Siberian Motherwort - An ingredient of PEP spice & Spice Gold

 

Leonurus sibiricus Linnaeus (Siberian Motherwort) is found in southern Siberia, China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Southeat Asia. It now grows wild in Brazil and Mexico. The plant, which grows straight up and usually has a single stem, can attain a height of over 2 meters. The stem branches in a maxilliform manner and its dark green leaves are finely pinnate. Siberian Motherwort has white tubular flowers with violet tips.

 

The leaves collected whilst the plant is in bloom are used in doses of 1-2 grams when dried. No truly toxic dosage is known massive overdoses fed to rats during experiments did not produce death. Because the effects of the pure herbage are not especially pronounced, they can be synergistically potentiated by mixing with other herbs.

 

The seeds and fruit are thought to have medicinal value. The dried herbage can be found in any chinese herb pharmacy. It is used to treat loss of potency, overly heavy menstruation, postpartum bleeding, and painful menstruation. It is also used as a diuretic. North American Indians are said to have used the herbage as an aid in labor. In southern mexico, the root is drunk in the form of a tea to treat women's;s ailments and to induce menstruation. Leaves macerated in alcohol are applied externally to treat rheumatism.

 

The effects of Siberian Motherwort are occasionally described as mildly narcotic or cannabis-like. They are by no means spectacular, unless the plant is combined with other substances.