Motherwort, also known as Leonurus heterophyllus in "Shennong's Materia Medica," was named for its abundant growth. Later, it was named Motherwort because of its beneficial effects on women.
Motherwort has a pungent and bitter taste and a cold nature. It enters the heart, liver, and kidney meridians and has the effects of promoting blood circulation, regulating menstruation, and eliminating water retention. It is commonly used in gynecology for various menstrual disorders and is known as the "elixir for women." The late renowned gynecology expert Liu Fengwu believed that motherwort nourishes the blood, regulates menstruation, promotes blood circulation, and resolves blood stasis. It nourishes without being greasy and promotes circulation without being abrupt. It is often combined with danggui to nourish the blood and regulate menstruation. It is used to treat irregular menstruation and abdominal pain during menstruation. When combined with Shenghua Decoction, it can promote blood circulation and resolve blood stasis, treating postpartum abdominal pain caused by retained lochia or excessive lochia.
Motherwort is also a beauty and skincare product. Wu Zetian, the first female emperor in Chinese history, often used motherwort ashes to wash her hands and face in order to maintain a youthful appearance. This is the folk legend of "Wu Zetian's skincare method." It is said that Wu Zetian used this secret method and maintained a youthful appearance even at the age of 80.
Pharmacological Research on Motherwort
Motherwort has an excitatory effect on the uterus, increasing the amplitude, rate, and tension of uterine contractions. It can also increase coronary blood flow, reduce blood pressure, and protect the myocardium. Additionally, it has diuretic and antibacterial effects.
Beauty Recipes
Wu Zetian's skincare method is quite complex, but in later generations, a simplified recipe based on the effects of motherwort is commonly used. It is as follows:
Motherwort: Take 3000 grams of dried and finely ground motherwort, add 30 grams of talcum powder and 3 grams of rouge, and mix them into a paste. Use this paste to wash the face, neck, and hands twice a day.
Jade Powder: Take any amount of dried and finely ground motherwort, grind it with glutinous rice porridge into a paste, and then refine it by heating. Wash the face with this paste once in the morning and once in the evening.
Motherwort Ointment: Take 500 grams of motherwort, cut it into short sections, dry and burn it to ash, then mix it with vinegar to form pills. Burn the pills until they turn red, repeat this process 7 times, and then grind the pills into a fine powder. Mix the powder with honey and store it in a porcelain bottle. Before going to bed, wash your face with warm water and then apply the ointment.
Experienced Recipe
Eight Treasures Motherwort Pills: Take 120 grams of motherwort, 30 grams each of ginseng, peony, white atractylodes, poria, and chuanxiong, and 60 grams each of danggui and prepared rehmannia, and 15 grams of roasted licorice. Grind all the ingredients into a fine powder, mix with honey, and roll into pills the size of a marble. Take one pill with honey water or wine. It can be made into smaller pills if desired. This formula is effective for treating menstrual disorders, dysmenorrhea, and Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).
