Motherwort

Action and Therapy. A simple emmenagogue and antispasmodic, evidently having considerable control over the nervous system. It has been advised in nervous debility with irritation and unrest, tendency to choreic movements or spasms, pelvic and lumbar uneasiness and pain, and in bearing-down pains and the discomforts incident to debility of the female reproductive organs. A warm infusion may be used in amenorrhea, and King praised it for the restoration of suppressed lochia. It deserves restudy to determine its value in nervous affections.

Therapy. It is prescribed in the above conditions, also in delirium tre-mens, typhoid state in fevers, chronic diseases with wakefulness, restlessness, disturbed sleep, spinal irritation, neuralgia of the stomach and head, feeble digestion, general debility, chorea, convulsions, nervousness fr om irregular menstruation, palpitation of the heart, associated with uterine disease, amenorrhea, with chlorosis, cachexia and an irritable, excitable, enfeebled state of the nervous system, spasms and harrassing bearing down pains, and morbid sensibility from uterine disease, pain in the pelvic and lumbar regions in females.

Properties and Uses. This herb is a pleasant and moderately strong tonic, somewhat diffusive in action, and combining relaxing properties with a slight excess of stimulation. The nerves receive the most benefit of its influence, whence it is classed as a nervine tonic and antispasmodic.

Properties and Uses. This root, when fresh, is a somewhat acrid cathartic; but drying dissipates its harshness, and it is then an almost pure relaxant. Its action is mild and very slow the cathartic result rarely being obtained from a common dose in less than ten hours, and sometimes not for eighteen hours.