While most people rely on classic pharmaceutical formulas when it comes to health care, the idea of herbology as an alternative treatment still has lots of fans. Herbs are widely used in traditional medical practices across the globe, and some herbal combinations are staple ones. In Eastern Europe, such a staple formula is the combination of three medicinal botanicals – valerian root, hawthorn, and motherwort. Let’s learn more about them and their triple action.
Each medicinal herb has its properties, but when several botanicals are combined, their action can differ from the initial scope of properties. Herbal combinations, when they are thoroughly tested and provide predictable effects, can be more potent than each herb itself. This fact contributes to the popularity of combined herbal products in cosmetics, medicine, and nutrition. However, in some cases, such combinations can be less effective because some herbs can neutralize useful properties of others. Besides, do not forget that the natural origin of the components of the product doesn’t guarantee its proven safety. So, the formulation is not a guarantee itself, but in some cases, a combo of ingredients can be more effective than each of them separately.
Yet, let’s get back to our three botanical ‘heroes’, valerian root, motherwort, and hawthorn. Why do they gain popularity?
Valerian root is a traditional sedative herb that is known in herbalist practices as an anxiety-reducing and calming plant. However, its clinical research* shows that valerian provides modest, inconsistent improvements in subjective sleep quality and mild anxiety, though objective measurements often fail to show a big difference compared to a placebo.
Hawthorn is rich in flavonoids and procyanidins, which make it a traditional medicinal herb for heart support. Studies by the NIH** say that it provides modest, clinically meaningful benefits for certain cardiovascular conditions like mild-to-moderate hypertension.
As for motherwort, in classic herbalism, it is considered a bridge connecting the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Clinical research on the efficiency of motherwort is limited, but provides promising evidence for mild cardiac neurosis and anxiety.
All three herbs have been widely used in Eastern European traditional healthcare practices in the form of extracts and elixirs.
Therefore, these three herbs are often used in combination drops to enhance their possible effects. Yet, when it comes to real use, everything depends on the concentration of each herb (in an extracted form), and on the levels of solvent used. Typically, combination drops with valerian, motherwort, and hawthorn contain herbal tinctures in the ratio 1:5 or 1:10, extracted with 70% ethanol, like in Tricardin tincture. The results of this combination are embodied in mild cardiotonic effects, mild hypotensive effects and calming effects.
Although the effects of the synergy are beneficial, you shouldn’t forget about cautions related to medication interactions.
Because of the sedative effect of both valerian and motherwort, you should use them with pharmaceutical sedatives with caution.
Hawthorn and motherwort dilate blood vessels; therefore, they shouldn’t be combined with other cardiac meds, especially hypotensive ones.
Some clinical reviews show the ability of valerian and motherwort to reduce the blood’s ability to clot, so their use with anticoagulants can be risky.
That’s why if you take such medications, it is critically important to consult your medical advisor before using the tinctures made of these herbs.
Herbs can be health-supportive, but only when they have an evidence base and are designed in a product with strict formulation and clear labeling. Besides inspecting the instructions, it is better to check the country of origin of herbal components, their concentration, and expiration dates. Herbal drops are not the ultimate medication for cardiovascular treatment; that’s why you can consider them rather a supportive medication if your therapist approves their use.
MBTPG/MF