Mother Herbs: Plants that Symbolize Protection and Love
|
Time to read 7 min
In every culture, there are plants that carry the spirit of the mother. They nourish, protect, soothe, and strengthen - not just the body, but the heart and spirit too. These herbs have long been used by midwives, grandmothers, and folk healers as gentle yet powerful allies during times of transition, grief, growth, and healing.
If you’re mothering others, being mothered, or learning to mother yourself, these plants offer the kind of quiet support that doesn’t ask for anything in return.
This Mother’s Day, we’re honoring four botanical companions that embody care, protection, and unconditional love: Motherwort, Calendula, Lemon Balm, and Hawthorn.
As a mother myself - and as the daughter of a mother who carried more than her share - I’ve come to understand that mothering takes many forms. I was raised by a strong Japanese woman who had to hide parts of herself and me to survive. That quiet strength, that fierce protection, shaped me.
Now, as a mother to my own child, I see how the small acts - the quiet listening, the meals made with intention, the care given when sick - become their own kind of healing.
Through Eclectic, I’ve had the honor of mothering in a different way: offering plant-based support to those navigating life with its stress, loss, and healing. Every product we make carries that intention, may you feel held, supported, and never alone on your path.
Motherwort | Leonurus cardiaca
Known as: “The Mother’s Herb”
Traditionally used for: Postpartum recovery, menstrual support, emotional distress
Supports: The heart (both physical and emotional), stress response, hormonal balance
Energetic quality: Fierce, grounding, and unwavering - like a protective maternal hug when you need it most
Take heart, dear one
With a name that literally means “mother’s herb,” Motherwort has long been considered a botanical embodiment of maternal strength and compassion. In centuries past, midwives turned to this herb to ease the physical and emotional intensity of childbirth, menopause, and moon-time transitions. But her gifts extend far beyond the womb.
Motherwort is a fierce yet tender plant ally. She doesn’t coddle—but she shows up, steady and unshakable, like the kind of mother who sits beside you through your tears and simply says, “You’re not alone.” Her slightly bitter flavor reminds us that true love isn’t always sweet—it’s strong, grounding, and capable of holding us through the storm.
Energetically, Motherwort is a remedy for the anxious heart. It’s often turned to when emotions rise up and overflow—grief, panic, heartbreak, the kind of ache that makes your chest feel tight and your spirit unmoored. In herbal traditions from Europe to Asia, it has been used to calm heart palpitations, ease tension, and support the nervous system through life’s most tender transitions.
If you’re navigating postpartum shifts, emotional upheaval, or the quiet fatigue that comes from endlessly caring for others, Motherwort offers the kind of support that feels ancestral—rooted, fierce, and deeply feminine.
In today’s fast-paced world, she reminds us to pause, to breathe, and to return to our center. To mother ourselves, even as we care for everyone else.
Mother Herbs: Herbs that symbolize Mother Energy
Calendula | Calendula officinalis
Known as: “The Golden Healer”
Traditionally used for: Wound healing, skin repair, lymphatic support
Supports: Skin health, gentle detox, emotional comfort
Energetic quality: Warm, nurturing, and luminous - like the sunshine that coaxes healing from within
Sunlight for the skin - and the soul.
Calendula is a flower that feels like a hug from the sun. With its golden-orange petals and long history as a healing plant, it has been beloved by herbalists, gardeners, and healers for centuries. In folk medicine, it was planted near the doorstep to protect the home, used in salves and teas to mend wounds, and infused in oils to soothe the skin. Its warmth is more than visual—it's energetic. Calendula carries the kind of light that gently coaxes healing without forcing it.
Often called “poor man’s saffron,” this humble flower has always been accessible—growing in garden beds, kitchen corners, and wild patches alike. It’s known for its ability to calm inflammation, repair tissues, and encourage lymphatic flow, making it a go-to herb for physical healing. But its deeper gift may be the way it helps us process emotional hurts too—especially those we’ve tucked away in quiet corners of the heart.
Calendula is soft yet resilient. She teaches us that healing can be both beautiful and slow, that tending to ourselves doesn’t always need to be dramatic or loud. It can look like warm hands, a balm gently applied, or a moment of stillness under the sun.
For mothers, caregivers, and anyone who gives more than they receive, Calendula whispers a reminder: you are worthy of the same care you offer others.
