Motherwort
Motherwort suppliers and sourcing guide
Motherwort is Leonurus cardiaca, a perennial in the mint family native to Europe and Central Asia, and the trade item is its flowering aerial parts. The tops are cut at flowering, dried and sold cut or powdered, or extracted with water and ethanol into tinctures and dry extracts. A related species, Leonurus japonicus, is the Chinese herb yi mu cao, so the species belongs on the specification.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Leonurus cardiaca · common motherwort · Leonuri cardiacae herba · motherwort herb
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of motherwort
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Cut herb
Dried flowering tops and leaves in tea-cut pieces for infusions and extraction.
Powder
Milled herb at a stated mesh for capsules and blends, not standardized.
Liquid extract
Hydroalcoholic or glycerin tincture sold by herb-to-menstruum ratio.
Dry extract
Ratio extract on a declared carrier, sometimes with a stated total flavonoid content.
Organic
Herb from certified organic cultivation, with the certificate tied to the lot.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity
- Macroscopy, microscopy and an HPTLC fingerprint to confirm Leonurus cardiaca and distinguish it from Leonurus japonicus and other mint-family herbs.
- Marker assay
- Total flavonoids (often expressed as hyperoside) by UV or HPLC when the spec sets a minimum; the method should be named.
- Foreign matter and moisture
- Stems, other plants and loss on drying, which reflect harvest and drying quality.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella.
- Pesticide residues
- Multi-residue screen for cultivated herb and organic claims.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep cut herb, powder and dry extracts sealed in lined bags or drums in a cool, dry, dark area off the floor, since moisture and warmth invite mold and caking and light fades color and aroma. Reseal opened containers promptly. Shelf life or a retest date is set by the supplier's specification, and identity, moisture and microbiology are usually repeated before using aged stock.
Lots and expiry dates
Flavonoid content and the stem-to-leaf ratio change with harvest timing and drying, so record origin, harvest date and assay for each lot. Note the species on every receiving record so Leonurus japonicus is not mixed into Leonurus cardiaca stock.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Leonurus cardiaca, with the common names common motherwort and motherwort, as an approved herbal name classed under Schedule 1 (plant or plant material).
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's Traditional Chinese Medicine Ingredients monograph lists a different species, Leonurus japonicus, under the Chinese name yi mu cao and the pharmaceutical name Herba Leonuri.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Motherwort suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking motherwort suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell motherwort? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of motherwort can brands buy?
Common forms include cut herb, powder, liquid extract, dry extract and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for motherwort include?
Expect identity, marker assay, foreign matter and moisture, heavy metals, microbiology and pesticide residues, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should motherwort be stored?
Keep cut herb, powder and dry extracts sealed in lined bags or drums in a cool, dry, dark area off the floor, since moisture and warmth invite mold and caking and light fades color and aroma. Reseal opened containers promptly. Shelf life or a retest date is set by the supplier's specification, and identity, moisture and microbiology are usually repeated before using aged stock.
What is the regulatory status of motherwort?
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Leonurus cardiaca, with the common names common motherwort and motherwort, as an approved herbal name classed under Schedule 1 (plant or plant material). Health Canada's Traditional Chinese Medicine Ingredients monograph lists a different species, Leonurus japonicus, under the Chinese name yi mu cao and the pharmaceutical name Herba Leonuri.
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