Motherwort: medicinal properties and contraindications, how to take

The benefits and harms of motherwort are an important issue, since this medicinal plant takes pride of place in home medicine. To understand when to take it, you need to understand the peculiarities and unique properties of the plant.

What does motherwort look like and where does it grow

The medicinal plant motherwort is a perennial herb with a straight stem, densely covered with hairs, and petiolate pubescent leaves. The plant blooms from June to September with beautiful pink or purple flowers. It is its flowering tops that are usually collected and used for medicinal purposes.

Grass grows everywhere - motherwort can be found in Europe and Asia, Siberia and the Middle East, throughout the middle zone of the globe. The plant prefers light soils in meadows and river banks. Motherwort can often be found in landfills, in old quarries and on vacant lots - this feature it owes its name to.

The chemical composition of motherwort

Motherwort possesses healing properties due to its internal composition. The leaves and stems of the plant contain:

• vitamins A and E;
• vitamin C;
• beta carotene;
• potassium and sulfur;
• sodium and calcium;
• flavonoids and tannins;
• sugars and saponins;
• bitterness and alkaloids;
• essential and fatty oils;
• organic acids and glycosides.

Due to the listed substances, motherwort herb is beneficial and harmful, what kind of effect it will have on the body depends on the literacy of use.

Useful properties of motherwort

The beneficial effect of motherwort on the human body is that this plant:

• has a general strengthening effect and has a beneficial effect on the state of the immune system - against the background of taking the plant, the body becomes more resistant to colds and infectious diseases;
• calms the nervous system - the herb is highly recommended for use for anxiety disorders, depressive conditions and sleep disorders;
• has a diuretic effect and helps to get rid of edema;
• has an anticonvulsant effect, therefore it can be used for epilepsy;
• helps with colds and coughs, since it has mucolytic properties;
• relieves inflammation and allows you to improve the condition with infectious ailments;
• has an analgesic effect;
• has a beneficial effect on the work of the heart and blood vessels.

Also, the plant is recommended to be used to lower glucose and bad cholesterol in the blood.

For women

The benefits of motherwort for women are that the plant regulates hormones and has a pronounced positive effect in menopause. Medicinal decoctions and infusions eliminate the so-called hot flashes and improve overall well-being.

The beneficial properties of motherwort for women are manifested during menstruation. Herbal medicines relieve pain and reduce bleeding. In addition, motherwort evens out mood and helps relieve irritability and anxiety.

For men

The benefits of motherwort for men are manifested primarily in case of nervous disorders. The plant helps to cope with aggression and excessive excitability, improves sleep and reduces stress levels.

Also, use motherwort is useful for prostatitis and prostate adenoma. The properties of the plant relieve inflammation and improve blood circulation in the pelvic organs.

Indications for the use of motherwort

The beneficial properties of motherwort can be used for a wide range of ailments. Among the indications for the use of the plant are:

• vegetative dystonia;
• seizures and heart palpitations;
• migraines and insomnia;
• irregular periods and menopause;
• sluggish circulation;
• angina pectoris and myocarditis;
• hypertension in mild forms;
• flatulence and metabolic disorders;
• inflammatory diseases of the bronchi and lungs.

Ways to use motherwort

On the basis of a useful plant, several drinks with valuable properties can be made at once. They differ among themselves in the degree of efficiency and complexity of preparation.

Water infusion

The benefits of motherwort infusion on water are manifested in hypertension and nervous overexcitation, in case of digestive disorders. A healthy drink is prepared like this:

• a large spoonful of dry grass is poured with a glass of boiling water;
• close with a lid and leave for an hour;
• filter after reaching full readiness.

The volumes and frequency of use of the infusion depend on the specific ailment, but usually motherwort is taken three times a day for 2-3 sips - on an empty stomach, half an hour before meals.

Alcohol tincture

The beneficial properties of the plant are well manifested in combination with alcohol. The tincture can be purchased at the pharmacy, or you can make it yourself at home. They do it as follows:

• dry grass is ground into powder in the amount of 2 large spoons;
• pour 100 ml of strong medical alcohol;
• remove to infuse for 14 days.

The properties of motherwort tincture help to get rid of insomnia and anxiety. The remedy relieves the symptoms of VSD and helps to tolerate menopause easier, eliminates tachycardia and shortness of breath. The recommended dosage is only about 30 drops three times a day, otherwise harm to the body is possible.

