Plant Comparison

Hawthorn vs Motherwort

A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.

First plant

Second plant

Plant AHawthornCrataegus monogynaRosaceaeFull monograph →

Plant BMotherwortLeonurus cardiacaLamiaceaeFull monograph →

At a glance

Hawthorn and Motherwort: they share 5 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, cardiovascular / heart health, inflammation (general), …); 3 pharmacological actions in common.

HawthornMotherwort

Constituents23

Pharmacological actions44

Indicated uses67

Safety notes22

Cited sources2117

Indicated uses

Only Hawthorn

Cancer (anticancer research)

Shared (5)

Arthritis / joint painCardiovascular / heart healthInflammation (general)Insomnia / sleeplessnessSkin irritation

Only Motherwort

Menstrual crampsMuscle spasm

Pharmacological actions

Only Hawthorn

Anticancer (preclinical)

Shared (3)

Anti-inflammatoryAntioxidantSedative / sleep support

Only Motherwort

Antispasmodic

Evidence face-off — shared uses

Condition	Hawthorn	Motherwort	Verdict
Arthritis / joint pain	1/10	1/10	Comparable evidence
Cardiovascular / heart health	1/10	2/10	Comparable evidence
Inflammation (general)	1/10	1/10	Comparable evidence
Insomnia / sleeplessness	1/10	2/10	Comparable evidence
Skin irritation	1/10	1/10	Comparable evidence

Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.

Key Constituents

Flavonoids (catechins, quercetin, vitexin) and anthocyanins^{[1, 4]}

Principal cardioprotective and antioxidant polyphenols characterised by chemical profiling of leaf, flower and fruit.

FlavonoidsCatechinsQuercetinAnthocyanins

Oligomeric proanthocyanidins^[4]

Contribute to the vasoactive and antioxidant effects, the basis for extract standardisation.

Proanthocyanidins

Iridoid glycosides (leonurine)^[6]

Leonurine and related iridoid/alkaloid-type constituents are considered the principal cardioactive and uterotonic compounds.

Iridoid glycosidesGlycosides

Flavonoids and phenolic acids^[6]

Antioxidant constituents contributing to the plant's anti-inflammatory activity.

FlavonoidsPhenolic acids

Diterpenes (marrubiin-type)^[1]

Bitter diterpenes, shared with related Lamiaceae bitters, contributing to the traditional digestive and cardiac reputation.

Terpenes / terpenoids

Pharmacological Actions

Anti-inflammatory^{[4, 13, 14, 15]}

Anticancer (preclinical)^[1]

Antioxidant^{[4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]}

Sedative / sleep support^{[13, 14, 15]}

Anti-inflammatory^{[1, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14]}

Antioxidant^{[2, 6, 9, 12, 13, 14]}

Antispasmodic^{[12, 13, 14]}

Antispasmodic (cramp easing)

Sedative / sleep support^{[2, 5, 12, 13, 14]}

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Arthritis / joint pain^{[13, 14, 15]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

Cancer (anticancer research)^[1]Traditional · 2/10

inferred from anticancer action

Evidence: 2

Label: Cancer (anticancer research)

Cardiovascular / heart health^{[13, 14, 15]}Traditional · 1/10

Evidence: 1

Label: Cardiovascular / heart health

Inflammation (general)^{[13, 14, 15]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Inflammation (general)

Insomnia / sleeplessness^{[13, 14, 15]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from sedative action

Evidence: 1

Label: Insomnia / sleeplessness

Skin irritation^{[13, 14, 15]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Skin irritation

Arthritis / joint pain^{[12, 13, 14]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

Cardiovascular / heart health^{[1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14]}Traditional · 2/10

Evidence: 2

Label: Cardiovascular / heart health

Inflammation (general)^{[12, 13, 14]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Inflammation (general)

Insomnia / sleeplessness^{[5, 12, 13, 14]}Traditional · 2/10

inferred from sedative action

Evidence: 2

Label: Insomnia / sleeplessness

Menstrual cramps^{[12, 13, 14]}Traditional · 1/10

Evidence: 1

Label: Menstrual cramps

Muscle spasm^{[12, 13, 14]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

Evidence: 1

Label: Muscle spasm

Skin irritation^{[12, 13, 14]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Skin irritation

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^{[13, 14, 15]}Caution

Generally well tolerated. Hawthorn should not replace prescribed cardiac medications without medical supervision. May potentiate the effects of cardiac glycosides (digoxin), antihypertensive drugs, and coronary dilators. Not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to insufficient safety data. Mild side effects (nausea, dizziness, GI upset) occasionally reported.

Safety note^{[13, 14, 15, 16]}Caution

Duke (2002) rates hawthorn as +++ — one of the most clinically supported cardiovascular herbs. Clinical evidence (score 2) supports its use for decreasing cardiac output (NYHA functional Stage II heart failure), as recognized by Commission E. Key activities include vasodilation, positive inotropic effects, and antioxidant protection of vascular tissue. Dose: 160–900 mg standardized leaf/flower extract (containing 18.75% oligomeric proanthocyanidins) daily. Duke emphasizes that hawthorn should not replace conventional heart failure therapy, and therapeutic effects may take 4–8 weeks to emerge. Mild interactions with cardiac glycosides (digitalis) are possible (Duke, 2002).

Safety note^{[12, 13, 14]}Caution

Contraindicated in pregnancy (uterine stimulant). Avoid in heavy menstrual bleeding. May enhance anticoagulant and antihypertensive drug effects. Avoid in thyroid disorders. Generally well tolerated in normal doses for short-term use.

