In recent years (and especially so in the last few months) many of us may be struggling to keep our hearts light. Whether due to illness, loss, relationship struggles, or the weight of world events, it's easy to feel disheartened. Luckily, mother nature is always there for us and we can turn to our plant allies when our hearts feel heavy. Today, I’d like to share three of my favorite herbs for the heart: Hawthorn, Motherwort and Rose. These powerful herbs can deeply nourish and heal our hearts on a physical, emotional and spiritual level.
Hawthorn - A Protector of The Heart
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) is a quintessential tonic for the heart used by herbalists to strengthen the cardiovascular system’s structure and function. It’s nourishing and toning properties make it an excellent herb for a wide range of heart-related concerns. Packed with protective flavonoids, hawthorn can help lower blood pressure, regulate cholesterol levels, and support those with conditions such as angina, arrhythmia and congestive heart failure. In herbalism it is considered a cardiac tropho-restorative which means it restores normal function to the cardiovascular system.
Hawthorn is rich in antioxidant flavonoids that can have major benefits for cardiovascular health. Antioxidants can prevent and repair oxidative damage to the capillary walls of the cardiovascular system. While the berries are commonly used in herbal preparations, the leaves and flowers are also valuable. In fact, the flowers have the highest flavonoid content and the leaves have the highest levels of Oligomeric Pro-anthocyanidins (OPCs). OPCs are a sub-type of flavonoid and have several beneficial effects on cardiovascular health such as preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol which is a key factor in the development of atherosclerosis. In addition, they improve endothelial function by increasing nitric oxide thus helping to relax blood vessels and increase blood flow. Finally, OPCs have anti-inflammatory properties which are beneficial for heart health. Personally, I like to include the entire plant (berry, leaf, flower, thorn) in my hawthorn preparations when possible.
Though hawthorn is widely known for its benefits for the physical heart, it offers deep emotional and spiritual healing as well. A warm cup of hawthorn tea can soothe the pain of grief and heartbreak, helping to open the heart to forgiveness. Energetically, hawthorn acts as a gatekeeper of the heart, its sharp thorns serve as a reminder to set boundaries and to protect ourselves from negativity.
As a relaxing nervine, hawthorn helps stressed out people from putting more pressure on their already burdened hearts. I like to include hawthorn leaf and flower into my night-time tea blends to relax and unwind. In traditional Chinese Medicine, hawthorn berries are used for digestive stagnation and poor lipid metabolism.
I consider Hawthorn to be a “food as medicine” herb which can be ingested daily as restorative for the heart. Its tart berries are delicious and can easily be transformed into a delightful syrup, cordial, elixir or jam. There’s no restriction on the long-term use of hawthorn and it is typically used over a period of at least 2 months for heart conditions.
How to use Hawthorn:
- Hawthorn Tea: Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tablespoon of crushed hawthorn berries and/or leaf and flower. Let steep 5 minutes and strain.
- Hawthorn Tincture: Take 2-5 mL of tincture diluted in water, three times daily.
- Hawthorn syrup, elixir, jam, cordial: Take as needed.
Motherwort- The “Lion-Hearted” One
Motherwort (Leonorus cardiaca) is a member of the mint family that can grow up to 10 feet tall. Native to Europe and Asia, this herb was used in these areas for female reproductive disorders and heart symptoms. Its name means “Lion-Hearted” referring to its action on the heart and its ability to give strength and courage, as well as for the shape of its leaves that are thought to resemble a lion’s tail.
Motherwort, like hawthorn, is a cardiac restorative that balances and nourishes the cardiovascular system. The 16th century herbalist Gerard noted motherwort’s effectiveness in treating cardiac weakness. It also has an affinity for the nervous system, making it beneficial in cases of heart palpitations, nervousness, emotional reactivity, and high blood pressure. English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper in 1652 emphasized Motherwort’s ability to make the mind cheerful:
“There is no better herb to take melancholy vapours from the heart, to strengthen it, and make a merry, cheerful, blithe soul than this herb…therefore Latins called it Cardiaca. Besides, it makes women joyful mothers of children, and settles their wombs as they should be, therefore we call it Motherwort.”
A centering herb for maiden, mother and crone.
Motherwort is a prickly plant and can help with the “prickly” stages of a woman’s life when hormonal shifts can exacerbate emotional swings. For example, as a bitter nervine, motherwort can be helpful for premenstrual symptoms like anger, emotional reactivity as well as for bloating, cramping and suppressed menses. The ancient Greeks gave motherwort to pregnant women suffering from anxiety as well as for new mothers feeling overwhelmed.
