherwort decoction for children and pregnant women?

Motherwort decoction and tea
Despite the fact that the instructions indicate that motherwort should not be used by women during pregnancy, doctors can prescribe this remedy. It quickly relieves irritability and anxiety, and also has the following properties:

• mild sedative effect;
• vasodilator;
• relieves an attack of hypertension;
• relieves an attack of nausea;
• relieves swelling;
• relieves pain;
• helps relax smooth muscles.

Contraindications

Contraindications to taking Motherwort tincture are:

• personal hypersensitivity ;
• pregnancy / lactation ;
• alcoholism (for alcohol tincture);
• ulcerative pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract during exacerbation;
• heavy/prolonged menstrual bleeding ;
• severe phase of arterial hypotension ;
• age up to 12 years.

You should take this medication with caution when:

• liver diseases;
• traumatic brain injuries;
• brain pathologies;
• in childhood (after 12 years).

Side effects

When taking Motherwort medicinal tincture, the following side effects may be observed:

• local allergic manifestations , most often expressed by redness , swelling of the skin and/or skin rash / itching (in case of personal hypersensitivity);
• feeling dizzy ;
• phenomena of dyspepsia ;
• fast fatiguability;
• daytime decrease in physical/mental performance;
• drowsiness.

Motherwort tincture, instructions for use

It should be remembered that you should not self-prescribe any sedative medications , which include motherwort herb. Before taking Motherwort tincture, you need to consult with your doctor, who, after conducting all the necessary research and the advisability of using this tincture, will recommend how to take it in drops and how many drops an adult patient or child should take. Also, if a patient is diagnosed with painful conditions associated with emotional arousal , the doctor can advise how to drink it to calm down.

Motherwort tincture drops are indicated for oral administration only, which is best taken approximately 30 minutes before meals. Patients of the adult age category (after 18 years) are recommended to take 30-50 drops of infusion 3-4 times every 24 hours. For children over 12 years of age, the dosage is calculated based on the ratio of 1 drop of alcohol solution per 1 year of life. The tincture can be taken either in pure form or diluted with water (¼ cup).

The duration of the therapeutic course is determined by the doctor individually, taking into account the degree and nature of the severity of the disease state, the characteristics of the pathological process, the patient’s personal response to the treatment and therapeutic effectiveness.

In what form is motherwort sold in pharmacies?

You can only buy any medicine at a pharmacy. This guarantees that the raw materials were collected in an environmentally friendly place, underwent proper pre-processing and were prepared in accordance with the recipe.

In the pharmacy chain, motherwort is sold in the form:

• dry herbs for brewing;
• convenient disposable tea bags;
• alcohol tincture;
• tablets.

The most popular medicine from motherwort is an alcohol tincture. In appearance it is an opaque green liquid with a brown tint. The presence of sediment is acceptable, so it is recommended to shake the bottle before use to obtain a homogeneous liquid.

The alcohol tincture is available in bottles of 25 and 30 ml. The composition of motherwort tincture is always the same: ethyl alcohol (70%) and motherwort herb extract.

The tablet form is also sold through the pharmacy chain. The tablets are very convenient to take, you can take them with you on the road, and you don’t have to worry about the specific (for many - unpleasant) smell of the tincture. As a rule, motherwort tincture in tablets is available in blisters of 30 tablets with a dosage of 0.25 mg, which is enough for one course of treatment.

Motherwort extract in tablets is available as a single component or with the addition of other herbs. Many phytolines have been developed that act as biological additives, the basis of which is motherwort.

How to prepare this medicine yourself

The recipe for motherwort tincture is very simple, it can be easily prepared at home.

Those who plan to prepare medicinal raw materials on their own should know that motherwort grass is cut in July - during the period of mass flowering. It is imperative to go to environmentally friendly places with normal radioactive background.

For drying, inflorescences and thin leafy stems 30-40 cm long are collected. Cut stems and inflorescences are dried outside under a canopy, spread in a thin layer on paper and stirred periodically to avoid rotting. Finished raw materials are stored for up to two years in canvas bags.

Dry motherwort herb (prepared yourself or purchased at a pharmacy) is brewed as follows:

1. Pour 1 teaspoon or 2 sachets into a glass of boiling water.
2. After 30 minutes, the infusion is heated in a water bath to enhance the release of beneficial substances for 5-7 minutes.
3. Strain through a double layer of gauze.

For use in winter, the herb is prepared in the form of an alcohol tincture. To do this, juice is squeezed from freshly cut stems, 2 parts of freshly squeezed juice are combined with 3 parts of medical alcohol (96%).

Analogs

Analogs of Motherwort tincture include medicinal preparations similar to it in their sedative and cardiotonic effects:

• Valerian (tincture, raw materials, tablets);
• Alora;
• Peony tincture;
• Bioson;
• Melissa (tincture, raw material);
• Antistress;
• Belisa;
• Hawthorn (tincture, raw material);
• Corvalol;
• Valemidin;
• Sonafit;
• Valdispert;
• Corvaldin;
• Dormiplant;
• Barboval;
• Sungmil;
• Valocormid;
• Tricardin;
• Karvelis;
• Menovalen;
• Korvaltab;
• Sedasen;
• Novo-Passit;
• Quiet;
• Persen;
• Sedavit;
• Phytosed;
• Donormil;
• Florised , etc.

Which is better – motherwort or valerian?

