What is Yi Mu Cao?

Yi Mu Cao (scientific name: Leonurus japonicus Houttuyn), which is also called
motherwort or
leonurus cardiaca, is a plant of the Lamiaceae and the genus Leonurus. Herbs, annual or biennial, with a taproot densely covered with fibrous roots. Stems erect, usually 30-120 cm tall, obtusely quadrangular, slightly grooved, strigose obversely. The leaf profile varies greatly, the leaf profile at the lower part of the stem is ovate, the base is broadly cuneate, palmately 3-lobed, and the lobes are oblong, diamond-shaped to oval. Verticels axillary, with 8-15 flowers, spherical in outline, 2-2.5 cm in diameter, mostly far away to form long spikes. Stamens 4, all extending below upper lip, parallel, anterior pair longer, filaments filamentous, flat. Nutlets oblong-triangular, 2.5 mm long, apex truncated and slightly broad, base cuneate, light brown, smooth. The flowering period is usually from June to September, and the fruiting period is from September to October.
Motherwort
Motherwort, the name of traditional Chinese medicine. It is the fresh or dry aerial part of Leonurus japonicus Houtt. Fresh products are harvested from seedling stage in spring to early flowering stage in early summer; dry products are harvested when stems and leaves are lush in summer, flowers are not bloomed or just bloomed, and dried in the sun, or cut into sections and dried in the sun. Widely distributed throughout the country. It has the effects of promoting blood circulation and regulating menstruation, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, clearing heat and detoxifying. For irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea amenorrhea, lochia, edema, oliguria, sore swelling and poison.
Types of Yi Mu Cao
Fresh motherwort
Stemless at seedling stage, basal leaves are heart-shaped, 5-9 lobed, with 2-3 cognates on each lobe. The stem in the early stage of flowering is square columnar, with many branches on the upper part, and the four sides are concave to form longitudinal grooves, 30-60cm long, 0.2-0.5cm in diameter; the surface is green; the quality is fresh and tender, and the middle part of the section is pith. The leaves are alternately opposite and have stalks; the leaves are green, fresh and tender, and juicy when rubbed; the lower cauline leaves are palmately 3-lobed, and the upper leaves are pinnately deeply or shallowly divided into 3 pieces, and the lobes are entire or have a few serrations. Slight gas, slightly bitter taste.
Dried motherwort
The surface of the stem is gray-green or yellow-green; the body is light, the quality is tough, and the middle part of the section is pith. The leaves are gray-green, shrunken, broken, and easy to fall off. Cymes axillary, florets lavender, calyx tube-shaped, corolla 2-lipped. The cut section is about 2cm long.
Growth environment of Yi Mu Cao

Yimucao is distributed in China, the former Soviet Union, Korea, Japan, tropical Asia, Africa, and America. Distributed all over the country in China. Motherwort is a weed that grows in a variety of habitats, especially in sunny places, and the altitude can be as high as 3400 meters.
Yimucao likes a warm and humid climate and can grow in general soil. It likes a warm and humid climate. It is suitable for growth in areas below 1000 meters above sea level. The soil requirements are not strict, but it is suitable for cultivation in sunny, fertile and well-drained sandy loam. It grows well in sunny conditions, the suitable temperature for growth is 22-30°C, the growth is slow below 15°C, it will be damaged below 0°C, it will be frostbitten below -3°C, and it grows well at high temperatures above 35°C; wet and well-drained sandy Loamy soils facilitate high yields and high-quality products.
Processing methods of Yi Mu Cao
Collection and processing
Fresh Yi Mu Cao are harvested from seedling stage in spring to early flowering stage in early summer. Dry Yi Mu Cao are harvested when stems and leaves are lush in summer, flowers are not bloomed or just bloomed, and dried in the sun, or cut into sections and dried in the sun.
Processing method
Yi Mu Cao
Take the original medicinal materials, remove impurities such as residual roots and thick stems, slightly soak the lower half, pour water on the upper half, moisten thoroughly, cut into sections, and dry.
Wine Yi Mu Cao
Take Yi Mu Cao section, spray it with rice wine, mix well, moisten until thoroughly, put it in a frying pan, heat it with a slow fire, and fry it dry. For every 100kg of motherwort, 15kg of rice wine is used.
Yi Mu Cao TCM

