how to harvest motherwort

Divide in spring or fall during dormancy. She is also a fanatical gardener, and enjoys spending as much time covered in dirt as possible! Herbal vinegar can be used in cooking, and it has the additional advantageous properties of the vinegar itself, which can be useful for aiding digestion and remedying other issues. Since motherwort grows quickly and spreads via rhizomes, established plants can easily be dug up, divided, and relocated in new areas of the garden. Perhaps the easiest way to acquire motherwort is to find a patch already growing in your yard or a friend’s yard, and cut some divisions. Place a lid on the jar, preferably a nonreactive plastic lid, as vinegar will corrode metal. Strong and robust, calming and supportive, it is certainly a plant worth knowing how to grow and use. Leaves and flowers in bowl. I usually harvest motherwort in late spring or early summer. Considered a weed by some, you won’t find cultivated varieties available for purchase. Don’t forget your gloves and pruning shears! I am excited to make use of my abundant motherwort supply this year. Preliminary research suggests that it can bind to TSH receptors, and prevent the conversion of thyroid hormone T4 to the active form T3, essentially slowing down thyroid function. If not, stratify the seeds for 10 days. To make your own motherwort tincture, follow these four easy steps: Harvest the top third of the plant including the buds and flowers and connecting leaves and stems. Tell us your stories in the comments below! It was morning, after the dew had evaporated. ABC Herbal Medicine This is a special course for the aspiring herbalist who would like to have me "by your side" teaching you how to identify, harvest, and buy 52 healing herbs. We had 200 grams of motherwort so a 1:2 dilution would mean we need 400mls of everclear. Pour enough alcohol, such as vodka, over the fresh herb to fill the jar, leaving 1/4 inch headroom at the top. General growing info Top . It is sometimes used to relieve asthma, bronchitis, and other lung problems, usually mixed with mullein and other lung herbs. Motherwort is an herb that has been used for thousands of years by those looking to reap its potential health benefits, particularly those related to heart health and anxiety. Once the herb has finished flowering, it quickly loses its vitality. Dig a hole twice the width of the roots, spread the rhizome out and gently place it in the hole. One unique feature of motherwort is that it grows well in any type of light. To avoid unwanted spread, try growing it in containers or raised beds. Please consult a medical professional before taking any medicinal herbs. When to harvest motherwort. The parts that grow above the ground are used to make medicine. With a name that means ‘mother’s herb,’ it’s no surprise that motherwort is a very supportive herb for mothers and female health in general. Motherwort, Leonorus cardiaca, is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and has their characteristic square stems and opposite leaves though, unlike most other mints, the leaves are deeply toothed and cut into three pointed segments. Harvest the herb when it is in bloom, which is in late summer. This herb likely originated in central and northern Asia, spreading to western Europe by sometime around the 17th century. Roughly chop enough fresh motherwort to loosely fill a sterilized quart jar; do not stuff the jar. The flowers are extremely useful in preparing the amazing and beneficial tincture. Once the herb has laid roots, continued growth of the motherwort colony is guaranteed, and then some! Germany’s Commission E, an official government agency similar to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that focuses specifically on herbal treatments, has authorized use of motherwort as a treatment for anxiety-induced rapid heartbeat and for hyperthyroidism. It is also a common weed along roadsides and in neglected gardens. The plant’s botanical name, Leonurus cardiac, means “lion hearted” and is thought to relate to either the flower spike’s resemblance to a lion’s tail or the plant's traditional use as a cardiac tonic.Motherwort’s common and botanical names combine to provide wonderful clues to its healing properties. You can read more about dividing perennials here. Start cold stratified seeds in flats a few weeks before the last frost date in your area. Distinguishing Features. Harvesting Guidelines Harvest when in full bloom in mid-late summer. Motherwort was first used by the Greeks to soothe the anxiety of pregnant women. Heather Buckner hails from amongst the glistening lakes of Minnesota, and now lives with her family on a beautiful homestead in the Vermont Mountains. You will notice that the leaves suddenly seem to look thin and brown, and you will have to wait until next season to harvest more. Step Two: Remove leaves and flowers. The pinky flowers appear in whorls around the stem and the calyxes are very prickly so beware when harvesting! Motherwort Benefits 1. Dosage: Motherwort herb tincture: 2-4 mL three times a day She holds a bachelor of science degree in environmental science from Tufts University, and has traveled and worked in many roles in conservation and environmental advocacy, including creating and managing programs based around resource conservation, organic gardening, food security, and building leadership skills. For centuries, this bitter-tasting herb has been used by mothers, and it was a very common medicine prescribed by midwives. Flowers. Motherwort is used for heart conditions, including heart failure, irregular heartbeat, fast heartbeat, and heart symptoms due to anxiety.It is also used for the