What's wrong my dear? You look a little down.... Ahhh, yes. The moody times are upon you. Then I have just the right herb to share for your visit today. This one looks like a mint, it is after all in the mint family, but the taste is not as pleasant. Nor does it expand from the roots as most in her family. A gift from Mother Nature to help soothe away the times & stages of womanhood. Relief for Maiden to Crone. A most wondrous herb. As though laying your head in mother's lap, she caresses your hair. Calming & restoring you from upsets. She is not just an herb for women! Men can benefit from her mothering as well. But lets dive into her female assistance first.
I began giving this herb to Panda, when she began showing the mood swings of pre womanhood. The poor dear would be crying and have no idea as to why. Then she would be spitting mad the next with no real explanation for such upset on so small of a matter. Besides explaining & the attempt to help her recognize these moments of distress as part of growing into a woman, I turned to the guidance of Mother Nature.
I too was hesitant on it's ability, until my eyes were witness to the change in my young Panda, just moments after a dropper dose of the tincture. Soon, she would come to me asking for the tincture which had relieved the overwhelming emotions. Her comprehension expanding with the aid of Motherwort. Giving her the personal insight of Herbal Wisdom.
This my dear, is Mother Wort. A young one at that. Her Latin name being Leonurus cardiaca
(Leonurus sibiricus explained: Leonurus “lions”, “oura”, meaning “tail “and cardiaca is “heart” )
Amongst the most cherished herbs I grow. I think of her as the Queen of her realm. The Mothering Goddess whom deserves her own space to conquer. I had once been told, Herbs have an amazing way of reaching out to you when you are in need. If only we humans would open our eyes. The first summer of our being in the Stone cottage, I was amazed & bewildered to find Motherwort growing at the South end of the Chicken pen. I had not planted her nor did I have any of her plants in my care as of yet. Where did she come from? Up to this time, I had purchased all of our motherwort through the Co-op. That following Spring, I ordered Siberian Motherwort for cultivating. I see it, she was reaching out, knowing we had need for her. I did not rationalize nor dissect this event. Some things are best left alone. I took it as a caring hint.
Motherwort can be found wild all over the U.S mainland, minus California & Florida. To be honest, for the untrained eye, she has a slight Cannabis appearance from afar. I have heard stories of neighbors mistaking Motherwort for such. Do not let that cause you pause on growing her. It's not that common of occurrence and personally, your neighbors will not see it as such when growing amongst all the other herbs & garden items. More of a funny then a worry.
Motherwort is an herb that can help ease you through the transition of Menopause. Helping to regulate hormone levels, improving mood and protects vital organs.
Motherwort can also help reduce hot flashes. According to MayoClinic.com, nearly 75 percent of all menopausal women will spontaneously break out into sweats due to the hormonal changes that occur during this time of life. Motherwort can offer relief from hot flashes by shortening their duration, severity and frequency, says Kathleen Eich, clinical herbalist and aromatherapist, of Madison, Wisconsin. She adds that motherwort also reduces the light-headedness and dizziness that sometimes occur during hot flashes. She also gives aid to the Insomnia & emotional roller coaster most often accompanied with menopause. I mention the aid to Menopause being I have known many women whom have had full Hysterectomies at a younger age. In turn, causing their bodies to have instant Menopausal onset. Doctors prescribe Hormones to help ease it but it does not cause relief, especially the nasty Hot flashes. I only wish these woman would listen to me when I suggest adding Motherwort to their lives. But as with most people, they turn their nose up "to a plant". Flat out refusing to even give it a try. Continuing to going back to the doctor for various Man made chemical pills with high risk of side effects and/or strain to the body.
Men can greatly benefit from her Mothering as well. Nourishing their heart and soul. Calming their nerves! Lowering blood pressure. Try 10-20 drops of Motherwort tincture twice a day the next time you feel stressed or a little blue.
A tidbit found from Alternative Remedies sums up her usefulness :
Motherwort is an excellent heart tonic. This antispasmodic, emmenagogue, cardiac, nervine and laxative herb has a long history of folk use in China, Europe, North America and other parts of the world as a heart tonic for nervousness-related heart complaints, such as palpitations and fast heartbeat.
This has been confirmed by the German herbal doctor, Rudolph Weiss MD, who also finds that regular use of motherwort can lower blood pressure and improve heart health. A dose of 10-20 drops of tincture taken 3 times daily is appropriate. Historically, motherwort has also been used as a calmative, sedative, nerve tonic, and treatment for epilepsy, and as an agent for stimulating delayed or suppressed menstruation, encouraging labor and relaxing the uterus after childbirth."
As women, we must open our minds and hearts to the old ways. This is not to say turn your back on modernization. Simply embrace what our fore mothers have instilled in past generations, before many turned their backs on Mother Nature. We are the natural nurturers. The caregivers and lovers. We are not meant to be like men. They have their own unique qualities and gifts. We are meant to be partners. One balancing the other. Simply put, we should respect each others gifts and natural abilities. Just as a man can not give birth or nurse a child with their bodies, we as women would not be able to conceive this gift without them. Respect the differences instead of forcing a sameness. Embrace your femininity. Do not discard it. Some things are just better left not to dissect or intervene. Welcome the female deity into your lives.
In christianity, they call her Mary, though more seen as Saint then Deity. There is the Hindu warrior Goddess Durga, The Celtic Goddess
Brigantia, as well as numerous others spread into every faith. Females have always had their place in history as well as a place of honor next to men. Only with the enforcement of the bible, has woman been shoved to the back seat. Kinda reminds me of the movie scene in Dirty Dancing when Johnny, {Patrick Swayze}, walks into the dance hall and puts out his hand for his gal, saying" Nobody puts Baby in a corner" before they clear the floor with the last Dance. Mother Wort is a reminder of our feminine values. Our natural ways. Give her space in your lives and she will reward you with her intent. Do not put your value as a woman "in the corner".
I leave you with the poetic words of Marianne Williamson
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?Sweetest dreams,~Tammie
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