Medicine part
Fresh or dried aerial parts of plants.
Taste
Bitter, pungent, slightly cold.
Tropism
Return liver, pericardium, urinary bladder channel.
Effect
Promoting blood circulation and regulating menstruation, inducing diuresis for reducing swelling, clearing heat and detoxifying.
Attending
For irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea amenorrhea, lochia, edema, oliguria, sore swelling and poison.
Related compatibility
1. Blood from abortion: five liang of thistle root and leaf, motherwort. Two large bowls of water, one bowl of boiled juice, decocted to one cup, divided into two servings, and consumed in one day. ("Sanji Zonglu")
2. Postpartum haemorrhage, distraught: grind motherwort juice, take a cup, it is wonderful. ("Secret Records of Mother and Child")
3. Postpartum hemorrhage: a small glass of motherwort juice, mixed with wine, served warm. ("Sheng Huifang")
Dosage
9~30g; fresh product 12~40g.
Caution
Pregnant women use with caution.
Related discussion
1. "Compendium of Materia Medica": the roots, stems, flowers, leaves, and fruits of Motherwort are all used as medicine and can be used together. If it is used to control the wind-heat of Jueyin blood in the hands and feet, improve eyesight and benefit essence, and regulate the meridians of women, it is good to use only Zi Weizi. If treating swollen sores, eliminating water and promoting blood flow, and women's fetal and childbirth diseases, it should be used together for good. Its roots, stems, flowers, and leaves are dedicated to running, while the seeds are supplemented in the running.
2. "Materia Medica Seeking Truth": Motherwort (specially into the pericardial liver). A Chi Wei. Bitter bitter cold. The function enters the envelope of liver and heart. Eliminate water and stop bleeding. Remove blood stasis and regenerate. Menstruation regulating and detoxification.
3. "Materia Medica Preparations": Passing blood stasis, giving birth to new blood is pungent and slightly bitter cold. Start with, foot Jueyin (pericardium, liver). Eliminates water and promotes blood circulation, removes blood stasis and promotes regeneration, regulates menstruation and detoxifies.
Yi Mu Cao benefits
Promote blood circulation and regulate menstruation
Yi Mu Cao is pungent and bitter, and enters the blood system. It is good at dispelling blood stasis and dredging menstruation. It can treat blood stasis dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, postpartum lochia, dystocia and other diseases. Compatibility of other medicinal materials.
Clear heat and detoxify
Yi Mu Cao is cold in nature, pungent and bitter, can promote blood circulation, relieve pain, clear away heat, detoxify and reduce swelling. It is often compatible with Chuanxiong and Angelica in the treatment of bruises, stasis, swelling and pain; it can be used externally or combined with Sophora flavescens when treating sores and carbuncles. Dandelion and other decoction to take.
Diuretic and swelling
Yi Mu Cao belongs to the liver, pericardium, and bladder meridian, and can treat edema caused by water and stasis. It is often combined with Eupatorium and Imperatae root to treat blood heat and stasis caused by bloody stranguria and hematuria. It is often used with Shiwei, Akebia, and Plantago Compatibility.
Yi Mu Cao side effects
Yi Mu Cao is a traditional Chinese medicine. Allergic reactions or side effects may occur in clinical use. There are the following types:
1. Overdosage or misuse will lead to some poisoning reactions, including sudden general fatigue, pain, backache and numbness, and a state of paralysis in the lower limbs.
2. Severe cases will be accompanied by profuse sweating, drop in blood pressure, or even collapse, rapid and increased breathing, and some individuals will have respiratory paralysis.
3. In the case of low back pain, hematuria, etc., poisoning of pregnant women can cause miscarriage.
Motherwort uses

Decoction
When Yi Mu Cao decoction is taken orally, the usual dosage is 9-30g; if fresh products are used, the dosage is 12-40g.
Made into powder or pill
Yi Mu Cao Ke Li
Chinese patent medicine name. As a blood regulating agent, it has the effect of promoting blood circulation and regulating menstruation. Indications: Irregular menstruation and postpartum lochia caused by blood stasis. Symptoms include less menstrual flow, dripping, and prolonged postpartum hemorrhage; postpartum incomplete uterine involution can be seen in the above syndromes.
Motherwort tablet/paste/capsule
Promote blood circulation and regulate menstruation. It is used for irregular menstruation and postpartum lochia caused by blood stasis. Symptoms include less menstrual flow, dripping uncleanness, and prolonged postpartum hemorrhage; postpartum incomplete uterine involution can be seen in the above syndromes.
Compound Motherwort Capsules
Regulating menstruation and activating blood circulation, dispelling blood stasis and promoting regeneration. Used for menorrhagia, hypomenorrhea, prolonged menstruation caused by blood stasis, and lochia caused by postpartum incomplete uterine involution.
Yi Mu Wan
Promoting qi and blood circulation, regulating menstruation and relieving pain. It is used for less menstrual flow, postpartum miscarriage, blood clots, lower abdomen pain, less menstrual pain, and postpartum lochia caused by qi stagnation and blood stasis.
Make tea
Motherwort Tea
Use motherwort 20g, green tea 1g, soak in water repeatedly to drink. It has the effects of removing stasis and promoting regeneration, promoting blood circulation and regulating menstruation, diuresis and detumescence. It is suitable for dysmenorrhea, internal damage and congestion, edema, chronic nephritis, irregular menstruation and other diseases.
Porridge
Motherwort Red Date Egg Custard
Boil motherwort first, boil for about 20 minutes to filter out the concoction, then add red dates to the concoction, beat in eggs, then cook for ten minutes, eat eggs, red dates and drink soup. It has the effects of invigorating blood and nourishing blood, diuresis and swelling, and is suitable for irregular menstruation and other diseases.
External use
When Yi Mu Cao is used externally, take appropriate amount of fresh motherwort, mash it and apply it externally.
How to choose Yi Mu Cao?
Look
A good Yi Mu Cao has a darker color and each section has flowers on it. This kind of motherwort shows that it is harvested in the mature season, and the medicinal effect is the strongest.
Smell
Good Yi Mu Cao has a strong smell and a strong taste of traditional Chinese medicine. You can smell the medicine with a light fan.
Touch
We can touch some with our hands. Good motherwort is relatively dry and soft. It will not break when you rub it with your fingers, and it feels a little sticky.
How to buy Yi Mu Cao?
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