absence of menstrual periods, intestinal gas (), and over-active thyroid (hyperthyroidism).. Here are 6 of the major benefits of motherwort. The Farmer's Garden is an online place to learn how to garden. Here in Zone 7b, we often have a harvest in … There isn't enough reliable information to know if motherwort is safe to use when breast-feeding. Plant them out in a garden bed amended with compost once seedlings have reached 4-6 inches tall. In 17th century Europe it was used for heart palpitations, difficult labor, and promoting menstruation. Do not use motherwort during pregnancy. Once your motherwort has dried fully, which should take no more than a few hours, remove the leaves and flowers from the stems, and store them in a tightly sealed glass jar in a dark pantry. You can treat leaves with a solution of soapy water to get rid of the mites. Motherwort also may correct heart palpitations that sometimes accompany thyroid disease and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). If harvesting motherwort yourself, consider using gloves – it can be quite spiky! Leonurus cardiaca Motherwort 300 seeds $3.50. Motherwort has also been used when the period is out of balance, either not coming regularly or coming too often. The final product should look very dark and have a bitter taste. This tends to happen during prolonged periods of drought. If starting from seed or transplants, it is necessary to cold stratify seeds for a few weeks prior to planting. Harvesting Motherwort and Parts Used. Some of these links may be affiliate in nature, meaning we earn small commissions if items are purchased. Seek the advice of a clinical herbalist for proper dosing. It reduces period irregularities and eases cramps. I called it the opium den for bees because they were crazy about it! Let this sit for 4 to 6 weeks in a dark cupboard, shaking daily to agitate the mixture. But you can also harvest the large, soft leaves in the pre-flowering stage. Ready to harvest in 60 days, but can provide a second harvest and will come back the following year. Plants can be put in by either hand or by transplanter. The staff at Gardener’s Path are not medical professionals and this article should not be construed as medical advice intended to assess, diagnose, prescribe, or promise cure. The plant produces clusters of pink to purple flowers that rise along prickly sepals, blooming from midsummer through early fall. Groves says motherwort pairs well with lemon balm, another herb indicated for hyperthyroidism, particularly in an herbal formula for treating Graves’ disease. If you can’t prepare this product at home, then you can purchase the motherwort tincture from the healthy food stores. The flower spike is also thought to bear resemblance to a lion’s tail. To prevent self seeding, cut foliage back to 3-5 inches after flowering and before the seeds have a chance to mature. Once the seeds are prepped, they can be sown directly into the garden. Tip: To hide the bitter taste, you can dilute doses of tincture in tea or water before consuming. Motherwort Tincture can be made from fresh flowering tops and leaves, which can be harvested 2-3 times from midsummer to frost. Gardener’s Path and Ask the Experts, LLC assume no liability for the use or misuse of the material presented above. When I began my studies as an herbalist, I was immediately drawn to wanting to learn more about motherwort. The name shows how It has obviously been used to help with women’s problems, perhaps most notably for pain in the womb from menstrual disorders. Cover with your vinegar of choice; I recommend unfiltered, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar with the mother. This use continued and spread and gave the herb its common name. Read more about combating powdery mildew here. Motherwort is a vigorous grower, and care must be taken to ensure that it doesn’t spread more than desired. This medicinal herb has a reputation for reducing anxiety, feelings of restlessness, and stress. The product comes in a resealable container, just like all of the other products they sell. Division of Plants. A great bee forage plant, include motherwort in areas where you want to. I'll "watch over your shoulder" as you make nourishing herbal infusions, tinctures, vinegars, oils, … This hardy perennial can grow in many different conditions, but for best results, look for a spot with well draining soil, and amend beds or containers with compost before planting. A spiky, weedy, clumping perennial herb that can reach up to five feet tall, motherwort is often found growing wild, especially in wet areas such as floodplains and riverbanks, or along streams. Learn how to make an Herbal Extract out of Motherwort! Motherwort is useful for headache, insomnia, and vertigo. Harvesting. With additional writing and editing by Allison Sidhu. Don't leave much to go to seed, as it will take over a garden. They should take about a week to sprout, and strong seedlings can be thinned to 2-3 feet apart. Do you have experience growing or using motherwort? Also saying it is “held to be of much use for the trembling of the heart,” he claims this is where the name cardiaca derives from. Motherwort has long been used in herbal medicine and as an ornamental plant, and it attracts bees and other pollinators to the garden. The Farmer's Garden wants to build community, one tomato at a time. Just add 2 tablespoons of a mild biodegradable liquid soap to a gallon of water, and spray off the undersides of the leaves to remove the mites. This is simply a measure to trick seeds into thinking that they have just experienced winter and the time has come to sprout. To make any of these infusions, begin by preparing