Plant Comparison
Motherwort vs Rosemary
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.
At a glance
Motherwort and Rosemary: both belong to the Lamiaceae family; they share 6 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, cardiovascular / heart health, inflammation (general), …); 3 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Motherwort | Rosemary | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthritis / joint pain | 1/10 | 3/10 | Stronger for Rosemary |
| Cardiovascular / heart health | 2/10 | 3/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Inflammation (general) | 1/10 | 8/10 | Stronger for Rosemary |
| Menstrual cramps | 1/10 | 3/10 | Stronger for Rosemary |
| Muscle spasm | 1/10 | 3/10 | Stronger for Rosemary |
| Skin irritation | 1/10 | 3/10 | Stronger for Rosemary |
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
Leonurine and related iridoid/alkaloid-type constituents are considered the principal cardioactive and uterotonic compounds.
Antioxidant constituents contributing to the plant's anti-inflammatory activity.
Bitter diterpenes, shared with related Lamiaceae bitters, contributing to the traditional digestive and cardiac reputation.
The volatile oil, dominated by 1,8-cineole and camphor, gives the characteristic aroma and much of the antimicrobial activity.
Potent antioxidant diterpenes considered largely responsible for rosemary's strong preservative and antioxidant activity.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from sedative action
inferred from antispasmodic action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anticancer action
inferred from neuroprotective action
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from antispasmodic action
inferred from antispasmodic action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
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.
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).
Culinary use is entirely safe. Essential oil should not be ingested in large amounts; avoid during pregnancy in medicinal doses. May trigger epileptic seizures in predisposed individuals at high doses. May interact with anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs.
Duke (2002) does not appear to include a dedicated entry for rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus / Rosmarinus officinalis) as a primary herb entry in the section searched; however, rosemary is referenced throughout the text in relation to antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of its key compounds (carnosol, rosmarinic acid). Commission E (KOM) approves rosemary for dyspeptic complaints and externally for rheumatic conditions and circulatory problems.
External Ids
Botanical Description
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]
Evergreen, woody shrub (Lamiaceae), 1-2 m tall, with dense, needle-like, dark green, aromatic leaves, white-felted beneath. Small, pale blue to violet, two-lipped flowers are borne in the leaf axils.[1]
Habitat
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]
Native to the Mediterranean coast, growing on dry, rocky, sunny slopes and coastal scrub; widely cultivated as a culinary and medicinal herb worldwide, tolerating poor, well-drained soils and drought.[1]
Harvesting
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]
Leafy sprigs are cut throughout the year (the plant is evergreen), though essential-oil content is often considered highest just before or during flowering; leaves are stripped from the stem and dried, or used fresh.[1]
Traditional Uses
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]
Rosemary has an ancient Mediterranean reputation as a memory and circulation tonic ('rosemary for remembrance'), a digestive carminative, and an antiseptic for minor wounds. Commission E approves it for dyspeptic complaints internally and for rheumatic conditions and circulatory problems externally; modern research on rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid supports antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and cognitive-supportive activity.[1]
Preparations
Dosage
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.
Commission E approves rosemary for dyspeptic complaints (internal use) and, externally, for rheumatic conditions and circulatory problems; typical internal use is roughly 2-4 g dried leaf as tea, up to three times daily. Educational reference only, not a prescription; avoid concentrated essential oil internally and in pregnancy/epilepsy.
References
Drug Class Interactions
Not documented
Lookalikes Review
References & Sources
- Fierascu, R.C., Fierascu, I., Ortan, A., Fierascu, I.C. and others (2019) 'Leonurus cardiaca L. as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: An Update of the European Medicines Agency Assessment Report (2010)', BioMed Research International, 2019, pp. 4303215. doi:10.1155/2019/4303215 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/4303215 - Wojtyniak, K., Szymanski, M. and Matlawska, I (2013) 'Leonurus cardiaca L. (motherwort): a review of its phytochemistry and pharmacology', Phytotherapy Research, 27(8), pp. 1115-1120. doi:10.1002/ptr.4850 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.4850 - Kuchta, K., Volk, R.B. and Rauwald, H.W (2013) 'Stachydrine in Leonurus cardiaca, Leonurus japonicus, Leonotis leonurus: detection and quantification by instrumental HPTLC and 1H-qNMR analyses', Pharmazie, 68(7), pp. 534-540. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23923634/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23923634/ - Kuchta, K., Volk, R.B. and Rauwald, H.W (2012) 'Leonurus japonicus, Leonurus cardiaca, Leonotis leonurus: a novel HPLC study on the occurrence and content of the pharmacologically active guanidino derivative leonurine', Pharmazie, 67(12), pp. 973-979. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23346757/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23346757/ - Koshovyi, O., Raal, A., Kireyev, I., Tryshchuk, N. and others (2021) 'Phytochemical and Psychotropic Research of Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L.) Modified Dry Extracts', Plants (Basel), 10(2), pp. 230. doi:10.3390/plants10020230 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020230 - Angeloni, S., Spinozzi, E., Maggi, F., Sagratini, G. and others (2021) 'Phytochemical Profile and Biological Activities of Crude and Purified Leonurus cardiaca Extracts', Plants (Basel), 10(2), pp. 195. doi:10.3390/plants10020195 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020195 - Sadowska, B., Wieckowska-Szakiel, M., Paszkiewicz, M. and Rozalska, B (2019) 'Molecular Mechanisms of Leonurus cardiaca L. Extract Activity in Prevention of Staphylococcal Endocarditis - Study on in Vitro and ex Vivo Models', Molecules, 24(18), pp. 3318. doi:10.3390/molecules24183318 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24183318 - Kuchta, K., Hladikova, J., Thomsen, M., Nguyen, A.D. and others (2025) 'Phenolic and Iridoid Glycosides from Leonurus cardiaca L. and Their Effects on the alpha, delta, and gamma Subtypes of the PPAR System', Molecules, 30(2), pp. 419. doi:10.3390/molecules30020419 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30020419 - Pereira, O.R., Catarino, M.D., Afonso, A.F., Silva, A.M.S. and Cardoso, S.M (2019) 'Hepatoprotection of Leonurus cardiaca L., Leonurus japonicus Houtt. and Leonurus sibiricus L', Antioxidants (Basel), 8(8), pp. 267. doi:10.3390/antiox8080267 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox8080267 - Kuchta, K., Ortwein, J. and Rauwald, H.W (2014) '1H-qNMR for direct quantification of stachydrine in Leonurus japonicus and L. cardiaca', Fitoterapia, 96, pp. 8-17. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2014.03.023 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2014.03.023 - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (2010) 'Community herbal monograph on Leonurus cardiaca L., herba'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-leonurus-cardiaca-l-herba_en.pdf Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-leonurus-cardiaca-l-herba_en.pdf - Kowalchik, C. and Hylton, W (1998) 'Rodale'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Rodale - Prajapati, N.D., Purohit, S.S., Sharma, A.K. and Kumar, T (2003) 'A Handbook of Medicinal Plants'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=A%20Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Plants - Shang, X. et al (2014) 'The genus Leonurus: traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology', pp. 43--63. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=The%20genus%20Leonurus%3A%20traditional%20uses%2C%20phytochemistry%20and%20pharmacology - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M. and Hosseinzadeh, H (2024) 'Therapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review', Phytotherapy Research, 38(6), pp. 3037-3059. doi:10.1002/ptr.8201 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8201 - Block, K.I., Gyllenhaal, C. and Mead, M.N (2004) 'Safety and efficacy of herbal sedatives in cancer care', Integrative Cancer Therapies, 3(2), pp. 128-148. doi:10.1177/1534735404265003 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735404265003
- de Oliveira, J.R., Camargo, S.E.A. and de Oliveira, L.D (2019) 'Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) as therapeutic and prophylactic agent', Journal of Biomedical Science, 26(1), pp. 5. doi:10.1186/s12929-019-0499-8 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12929-019-0499-8 - Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M. and Hosseinzadeh, H (2025) 'Toxicity and safety of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): a comprehensive review', Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 398(1), pp. 9-23. doi:10.1007/s00210-024-03336-9 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-024-03336-9 - Zhang, L. and Lu, J (2024) 'Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) polyphenols and inflammatory bowel diseases: Major phytochemicals, functional properties, and health effects', Fitoterapia, 177, pp. 106074. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2024.106074 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2024.106074 - Ahmed, H.M. and Babakir-Mina, M (2020) 'Investigation of rosemary herbal extracts (Rosmarinus officinalis) and their potential effects on immunity', Phytotherapy Research, 34(8), pp. 1829-1837. doi:10.1002/ptr.6648 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6648 - Li, T., Wang, W., Guo, Q., Li, J. and others (2023) 'Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) hydrosol based on serotonergic synapse for insomnia', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 318(Pt B), pp. 116984. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.116984 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2023.116984 - Hassani, F.V., Shirani, K. and Hosseinzadeh, H (2016) 'Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) as a potential therapeutic plant in metabolic syndrome: a review', Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 389(9), pp. 931-949. doi:10.1007/s00210-016-1256-0 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-016-1256-0 - Gonzalez-Vallinas, M., Reglero, G. and Ramirez de Molina, A (2015) 'Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) Extract as a Potential Complementary Agent in Anticancer Therapy', Nutrition and Cancer, 67(8), pp. 1221-1229. doi:10.1080/01635581.2015.1082110 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2015.1082110 - Hussain, S.M., Syeda, A.F., Alshammari, M., Alnasser, S. and others (2022) 'Cognition enhancing effect of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) in lab animal studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis', Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 55, pp. e11593. doi:10.1590/1414-431X2021e11593 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-431X2021e11593 - Nematolahi, P., Mehrabani, M., Karami-Mohajeri, S. and Dabaghzadeh, F (2018) 'Effects of Rosmarinus officinalis L. on memory performance, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality in university students: A randomized clinical trial', Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 30, pp. 24-28. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2017.11.004 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2017.11.004 - Ulbricht, C., Abrams, T.R., Brigham, A., Ceurvels, J. and others (2010) 'An evidence-based systematic review of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration', Journal of Dietary Supplements, 7(4), pp. 351-413. doi:10.3109/19390211.2010.525049 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3109/19390211.2010.525049 - Hoffmann, D (2003) 'Medical Herbalism'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Medical%20Herbalism - Moss, M., Cook, J., Wesnes, K. and Duckett, P (2003) 'Aromas of rosemary and lavender essential oils differentially affect cognition and mood in healthy adults', 113(1), pp. 15--38. doi:10.1080/00207450390161903 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1080/00207450390161903 - Petersen, M. and Simmonds, M.S.J (2003) 'Rosmarinic acid', 62(2), pp. 121--125. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Rosmarinic%20acid - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition
Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.