Motherwort: A Steadying Hand from the Garden
(Leonurus cardiaca)
Sometimes an herb meets you where you are - and holds you through it. For many of us at Trefoil Gardens, motherwort is just that kind of plant. With its lion-hearted name and long history of herbal use, motherwort offers strength, stability, and softness - especially in moments of transition, upheaval, or unraveling.
This beloved herb gets its Latin name Leonurus cardiaca from its reputation for supporting the heart - both physically and emotionally. It’s been traditionally used as a cardiac tonic, a nervine, and an ally for menstrual and menopausal support, especially when tension, heat, or overwhelm are involved.
🌿 What It Does
Calms the nervous system without sedating, great for cyclical anxiety or emotional waves.
Supports healthy heart rhythm and circulation, especially when stress spikes.
Eases menstrual cramps and PMS-related irritability.
Supports menopausal transition, useful when heart palpitations or hot flashes arise.
Offers a sense of grounded resilience when life feels sharp around the edges.
🌱 How We Grow It
At Trefoil Gardens, we grow our motherwort using low-intervention, ecologically thoughtful practices. She self-seeds reliably and thrives in our rich Georgia soils. Once established, she’s a tough perennial who shows up year after year, just like the medicine she offers.
We harvest the aerial parts in flower, when the medicine is strongest, and dry them gently to preserve their potency. From there, they become part of our tinctures and teas, often paired with calming allies like milky oats, skullcap, or lemon balm.
💚 Why We Love Her
Motherwort has an edge. Her leaves are coarse, her flowers spiky. She doesn’t beg for attention, but if you sit with her, she has plenty to offer. This is an herb that reminds you to breathe deeper, soften your shoulders, and keep going anyway.
She’s not for everyone’s taste—her bitterness is bold—but that’s part of her medicine, too. Like a tough-love friend who tells it like it is: "You’re okay. You’re stronger than you feel. Now drink your tea."
☕ How to Use It
Motherwort can be used as:
Tincture – Start small (5–20 drops), especially if you’re new to bitters or nervines.
Tea – Combine with lemon balm, linden, or mint for a more palatable blend.
Topical – Occasionally used in salves for cramps, though more common internally.
💡 Note: Always consult with a trained herbalist or healthcare practitioner—especially if you’re pregnant, nursing, or on medication.
🌾 Rooted in Local Soil
The plants we work with at Trefoil Gardens are more than ingredients—they’re neighbors. Our motherwort is grown with care, harvested by hand, and prepared in small batches to offer consistent, heartfelt support.
We believe that healing starts with relationship and reciprocity. And motherwort is a powerful reminder of that—asking little, offering much, and showing up in times of need.
🌼 Try It For Yourself
Want to explore motherwort more deeply? Look for our Motherwort tincture or stop by the market for a taste and a chat—we love swapping stories about the plants we grow.