Leonurus cardiaca
 Leonurus cardiaca/1a) Leonurus cardiaca.JPG "Leonurus cardiaca, Lamiaceae, Leonurine (bitter agent), tannins, essential oil, leonurinine (alkaloid), cardiac glycosides, vitamin A")
 Leonurus cardiaca/1b) Leonurus cardiaca.JPG "Leonurus cardiaca, Lamiaceae, Leonurine (bitter agent), tannins, essential oil, leonurinine (alkaloid), cardiac glycosides, vitamin A")
 Leonurus cardiaca/2) Leonurus cardiaca.jpg "Leonurus cardiaca, Lamiaceae, Leonurine (bitter agent), tannins, essential oil, leonurinine (alkaloid), cardiac glycosides, vitamin A")
 Leonurus cardiaca/3) Leonurus cardiaca.JPG "Leonurus cardiaca, Lamiaceae, Leonurine (bitter agent), tannins, essential oil, leonurinine (alkaloid), cardiac glycosides, vitamin A")
 Leonurus cardiaca/4) Leonurus cardiaca.jpg "Leonurus cardiaca, Lamiaceae, Leonurine (bitter agent), tannins, essential oil, leonurinine (alkaloid), cardiac glycosides, vitamin A")
 Leonurus cardiaca/5) Leonurus cardiaca.jpg "Leonurus cardiaca, Lamiaceae, Leonurine (bitter agent), tannins, essential oil, leonurinine (alkaloid), cardiac glycosides, vitamin A")
 Leonurus cardiaca/8) Leonurus cardiaca.JPG "Leonurus cardiaca, Lamiaceae, Leonurine (bitter agent), tannins, essential oil, leonurinine (alkaloid), cardiac glycosides, vitamin A")
 Leonurus cardiaca/9 ) Leonurus cardiaca.jpg "Leonurus cardiaca, Lamiaceae, Leonurine (bitter agent), tannins, essential oil, leonurinine (alkaloid), cardiac glycosides, vitamin A")
| Botanical Nomenclature | Leonurus cardiaca |
| Common Name | Lion's Ear, Lion's Tail, Motherwort, Throw-Wort |
| Taxonomy- Family | Lamiaceae |
| Distinguishing Features of the Plant | Leonurus cardiaca is a biennial herbaceous plant growing from 60 to 120cm; the upper surface of the leaves is green with scattered hairs, the lower surface is paler green, densely pubescent and pink pubescent on the outer surface, malodorous flowers. The flowering and the harvesting take place from June to September |
| Region Found | Epirus |
| Part of the Plant with Active Substances | Flowers |
| Active Substances | Leonurine (bitter agent), tannins, essential oil, leonurinine (alkaloid), cardiac glycosides, vitamin A |
| Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications | The whole plant is administered in the form of infusion as sedative, emmenagogue, antidiarrheal, antibacterial and healing. Due to the contained cardiac glycosides, it is used to stimulate the cardiac function, to increase myocardial contractility and to reduce the heart rate. It is recommended for the treatment of tachycardia, especially when it is related to stress and anxiety, as well for the treatment of neurasthenia, insomnia, hysteria, epilepsy and atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels. In homeopathy and in folk medicine it is recommended against angina, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea and anemia. |
| Method of Administration | It is administered as cardiotonic and emmenagogue in the form of infusion (1-2 spoons of dried herb in a cup of boiling water, three times a day) and tincture (1-4 ml three times a day). Warning: The use of herb preparations is not recommended without seeking advice from your physician or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with the subscribed drugs that the patient already takes, thus eliminating their therapeutic efficacy or inducing toxicity. They may also burden further weakened vital functions of the body thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life threatened conditions. |
| Toxicity- Adverse Effects | Plant's consumption may cause dermatitis and photosensitivity. Contraindicated during pregnancy |
| References | 1)Βιβλίο: Οδηγός των φαρμακευτικών φυτών, Paul Schauenberg, Ferdinand Paris, Εκδότης Μ. Γκιούρδας, Αθήνα 1981, σελίδες 36 2)http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a960 3)Missouri Botanical Garden 4)http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Motherwort.htm 5)http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mother55.html 6)http://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Leonurus+cardiaca |