Lemon Balm | Melissa officinalis
Known as: “The Elixir of Life”
Traditionally used for: Calming anxiety, improving mood, settling digestion
Supports: Nervous system, emotional balance, clarity and lightness
Energetic quality: Sweet, uplifting, and lovingly calming — like laughter after tears
A balm for the weary heart and wandering mind.
Lemon balm is one of those herbs that seems to radiate joy the moment you touch it. Its bright, lemony scent lifts the spirit almost instantly - like stepping outside into the first warm breeze of spring. But beneath that cheerful aroma lies a deep well of healing, especially for the nervous system and the heart.
Historically known as the “elixir of life,” lemon balm has been used since ancient times to calm restlessness, soothe anxiety, and bring gentle clarity during emotional overwhelm. In medieval Europe, it was a favored herb of herbalist-physicians like Paracelsus, who believed it could renew life itself. Monks grew it in monastery gardens to quiet the mind during prayer, and mothers used it to settle fussy children or aching hearts.
Lemon balm’s medicine is subtle but profound. It doesn’t sedate or suppress - it simply reminds the body and mind of a gentler rhythm. It’s particularly supportive during times of transition: grief, hormonal changes, seasonal shifts, or emotional fatigue. Think of it as a botanical lullaby for the nervous system.
To work with lemon balm is to invite in levity without bypassing depth. She brings lightness where things have grown too heavy, and offers peace without demanding silence. She’s the friend who makes you laugh through tears, the mother who rubs your back without needing to fix everything.
In times of stress, burnout, or heartache, lemon balm reminds us: there is still sweetness. There is still joy. There is still healing waiting in the simple act of pausing to breathe.
Hawthorn | Crataegus spp.
Known as: “The Guardian of the Heart”
Traditionally used for: Heart health, circulation, grief and heartbreak
Supports: Cardiovascular wellness, emotional resilience, sacred boundaries
Energetic quality: Protective, steady, and strong — like love that holds firm without closing off
Guardian of the heart- physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Hawthorn is one of the great heart protectors in herbalism, both in a literal and symbolic sense. For centuries, it has been used to support cardiovascular health - strengthening the heart muscle, improving circulation, and gently regulating rhythm. But even more than that, hawthorn holds a sacred place in folklore as a guardian of boundaries, love, and emotional courage.
In Celtic tradition, hawthorn trees were believed to be portals between worlds, often growing at the edges of sacred places. They were both revered and respected - never to be cut without permission, never to be taken lightly. That reverence lives on in the way herbalists approach the plant today: as an ally of deep healing and protection.
Hawthorn is the herb you reach for when your heart is tender - after loss, heartbreak, or grief that’s settled into the body. Its berries, leaves, and flowers are all used in herbal medicine, offering a full-spectrum embrace that tones and soothes the heart both physically and emotionally.
Energetically, hawthorn teaches boundaries rooted in love. It allows us to soften without breaking, to remain open without becoming overwhelmed. It helps us stay connected to others while also honoring the sanctuary within ourselves.
To mother is to hold a thousand joys and worries in the same heart. Hawthorn reminds us that it’s okay to feel deeply and still be strong. It whispers, “You can protect your heart and keep it open.” That’s not weakness - it’s wisdom.
Embrace the Heartfelt Support of Motherwort Extract
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) has been cherished for centuries in herbal traditions for its calming and supportive properties. Traditionally used to soothe the nervous system, it may help alleviate stress-induced anxiety and promote emotional balance. Its gentle nature makes it a favored ally for those seeking natural ways to support their cardiovascular and nervous systems.
Beyond its calming effects, Motherwort has been employed to support women's health, particularly during menstrual cycles and menopause. Its potential to ease menstrual discomfort and promote hormonal balance has made it a staple in herbal apothecaries.
The Author: Christine Alstat
Meet Christine Alstat, an internationally acclaimed naturopath and herbalist of Japanese heritage, whose profound expertise in plants and natural health has garnered recognition worldwide. As the dedicated owner of Eclectic Herb, Christine seamlessly intertwines her deep-rooted commitment to the Earth with her business, cultivating a space where her passion for plants is ever in full bloom. Her influential voice on herbal wisdom resonates across the globe through publications and panels, reflecting a lifetime commitment to nurturing both the plant kingdom and the earth.
