Common Motherwort Leonurus Cardiaca Motherwort Herb Extract.

article content dotArticle Content:

Therapeutics and Pharmacology:Motherwort.Leonurus Cardiaca.

Motherwort Herb Extract Leonurus Cardiaca photo picture image Leonurus is an excellent heart tonic, and research has shown that it is able to calm palpitations, tachycardia and irregular heartbeats. It is a specific remedy for tachycardia caused by anxiety, and may be used in all heart conditions associated with anxiety and tension. Treatment should normally be continued for several months. The alkaloid leonurine produces central nervous depressant and hypotensive effects in animals, and stachydrine may also be involved. The glycosides have a short-term ability to lower blood pressure.

 Leonurus is valuable in the stimulation of suppressed or delayed menstruation, and to ease dysmenorrhoea, especially where there is anxiety or tension involved. It may be used to ease false labour pains, and the infusion, taken after childbirth, will help restore the uterus and reduce the risk of post-partum bleeding. The alkaloids encourage and ease uterine contractions. It is also helpful during the menopause. The infusion or diluted tincture may be used as a douche for vaginal infections and discharges. Other indications include diarrhoea. In Germany the plant is used as an adjuvant in treatment of an overactive thyroid gland.

 Action of Mode of How it works in the Body:Mechanism

 As its history indicates, motherwort is a remedy for the cardiovascular system, particularly where there are palpitations and when they are aggravated by nervous tension or stress. Its actions are antispasmodic and sedative, helping to regulate the heart, and also acting as a tonic to strengthen weakness of the heart. Motherwort can be used where there is high blood pressure. In addition, in the reproductive system, motherwort helps to bring on a delayed period by stimulating the uterine muscles. Motherwort is also used where there is premenstrual syndrome, especially in early menopause. In Chinese herbalism, its use in the reproductive system extends from irregular periods and premenstrual pain, to a treatment for infertility and immobile abdominal masses. The Chinese properties are acrid, bitter, and slightly cold.

 Effects on the uterus:

 Yi Mu Cao decoction has an excitatory effect on isolated uteruses of mice.Yi Mu Cao injection significantly strengthens the contracting force of myometrium.Oral administration of Yi Mu Huan Hong Dan (a formula with Yi Mu Cao as its main ingredient) promotes uterine development in mice. It can enhance the body's nonspecific immune function, and has significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.Water-based extract of Yi Mu Cao can promote the contraction of isolated human myometrium.

 Anti-coagulant effect:

 Administered to rabbits at 16-48mg/kg, Yi Mu Cao injection can reduce the subjects blood viscosity and fibrinogen. The heffect is strongest at the 12-hour mark after administration.Tiao Jing Yi Mu Pian (consisting of Yi Mu Cao and Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae) can decrease the wet weight of blood platelet thrombus in rats, reduce platelet concentration in mice, and extend bleeding time and blood-coagulation time in mice.

 Effects on the cardiovascular system:

 Yi Mu Cao can significantly improve the ultrastructure of cardiac muscles, decrease the accumulation of calcium in cardiac muscle cells and reduce the content of CPK.Both intra-arterial or intravenous injection can significantly decrease the resistance in cerebral blood vessels and increase the blood flow in the coronary artery.

 Effects on the kidney:

 The damage to the epithelial cells of the proximal convoluted tubule in rats with acute renal failure caused by gentamicin is gradually aggravated as the medicating time extends. However, the extent of damage in the Yi Mu Cao group is significantly less than that in the gentamicin group, indicating that Yi Mu Cao has some effect of preventing and treating gentamicin-induced acute renal failure in rats.Similarly, experiments show that Yi Mu Cao has some effect of preventing and treating acute incipient renal tubular necrosis.

 Promoting immune functions:

 Prehispanolone, an active ingredient of Yi Mu Cao, has a relatively strong effect of promoting hyperplasia on T-lymphocytes activated by Con A, and can strengthen cells immune functions.

Last PageNext Page

Reference:

citations1.Common Motherwort Leonurus Cardiaca Motherwort Herb Extract.

last edit date:27th,May.2009.