Safety note^{[12, 13, 14, 15]}Caution

Duke (2002) rates motherwort as ++ and notes hypotensive, cardiotonic (negative chronotropic), anti-aggregant, and sedative activities at the experimental level (score 1). The plant is traditionally used for heart palpitations, hypertension, and menstrual regulation in European herbalism. Duke emphasizes strong safety caution: motherwort has documented oxytocic (uterine-stimulating) activity and is strictly contraindicated in pregnancy. It may also enhance the effects of cardiac medications and sedatives (Duke, 2002).

External Ids

Gbif: 9220780

Wikidata: Q161511

Gbif: 5341389

Wikidata: Q161130

Botanical Description

Small deciduous tree or large shrub, densely thorny, with deeply lobed, glossy leaves (more deeply cut than midland hawthorn). Clusters of small, five-petalled white flowers with a strong, musky scent appear in spring ('May blossom'), followed by small red berries (haws), each containing a single seed (nutlet) - the origin of the species name monogyna.^[4]

Height: 5-10 m

Habit: Small deciduous, densely thorny tree or large shrub

Leaves: Deeply lobed, glossy (more deeply cut than C. laevigata)

Flowers: Clusters of small, five-petalled white, strongly musky-scented flowers

Stem: Densely thorny branches; grey, fissured bark on older wood

Root: Deep, spreading root system

Fruit: Small red berry (haw), containing a single seed

Flowering Period: May

Tall, upright perennial herb with deeply palmately lobed lower leaves (giving a lion's-paw appearance, the source of the genus name) and progressively less-divided upper leaves. Small, pink to pale purple, spiny-toothed, two-lipped flowers are borne in dense whorls up the square stem.^[1]

Height: 50-150 cm

Habit: Tall, erect perennial herb

Leaves: Deeply palmately lobed lower leaves; less-divided, three-lobed upper leaves

Flowers: Small, pink to pale purple, spiny-toothed, two-lipped, in dense whorls up the stem

Stem: Square (typical of the mint family), erect, often reddish

Root: Fibrous rootstock

Fruit: Small nutlet (typical of Lamiaceae)

Flowering Period: June-September

Habitat

One of the commonest hedgerow and scrub trees of Europe, growing in hedgerows, woodland edges, scrub and pasture on a wide range of soils; native to Europe, North Africa and Western Asia.^[4]

Grows on waste ground, roadsides, hedgerows and near old dwellings; native to Central Asia and southeastern Europe and long naturalised across Europe and North America.^[1]

Harvesting

Flowers are picked as they open in May, leaves are picked with the young flowering shoots, and the ripe red berries (haws) are gathered in autumn after the first frosts soften them slightly; all three parts are traditionally combined.^[4]

Parts: Flower, Fruit, Leaf

Season: Flower and leaf in May; fruit in autumn

The flowering aerial parts (leaf, stem and flower) are cut in summer as the plant comes into flower, and dried in a warm, shaded, airy place.^[1]

Parts: Flower, Leaf, Stem

Season: Summer, at flowering

Traditional Uses

Common hawthorn shares the same long cardiovascular and calming tradition as midland hawthorn, used across European herbal medicine as a heart tonic for mild circulatory complaints, palpitations and nervous tension, and remains one of the most clinically studied cardiovascular botanicals.^[4]

Motherwort has a long European and Asian herbal tradition, reflected in its name, as a gynaecological and cardiac tonic, traditionally used for heart palpitations and nervous cardiac complaints, menstrual irregularities and cramps, and as a calming nervine for anxiety and to ease childbirth and postpartum recovery.^{[1, 6]}

Preparations

Standardised extract^[4]

Leaf-and-flower extract standardised to flavonoid or procyanidin content, taken as tablets or capsules; the best-studied clinical form.

Infusion^[1]

Dried flowering herb infused in hot water as a traditional cardiac-support and calming tea.

Tincture^[11]

Tincture 1:5 in ethanol 45% V/V of the dried flowering herb; single dose 2-6 ml, three times per day per the EU herbal monograph. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

Dosage

Standardised extract^[13]

The EU herbal monograph on Crataegus spp., folium cum flore gives dry extracts in divided daily doses of 240-900 mg (single dose 80-450 mg) or, for one quantified extract, 570-1750 mg daily (single dose 190-350 mg), in adults and elderly. If symptoms persist longer than 2 weeks a doctor should be consulted, and hawthorn is never used as a substitute for prescribed heart medication without medical supervision. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

Herbal tea^[13]

The EU herbal monograph gives 1-2 g of the comminuted leaf and flower in 150 mL of boiling water as an infusion, up to 4 times daily (maximum 6 g daily), in adults and elderly. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

Infusion^{[1, 11]}

The EU herbal monograph gives a single dose of 1.5-4.5 g of the comminuted herb for tea preparation, for a daily dose of 3-10 g, in adults and elderly; a 1:5 tincture in 45% V/V ethanol at 2-6 mL three times daily and a liquid extract at 2-4 mL three times daily are also listed. If symptoms persist longer than 4 weeks a healthcare practitioner should be consulted. Not recommended under 18 years. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

References

REF-0785, REF-0786, REF-0787, REF-1709, REF-1710, REF-1711, REF-1712, REF-1713, REF-1714, REF-1715, REF-1716, REF-1717

REF-0860, REF-0861, REF-0862, REF-0863, REF-0864, REF-0865, REF-0866, REF-0867, REF-0868, REF-0869

Drug Class Interactions

Safety note^{[17, 18, 19]}Caution

Drug Class: cardiac-glycosides

Mechanism: Hawthorn has its own positive effect on the heart (a Cochrane review found it improves heart-failure symptoms and exercise tolerance) and shares P-glycoprotein handling with digoxin, so combining it with digoxin or other cardiac-glycoside heart drugs should be supervised even though a controlled study found no major change in digoxin levels.