Herbs & Herbal Remedies @ Green Papaya

For Cough, Colds, and Flu

Family: Labiatae; (includes Mint)

Genus and Species: Marrubium vulgare

Also known as: Hoarhound, white horehound, marrubium

Parts used: Leaves and flower tops

Horehound has been a popular herbal expectorant and cough remedy for almost 2,000 years. Even herb-medicine skeptics grant its safety and effectiveness. Then out of the blue in 1989, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned it from over-the-counter cough remedies, claiming it was ineffective. The action left herbalists shaking their heads. Worse yet, the FDA decreed another expectorant “effective,” over the objections of many scientists.

Roman Poison Antidote and More

Horehound was first used medicinally in ancient Rome as an ingredient in the multi-ingredient (and ineffective) poison antidotes known as theriaca. Medieval Europeans generalized from this use and came up with the belief that the herb provided protection from witches’ spells.

The Roman physician Galen was the first to recommend horehound for coughs and respiratory problems, and it’s been used as an expectorant ever since.

German abbess/herbalist Hildegard of Bingen considered it one of the best herbs for colds.

England’s John Gerard wrote: “Syrup made of the green fresh leaves and sugar is a most singular remedy against cough and wheezing of the lungs.”

Seventeenth-century English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper wrote that in addition to curing “those that have taken poison … a decoction of the dried herb taken with honey is a remedy for those that are short-winded, have a cough, or are fallen into consumption …. It helpeth to expectorate tough phlegm from the chest.”

Good for the Lungs

Early settlers introduced horehound into North America, where it was a popular cough, cold, and tuberculosis remedy. Folk herbalists also considered it a laxative, menstruation promoter, and treatment for hepatitis, malaria, intestinal worms, and menstrual problems.

America’s 19th-century Eclectic physicians prescribed it for coughs, colds, asthma, intestinal worms, and menstrual complaints.

Most contemporary herbalists recommend horehound only for minor respiratory problems: coughs, colds, and bronchitis.

The FDA order removing horehound from cough and cold remedies may say more about the watchdog agency’s shortcomings than it does about the herb’s.

Expectorant - Horehound contains a chemical (manubiin), which Russian and German studies show has phlegm loosening (expectorant) properties. In Europe, the herb has been used for decades in a large number of cough syrups and lozenges, It has been widely used in the United States as well. Even herb conservative Varro Tyler, Ph,D, calls it “an effective expectorant.”

The FDA horehound ban followed the recommendation of an agency advisory panel, which decreed only one expectorant, guaifenesin, safe and effective, Ironically, many lung experts consider guaifenesin ineffective.

The FDA order covers only horehound preparations marketed as cough remedies, The herb is still available in bulk and in some sore-throat products, As this book goes to press, herbalists say they plan to challenge the FDA ruling.

Intriguing Possibilities - Animal studies performed in Europe show horehound opens (dilates) blood vessels, which suggests possible value in treating high blood pressure, Other animal studies show that in small amounts, horehound helps normalize irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmias), but in large amounts can cause them,

Rx for Horehound

For a cough-remedy infusion, use ‘12 to I teaspoon of dried leaves per cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes, Drink up to 3 cups a day, To offset its bitter taste, add sugar or honey.

In a tincture, take ¼ to ½ teaspoon up to three times a day.

Horehound should not be given to children under age 2. For older children and people over 65, start with low-strength preparations and increase strength if necessary,

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.