Motherwort decoction

With nervous disorders, heart ailments and inflammatory processes, motherwort decoction is beneficial. To prepare it, you need to pour 500 ml of hot water in 2 large tablespoons of chopped herbs and leave for half an hour. The motherwort is then poured into a pot of enamel stacks and brought to a boil on the stove.

The cooled agent is filtered and drunk shortly before bedtime for several sips. Since the concentration of the broth is quite high, in large quantities it can also be harmful.

Motherwort juice

An easy-to-prepare and effective remedy is fresh plant juice, which helps with heart disorders, neuroses, and vascular problems.It is not difficult to prepare it - fresh leaves and stems of grass need to be crushed in a blender or meat grinder, and then squeeze the gruel through thick gauze to separate the liquid juice.

Inside, the juice is consumed three times a day, just a small spoonful, and the general course of therapy should not exceed 3 weeks. Also, juice can lubricate wounds and healing burns - the properties of motherwort will contribute to the speedy regeneration of tissues.

In pill form

In pharmacies, tablets are sold, the active ingredient of which is plant extract. In their action, the tablets are no different from decoctions and infusions, they are beneficial for nervous and cardiac disorders, reduce pressure and normalize sleep, and have a positive effect on metabolism.

The advantage of motherwort in tablets is that the medicine is much more convenient to take in conditions of lack of time. The tablets can be carried with you and consumed as needed anywhere. The drugs are dispensed without a prescription, and they usually drink no more than 3 times a day, with plenty of water.

Despite the completely natural composition of the drugs, they must be used strictly according to the instructions, otherwise side effects and harm to the body are not excluded.

Powdered

Benefits of motherwort extract, it is a dry powder of ground dried herb leaves. Take it like this - stir a teaspoon of powder in one and a half glasses of warm water.

The useful extract is especially effective for headaches. You can use it up to 4 times a day.

Motherwort baths

Baths with the addition of a medicinal plant have a calming and strengthening effect. A liter of healing infusion or 10 ml of ready-made pharmacy extract in liquid form must be added to a full container of hot water.

Take a bath for about a quarter of an hour, it is best to do this before bed. The plant's properties have a calming and relaxing effect, help you fall asleep quickly and even out your heart rate and blood pressure.

Medicinal fees with motherwort

The plant benefits in its pure form, but is very often used together with other medicinal herbs. For example, in case of nervous disorders, the following collection will not harm:

• 20 g of dry motherwort is mixed with 10 g of lemon balm, St. John's wort and hawthorn;
• add 5 g of grated valerian root;
• pour boiling water over about 2 small spoons of the mixture and leave for 5 minutes.

The benefits of motherwort tea and other herbs will be higher than usual - a useful collection will have a complex beneficial effect on the body.

How to use motherwort for medicinal purposes

For certain ailments, the plant is very popular. But in order for the herb to not cause harm, you need to clearly understand the rules for its use.

From nerves

In case of nervous disorders and increased anxiety, the alcoholic tincture of the plant is best of all. Adults are advised to take 50 drops of medication at a time to level the emotional background, while motherwort should be diluted in half a glass of water.

It is best to drink the medicine on an empty stomach - shortly before eating, or an hour after that.

With gastritis

The pain relieving and antiseptic properties of the herb are beneficial for gastritis. A decoction of the plant helps from discomfort in the stomach and nausea, you need to take it in half a glass before eating. You can also use alcoholic tincture, but the volumes should not exceed half a teaspoon on an empty stomach.

With pancreatitis

During the period of a sharp exacerbation of the disease, it is not recommended to take the plant - this can cause damage to the pancreas. But during remission, the properties of the herb will be beneficial, since they improve metabolism and speed up digestion.

The usual watery infusion of the plant will be most beneficial if taken on an empty stomach in 1 large spoon.It is recommended to continue the entire course for no longer than a month in a row so that the useful herb does not bring accidental harm.

For heart health

Motherwort is of great benefit for the heart - with heart failure, ischemia, angina pectoris and rhythm disturbances, alcohol tincture has the best effect.

You need to take it three times a day on an empty stomach, only 30-50 drops. After a couple of weeks, an improvement becomes noticeable, but the course cannot be continued for too long - this will be harmful. Plant treatment must be carried out intermittently.

With kidney disease

The diuretic properties of the plant help get rid of edema and discomfort associated with impaired kidney function. To remove excess fluids and toxins from the body, it is enough to take half a glass of medicinal infusion three times a day.

For thyroid

Since the plant regulates hormonal levels, its beneficial properties are used in diseases of the thyroid gland, in particular, in hypothyroidism. It is necessary to drink half a glass of water infusion twice a day on an empty stomach.

