MOTHERWORT MOUNTAIN ASH. 189 



like, white, axillary, stalked, solitary or two borne on 

 one peduncle. Taste, astringent, slightly aromatic, and 

 faintly acrid. 



MOTHERWORT. Leonurus cardiac a, Linn. 



N.O. Labiate. 

 Part used Herb. 



Action Antispasmodic, tonic, nervine, emmenagogue. 

 Is especially valuable in female weakness and hysteria, 

 acting as a tonic to the generative organs and allaying 

 nervous irritability. It promotes the flow of the menses, 

 and generally braces up the uterine membranes. It will 

 be found useful as a simple tonic in heart diseases or 

 weakness and in recovery from fevers when other tonics 

 are inadmissible. The infusion of i ounce of herb to a 

 pint of boiling water is taken in wineglassful doses. 



Preparations Powdered herb: Dose, -1 drachm. 

 Solid extract : Dose, 5- 15 grains. Fluid extract : Dose, 

 ^-i drachm. 



Distinctive character Stems square. Leaves 

 stalked, palmately five-lobed, the lobes trifid at apex, 

 coarsely serrate, reticulate veined, the veinlets prominent 

 beneath, with slender curved hairs ; the upper leaves 

 trifid, entire, and wedge-shaped below. Flowers 

 pinkish, in whorls in the axils of the upper leaves ; 

 calyx teeth rigid and sharp. Taste, very bitter. 

 Odour, none. 



MOUNTAIN ASH. Pyrus aucuparia, Gaertn. 



N.O. Rosocea. 



Syn. Sorbus aucuparia, Linn., Mespilus aucuparia,\Veb. y 

 Sorbus, Rowan Tree. 



Parts used Fruit, bark. 



Action Astringent. The ripe berries furnish an 

 acidulous and astringent gargle in sore throat and in- 



