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Name
Horehound.
Botanical Name:
Marrubium
vulgare
Other
Names
White
Horehound
Family:
Lamiaceae
Parts
Used
Dried
Leaves
Description
White horehound is a perennial aromatic
herb native to the region between the Mediterranean Sea and Central Asia.
Commercial Horehound comes mainly from Hungary and also from France,
Italy, and Morocco
Overview
and Mythology.
Horehound has been used as an
expectorant cough remedy since ancient Egyptian times . Its name comes
from old English, har hune, meaning 'downy plant'., due to the
white hairs that cover horehound leaves, and hound, because it was used
in ancient Greek medicine to treat bites from rabid dogs .
The genus name, Marrubium, is thought to be derived from marrob, the
Hebrew word for 'bitter juice'. It
is believed that Horehound was one of the original bitter herbs of the
Jewish Passover tradition.
Horehound is used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine to treat
acute or chronic bronchitis and whooping cough
Distribution
Naturalized
in North America and used by the American Indians.
The Cherokee use horehound as a cold remedy, cough medicine, and throat
aid and prepare a cough syrup by combining the infusion with sugar.
The Navajo prepare the infusion to treat sore throat. Horehound was used
by Navaho Indians to help a woman through childbirth.
The Kawaiisu prepared hot or cold aqueous infusions of the leaves and
flowering tops to treat coughs and colds.
Constituents.
Essential
oil - (Pinene, Limonene, Camphene)
Diterpene alcohols - (marrubinol, marrubiol, peregrinol, phytol, silareol, vulgarol
Sterols.
Saponins,
Bitter lactone,
Alkaloids (Betonicine,Choline; Stachydine),
Tannin,up to 7%
Mucilage,
Bitter principle (Marrubin-. the bitter Diterpene principle, Marrubiin
and the volatile oil contribute to the expectorant action by stimulating
secretion from the respiratory tract's mucous membranes. Also increases
bile flow.
Has cardiac actions. It is anti-arrhythmic in therapeutic doses, but
pro-arrhythmic in large doses. )
Vitamin C.
Flavonoids (Apigenin, Luteolin, Quercetin, and their Glycosides)
Potassium
Dosage
Recommendations
4.5 g per day of cut herb
Medicinal Actions
Antispasmodic, Antitussive Appetizer, Bitter Tonic,
Cholagogue, Choleretic, Demulcent, Diaphoretic, Diuretic,
Emmenagogue, Expectorant.
Applications.
Tea, Tincture, Capsules, Syrup, Lozenges
Used
in the following internal illnesses
Asthma, Bronchitis, Catarrh, Colds, Cough, Croup,
Dyspepsia, Laryngitis, Loss of apetite, Paratyphoid, Sore Throat, Tachycardia, Tuberculosis,
Typhoid, Whooping Cough, Worms
It is also an ingredient in various
multi-herb "liver and bile teas
The essential oils in Horehound help dilate the
arteries and relieve lung congestion.
The extreme bitterness helps drive away worms.
Horehound increases circulation to the lungs, expels mucus, and
cools infection.
External Medicinal Use
Dog Bites, Eczema, Shingles, Wounds
Applications.
Topical Applications: Made into an oil for applying
to wounds. Compress for
wounds, eczema, shingles and dog bites.
Energetics.
Bitter, Pungent, Cool, Dry
Contra indications and side effect
None known.
Very
large doses may be a laxative
Use During Pregnancy And Lactation.
Not recommended during pregnancy. No restrictions
known during lactation
Interactions
with Other Drugs.
None known.
Doctrine of signatures
Fine hairs similar to the appearance of the bronchial
lining.
Bitter taste suggesting bile and liver.
Astrology.
Influenced by the planets Mercury and Mars. And
affects Gemini.
Chakra
Affects and stimulates 3rd and 4th chakra.
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