With hypertension

The useful properties of the medicinal motherwort include its ability to lower blood pressure. With hypertension, it is recommended to use 50 drops of alcoholic tincture four times a day. The special value of the remedy lies in the fact that it reduces blood pressure almost instantly, therefore motherwort can be used even with sharp hypertensive exacerbations.

With menopause

At the onset of menopause, a motherwort-based infusion brings a good medicinal effect. To prepare it, you need to boil about 2 small tablespoons of dry herbs in boiling water and wait 20 minutes.

Use a useful remedy for 5 sips three times a day. The plant will help get rid of hot flashes and generally improve the woman's well-being.

From unpleasant symptoms during menstruation

With painful sensations and mood swings during menstruation, herbal collection helps well. Prepare it like this:

• 2 large spoons of motherwort, chamomile and mint are mixed with 1 large spoonful of birch leaves;
• add 1 large spoonful of chopped buckthorn bark;
• pour 500 ml of boiling water and leave to infuse until cooled.

The ready-made collection is taken three times a day for several sips - in just a day you need to drink a glass of the medicinal product.

With infertility

Motherwort is able to have a good effect on female infertility. In the course of treatment, it is customary to use the following drug collection:

• motherwort, chamomile, calendula and St. John's wort are mixed in equal parts;
• add the same amount of yarrow and immortelle;
• 10 small spoons of the prepared collection are poured with 500 ml of hot water and left for 2 hours.

A useful remedy is taken 100 ml three times a day, and you need to start the course of treatment a couple of months before the planned conception of the child.

For epilepsy

The plant's anticonvulsant properties are good for epilepsy. Dry grass in the amount of 2 small spoons is poured with 500 ml of hot water, stirred and insisted for a couple of hours, and then they drink 2 large spoons before eating. During the course of treatment, motherwort has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, and epileptic seizures become much less frequent.

For healing wounds and boils

A useful herb, when applied topically, accelerates the healing of wounds, burns and ulcers. It is recommended to treat diseased skin areas several times a day with decoctions and infusions; fresh herb juice has a good healing effect.

Healing baths with the plant help to restore the health of the skin faster - just add a liter of broth to hot water.

The use of motherwort in cosmetology

The influence of motherwort on the human body is manifested not only in traditional medicine.The plant is actively using home cosmetology. The plant extract is often found in creams, masks and lotions for oily skin, as the herb has a drying effect. Healing natural shampoos are made on the basis of motherwort. The plant reduces the fat content of curls, improves scalp condition and promotes rapid hair growth.

You can also use a beneficial plant in home beauty recipes. For acne and irritation, washing with medicinal decoctions helps well, the powder of a medicinal plant is added to the compositions of masks.

Harm and side effects of motherwort

The benefits and harms of motherwort for the human body depend on the dosage of the drug and on the duration of the course use. If you take the plant in large quantities and without interruption, side effects are not excluded - a decrease in heart rate and hypotension.

With a single overdose of a plant, harm can manifest itself in nausea and vomiting or in the onset of drowsiness. Before using medicinal drinks, you need to make sure that motherwort does not cause allergies - this also causes significant harm.

Contraindications to the use of motherwort

For certain ailments, it is better to completely abandon the use of the plant. Contraindications include:

• hypotension;
• gastritis and ulcers in acute form;
• decreased heart rate;
• plant allergy;
• thrombophlebitis and thrombosis.

Motherwort when breastfeeding

During lactation, a useful plant is not prohibited for use, but it must be used very carefully. It contains a small amount of alkaloids, respectively, the herb can potentially harm a child. But in minimal dosages, motherwort will help a woman cope with postpartum depression and will also help improve nighttime sleep in restless babies.

Motherwort during pregnancy

While carrying a child, the plant can cause severe harm. Motherwort thins the blood and increases muscle tone, so it can provoke a miscarriage, and it is better to refuse the medicinal herb until childbirth.

Is it possible to give motherwort to children

It is allowed to use motherwort for children externally after 1 month of the baby's life. Useful decoctions and infusions wipe irritations on the skin of babies, add funds to warm baths - motherwort helps to normalize sleep and strengthens the immune system.

But at the same time, for internal use, the herb remains prohibited up to 12 years. Individual components in the motherwort can harm a developing body.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of motherwort directly depend on its dosages. In small quantities, the medicinal plant is very valuable for the nervous system and cardiac activity.

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