There is no clear answer to the question of which is better - motherwort or valerian . These medicinal plants are very similar in their main action and, by and large, differ only in some contraindications and the degree of their effectiveness. When choosing one of these therapeutic agents, the doctor, first of all, must be guided by the characteristics of the disease diagnosed in the patient and his individual response to the treatment, according to which a personal therapeutic regimen is selected.

In turn, both of these drugs are often mixed and recommended to be used together in different combinations of sedative medications, both factory-made and home-made. The most common folk recipe that receives positive reviews is the VKPBP , which includes five tinctures: peony

,
valerian , motherwort , corvalol , hawthorn .

Tincture of peony, hawthorn, motherwort, valerian, corvalol

Before taking motherwort , valerian , hawthorn , peony , Corvalol , you need to purchase these tinctures at the pharmacy and mix them in a dark glass vessel in equal proportions, for example, 25 ml each (in this case, you can limit yourself to 15 ml Corvalol ), after which take 10-15 drops orally every day (allowed with ¼ glass of water). In case of insufficient positive effect and in the absence of allergic manifestations, you can increase the daily dosage to 25 drops.

Reviews of a mixture of tinctures of valerian , motherwort , hawthorn , peony , Corvalol indicate a significantly greater sedative and cardiotonic effectiveness of this mixture, but also warn patients against its uncontrolled and excessive use, since such soothing drops not only multiply the positive properties of plants, but also potentiate their side effects.

Motherwort tincture during pregnancy (and lactation)

The question of whether pregnant women can take motherwort, and whether this drug can be taken while breastfeeding , certainly worries many women, since the state of their nervous system during these periods is not in the best condition and often requires external support. The answer to the question of whether it is possible to drink motherwort tincture during pregnancy and during breastfeeding (breastfeeding) can be found in the official instructions, in which these stages in a woman’s life are listed as contraindications to the use of the drug due to the inclusion of ethyl alcohol . However, as practice shows, not everything is so simple and for pregnant and lactating women there is a way out of this situation, which consists in taking an aqueous solution of motherwort or tablets based on it, reviews of which are positive even in these cases.

Tablets or water tincture of motherwort during pregnancy in the early stages, or in later periods, as well as during lactation , can be taken by women, and sometimes even recommended for use, in order to bring their nervous system into a proper positive state, contributing to the normal overcoming of this difficult time.

What diseases does motherwort decoction help with?

Motherwort decoction is used to treat the following diseases:

• neuroses of various origins;
• development of neurasthenia;
• presence of neurocircular dystonia;
• epilepsy attacks;
• development of myocarditis;
• hypertension;
• presence of cardiac dysfunction;
• development of cardiosclerosis;
• presence of alcohol, nicotine, drug addiction;
• sleep disorders of various types, difficulty falling asleep.

Motherwort decoction
Doctors prescribe motherwort decoction for the treatment of functional disorders in the nervous system. Using this tool:

• anxiety decreases;
• excitation of the nervous system decreases;
• sleep quality improves;
• irritability goes away.

Motherwort-based products are used to prevent depression, neuroses, increased anxiety and irritability. But it is important to understand that it is impossible to cure a disease such as depression only with the help of medicinal herbs. In this situation, an integrated approach will be required; the doctor will prescribe a course of treatment with antidepressants.

Motherwort decoction is used for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the heart and vascular system. With the help of motherwort, blood microcirculation is activated and spasms in the blood vessels of the brain are eliminated. This remedy helps cleanse the blood and improve its quality. The plant is prescribed in the treatment of hypertension; it is especially effective in the initial stages of hypertension.

Motherwort decoction is often used in the treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia, which is accompanied by:

• neuroses;
• autonomic dysfunctions of the heart;
• cardioneuroses;
• circular asthenia.

use of motherwort
With the help of this medicine, the functioning of the digestive system organs is improved, intestinal motility is improved, bloating, flatulence and cramps are eliminated, and appetite is restored.

A decoction is useful for treating coughs due to bronchitis or exacerbation of bronchial asthma. This remedy is also used in the treatment of acute respiratory viral diseases; it helps reduce body temperature. In this case, it is recommended to prepare a decoction of motherwort and drink it warm.

Motherwort has diuretic properties; it has proven itself well in the treatment of edema that accompanies the development of cardiac or renal failure, cystitis, and prostatitis.

When metabolic processes are disrupted, motherwort helps to regulate hormonal levels; it is effective in the treatment of diseases of the endocrine system. Self-medication is not recommended. It is imperative to establish an accurate diagnosis and consult a doctor. This remedy should not be used if the thyroid gland is underactive.

A decoction of motherwort is an effective bactericidal and anti-inflammatory agent. Compresses, rubbing and applications help in therapy:

• diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• joint diseases;
• neuralgic pain.

The decoction is added to a medicinal bath or painful areas are treated with this remedy. You should not use this drug on your own; it is important to consult your doctor first.

motherwort tincture, preparation

Reviews of Motherwort tincture

sedative herbal preparations are quite often discussed on the Internet , which, naturally, includes motherwort tincture, reviews of which in the vast majority of cases are completely positive. People who use this tincture, or the mixtures in which it is included, to maintain their nervous system in adequate condition, as well as to treat various heart disorders, note the high effectiveness of this remedy and the almost complete absence of negative side effects. Among the negative qualities, the most often mentioned are the bitter taste ethanol content .

It is precisely because of the alcohol base of motherwort tincture that most women are afraid of using it during pregnancy and breastfeeding , however, there are those who practice taking small doses of this drug and do not see this as a significant problem.