Witnessed by: TCM
Chinese motherwort (Leonurus japonicus), of the Lamiaceae family. Erect square-stemmed annual or biennial with whorled pink flowers; native range: roadsides, fields, and waste ground throughout China and East Asia. Globally recognized as yi mu cao (益母草) in Chinese, and motherwort herb in English. The part used is aerial parts. Four-angled stems bearing deeply cut leaves and pink lipped flowers, bitter and acrid, faintly cooling.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
CHINESE MOTHERWORT
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Chinese motherwort
- Scientific name
- Leonurus japonicus Houtt.
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Form
- Part used
- aerial parts
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- bitter · pungent
Temperature
- TCM
- cool (slightly cold)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Liver · Pericardium · Bladder
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- invigorates the blood, regulates menstruation, promotes urination, reduces swelling
Cautions
- Contraindications
- contraindicated in pregnancy and in blood deficiency without stasis
- Toxicity
- very large doses may cause sweating, weakness, or lower-back and abdominal discomfort
This is the card. Sign in for the full four-tradition entry — the aligned TCM · Ayurveda · Western · Unani reading, actions, dosing and cautions.