Motherwort

Chinese Name: Yi mu cao
Medical Name: Herba Leonuri
Latin Name: Leonurus artemisia (Lour.) S. Y. Hu, or Leonurus sibiricus L.
Origin: Leaf and stem, sun-dried.
Taste: Bitter and pungent

Quotes from Chinese historical sources

THE HERBAL CLASSIC OF SHEN-NONG: "It can be used as a bathing decoction."

SUPPLEMENT TO THE COMPENDIUM OF MATERIA MEDICA: "Edema with water retention in the lower part of the body and malignant pyogenic infections."

THE COMPENDIUM OF MATERIA MEDICA: "Promotes blood circulation, dissipates blood stasis, regulates menstruation and removes toxic substances." "Treats vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, dystocia (slow or difficult labour or delivery), retention of placenta, leprosy, fainting due to excessive loss of blood during labour, pain due to blood stasis, metrorrhagia (profuse uterine bleeding especially between menstrual periods) and metrostaxis, hematuria (the presence of blood or blood cells in the urine), diarrhea with bloody stools, infantile malnutrition, dysentery, hemorrhoids, internal injuries with blood stasis due to traumatic injuries, constipation and dysuria."

Western Research

Am J Chin Med 1989;17(1-2):65-70
Effect of motherwort on blood hyperviscosity.
Zou QZ, Bi RG, Li JM, Feng JB, Yu AM, Chan HP, Zhen MX
Department of Internal Medicine, Shen Zhen, People's Hospital, Guangdong, China.
The effect of motherwort (Leorunus Heterophyllus Sweet, MW) on blood hyperviscosity was investigated in 105 patients. The experimental and clinical study indicated that MW has a favorable clinical impact and an effective improvement of hemorheology.

Am J Chin Med. 1983;11(1-4):77-83.
Clinical observation on the uterotonic effect of I-mu Ts'ao (Leonurus artemisia).
Chan WC, Wong YC, Kong YC, Chun YT, Chang HT, Chan WF.
Normal fertile women given an oral dose of I-mu Ts'ao decoction (30 g. dry weight equivalent) showed an increase in intra-uterine pressure in 41.3% of 121 cases. The increase ranged from 150% to over 300% of spontaneous activity before dosing. A slightly higher success rate was observed with 2 successive doses or with improved experimental skill in later cases. Ergonovine (0.2 mg i.m.) scored a success rate of 61%. Therefore, I-mu Ts'ao decoction appeared to have a relative potency of 91% compared with ergonovine when the highest success rate (55.5%) of the former is considered. Blank control with water yield a positive response rate of 2.7%. There are no observable side-effects apart from diuresis.