In menopause it can be indicated for hot flashes, anxiety with palpitations, and emotional swings. It can also lower blood pressure and reduce the cardiovascular system risk posed by declining estrogen levels. Motherwort is a great herb for stressed out and high-strung people who don’t have much time to care for themselves (hello mothers!) Energetically, it is a centering herb that helps to balance the heart and emotions.
Due to its bitter, acrid taste, I usually use motherwort as a tincture. The most potent preparation is made with the fresh flowering plant in alcohol. However, a tea can be made for those who are used to intense herbal bitterness.
How to use Motherwort:
- Motherwort Tea: Infuse 1 tablespoon per cup of boiling water. Can be very bitter, best to take small sips at a time!
- Motherwort Tincture: take 2-5 mL of the fresh flowering herb tincture 2-3 times a day in a little water.
Rose - A Flower of Love
Roses have long been symbols of love and their connection to the heart is ancient. For centuries, rose has been used to uplift the spirit, evoke healing, and inspire romance. It is a plant teacher that opens the heart and guides us into deeper levels of devotion, compassion, self-love and connection to others.
Beautiful, sensual and fragrant, rose belongs to the same family as hawthorn and is rich in polyphenols that help protect the heart against inflammation. As a gentle astringent, rose is used to tone and tighten inflamed tissues thus helping to heal both internal and external wounds. Rose has been traditionally used as an herbal medicine for ailments such as stomach aches, diarrhea, diabetes, pain and chronic inflammatory diseases.
As an aphrodisiac, rose works by moving stagnant blood in the pelvic region, promoting warmth, movement, and increased sensuality. The mere scent of rose can invoke euphoric and romantic feelings which are essential elements for a healthy sex life.
Rose, like hawthorn and motherwort, has a calming effect that soothes both the heart and mind. Aromatherapy with rose oil can help ease anxiety and depression, with studies showing that simply inhaling its fragrance can lower blood pressure, slow the breathing rate, and improve blood oxygenation.
Rose essential oil has one of the highest frequencies of all essential oils, resonating at 320 MHz. For comparison, lavender essential oil resonates at 118MHz and sandalwood at 98MHz. A healthy human body resonates between 62-72MHz. There’s no doubt that rose is a very high vibration plant! Rose acts deeply on a psycho-spiritual level and in my opinion, this is where rose shines as a medicine for the emotional heart.
Rose is powerful for healing heartache, grief, and depression. Its petals can gently soften the pain of a broken heart. Roses can help release stagnant emotions and promote comfort, self-love, and tenderness during times of emotional distress. Rose allows us to be vulnerable and soft, while its thorns empower us to find balance and strength. Rose can help heal past traumas and open the heart for forgiveness. Adding a little rose to any herbal formula will uplift those suffering from anger, insecurity, grief and sadness.
Both wild and cultivated roses are valuable for medicinal use but, like most things, the wild roses tend to be more potent. In either case it’s best to choose the most fragrant flowers and ensure that they are unsprayed (florist roses are often heavily treated with chemicals). Damask Rose is the species most renowned for its fine fragrance, and it is a source of rose oil for perfumery. Rose flower petals and rosehips (fruit) are the parts commonly used in herbal preparations.
How to use Rose:
- Rose Petal Tea: Add 1-2 teaspoons of crushed dried rose petals to a cup of hot water.
- Tincture or Elixir: take 3-5 mL three times a day in a little water.
- Rose Essential Oil: Use diluted rose essential oil as a body oil or in a bath. Also useful for short-term relief of migraines and painful menstruation.
- Rose honey: fresh petals infused in honey- a delectable treat!
So, there you have it, three powerful herbs for the heart: hawthorn, motherwort and rose. These herbs offer a beautiful way to nourish our hearts physically, emotionally and spiritually, helping us to stay resilient through life’s challenges. I hope you found this information useful and that it empowers you to take your healing into your own hands using plants. Hopefully the next time you feel disheartened you’ll remember to reach for these herbal allies to soothe, uplift and heal.
References:
Bone MCPP, F., FNIMH, DipPhyto, Bsc(Hons), Kerr, & Mills MCPP, F., MA, Simon. (2013). Principles and practice of phytotherapy.
Culpeper, N. (2022). Culpeper’s Complete Herbal Culpeper, nicholas. Microcosm Publishing.
Gerard, J., & Woodward, M. (2015). Gerard’s herball. The Noverre Press.
Holt, A. (2021a, January 7). Five herbs to comfort the heart. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. https://www.mainegardens.org/blog/five-herbs-to-comfort-the-heart/
Mohebitabar, S., Shirazi, M., Bioos, S., Rahimi, R., Malekshahi, F., & Nejatbakhsh, F. (2017). Therapeutic efficacy of rose oil: A comprehensive review of clinical evidence. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine, 7(3), 206–213.
Romm, A. J. (2018a). Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health. Elsevier.