Papaya - a world class meat tenderizer, natural digestive aid, prevents ulcers, and also a soft contact lense cleaner.Horehound The Safety Factor
There have been no reports of adverse reactions to horehound in humans. But because horehound in large doses may cause cardiac arrhythmias, those with heart disease should avoid it.
Horehound’s traditional use as a menstruation promoter has not been confirmed scientifically, but it would be prudent for pregnant women to exercise caution.
For otherwise healthy non-pregnant. non-nursing adults who do not have heart disease, horehound is considered relatively safe in amounts typically recommended.
Horehound should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with a physician. If horehound causes minor discomforts, such as stomach upset or diarrhea, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience unpleasant symptoms or if a cough does not improve significantly in two weeks. If a cough brings up brown, black, or bloody phlegm, consult a physician immediately.
A Furry Pest of a Plant
Horehound is a spreading, pleasantly aromatic, perennial with square annual stems that reach about 18 inches. The leaves are rounded, wrinkled, and deeply veined with tiny white flowers that develop at the stem/leaf stalk junctions. The entire plant is covered with soft hairs, giving it a woolly appearance and a grayish-white cast.
A self-seeder, horehound grows so easily that it may become a pest. It needs little water, tolerates poor soil, and does best in full sun but tolerates partial shade.
Plant seeds just under the surface in either spring or fall.
Thin seedlings to 9-inch spacing.
Horehound does not bloom until its second year, but you can harvest leaves and top growth after one growing season.
In the soil, the herb exudes a musky odor some people dislike, but as the plant dries, the odor disappears.