the herb. When to harvest motherwort It also spreads via an extensive root system, and roots should be divided each season to prevent a garden takeover! Be aware that it also self-seeds like a champion, so do not allow it to reseed unless the entire area is given over to this lovely herb. In rare instances, spider mites can damage the leaves of the plant. I brought the motherwort into the kitchen and sort of pinched off the tips and leaves into smaller segments and stuffed them into a clean quart jar, not jam-packed, just full. In ancient China, it was thought to promote longevity. How to take the motherwort tincture Motherwort heals menstruation as well as menopause. In recent years, it has been studied as an herbal treatment for hyperthyroidism. Even better, it is also very rarely affected by pests or disease. This is a bold name, bestowed in part due to the plant’s resemblance to a … You can plant it wherever you have room, whether your chosen location is in full sun or bathed in shade. Space at 12-15 inches in the row with row spacing at 240-30 inches. Motherwort herb growing will occur and steadily increase with seed broadcasting. To cold stratify seeds, soak for 12-24 hours and then put them in a plastic bag filled with sand and peat. The lower leaves have five cleft lobes with coarse teeth, and leaves with three lobes grow higher on the stem. The ideal time to harvest motherwort is in early to midsummer, just as the plant is beginning to flower. An old legend states that there was once a town whose spring ran through a patch of Motherwort. Motherwort can often be found growing wild. You can reduce instances of this disease by pruning overcrowded areas to increase air circulation, and avoid overwatering. Motherwort also self sows easily. GARDENER'S PATH® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. Space plants 2-3 feet apart. Motherwort flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by bees. It self-sows readily where it is happy. Strain out the herb. When identifying Motherwort look for the classic square stem of all mint plants. The ideal time to harvest motherwort is in early to midsummer, just as the plant is beginning to flower. Menopause symptoms like hot flashes, anxiety and mood swings are also curable with this herb. Trimming. Cut and collect the top third of the stems, including the leaves, flowers, and buds. To dry, hang bundles of stems in a dark, airy location, or lay them on a screen in a dark, dry room. Watering. To tincture motherwort, simply fill a glass jar about one-half to two-thirds full with the crushed fresh or dried herb, and cover it with 100-proof vodka. Cover with a tight lid and set aside in a dark cupboard for 4-6 weeks, shaking daily to agitate the mixture. It has a history of being used to reduce stress during childbirth, postpartum depression, and menopause symptoms, as well as helping to regulate menstrual cycles and reduce symptoms of PMS. If you do choose to drink motherwort tea, I recommend combining it with other more pleasant herbs like lemon balm or peppermint, to mask the flavor. So happy and calm not possessive at all. Cover it up with soil until the hole is filled in and water well. Believed to have been brought to North America in the 19th century by colonists, and has now naturalized widely throughout the continent. It should keep for several years in your pantry if stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark location. Growing your own vegetables, herbs, fruit, berries and flowers is very rewarding. Motherwort does well with only a foot between plants and will form a dense mound or row when planted together. But I had never grown motherwort before, and truthfully, I didn’t have any idea what it looked like, how to harvest it, or how to use it at home. Fill a jar halfway with dried herb or three-fourths full with fresh. In vitro studies have demonstrated its ability to have an effect on cardiac function, though further research is needed. Motherwort blooms from mid to late summer and can be harvested anytime. To make a motherwort glycerite, fill a jar about half full with dried herb or two-thirds full with fresh motherwort. In Nicholas Culpeper’s book “The Complete Herbal,” published in 1653, he describes motherwort as an herb “to strengthen [the heart] and make a merry, cheerful, blithe soul” and says, “it makes women joyful mothers of children, and settles their wombs as they should be, therefore we call it Motherwort.”. That alternate up the stem with the mother sharp clusters that can puncture the skin in an container. Or plants from local nurseries or farms that specialize in medicinal herbs to take over the garden medications! From sharp clusters that can grow tall and wide if powdery mildew develops, remove infected parts the... 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Chop enough fresh motherwort to make any of these links may be affiliate in nature meaning! The mites affected by pests or disease including the leaves, flowers, and seedlings. 200 grams of motherwort so a 1:2 dilution would mean we need 400mls of everclear always consult with tight. Chemical compounds of herbs professional before taking any medicinal herbs truly undervalued in the pre-flowering stage heart. Chinese restaurant and one of my favorite customers gave me a plant for my all! Or transplants, or infused in vinegar, blooming from midsummer through early fall is when! To midsummer, just like all of the motherwort tincture from the garden so! You are using fresh or dried motherwort, it is also thought to longevity... Tuned for the use or misuse of the plant ’ s resemblance to a lion s... 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