Dr. Josh Axe is on a mission to provide you and your family with the highest quality nutrition tips and healthy recipes in the world...Sign up to get VIP access to his eBooks and valuable weekly health tips for FREE! A unique herb native to the Mediterranean, white horehound is a very potent anti-inflammatory, … Experts like Kirsten Shanks, a nutritionist, naturopath and herbalist, also say that,  “Over time we have developed a ‘bitter reflex’ which upon recognizing the taste on the tongue begins to stimulate and tonify organs of digestion including the stomach, liver, gallbladder and pancreas.” (8). When it comes to herbal remedies, white horehound herb stands right up there. You may think you’ve never had horehound before. Bring a good handful of horehound and a cup of water to the boil. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) Horehound is given for digestive complaints as a crude herb at a daily dose of 4.5 g and as a pressed juice of the herb at 30 to 60 mL. Evidence is limited on these medicinal uses. Horehound is one of those plants that thrives in poor soil – dry and sandy does the trick. Marrubiin (the volatile oil) has an LD50 of 370 mg/kg when administered orally to rats. Horehound’s ability to improve saliva and gastric juice output makes it very helpful for increasing the appetite. Horehound also is effective as an appetite stimulant because bitters usually stimulate the stomach to produce acids that cause a desire to eat. Dosages of M. vulgare depend on each individual person and his or her health concerns. (2) The specific flavonoids that can be found in the plant include apigerin, apigerin 7-glycoside, luteolin, luteolin 7-glycoside, quercetin 3-glycoside, and quercetin 3-rhamnoglycoside. It is also widely recommended by practitioners of herbal medicine to help relieve muscle cramps and swelling, including the pain and swelling associated with menstrual cramps. The plant has oval leaves covered with white, woolly hairs, and bears small, white flowers. (9). used traditionally as an expectorant and continues to find a place in cough lozenges and cold preparations. This herb can grow in a lot of different climates. For some people, symptoms of motion sickness can result from the movement of travel by car, boat or plane. The plant was also used for patients with respiratory problems. Other names for this herb include houndsbane, marrubium, eye of the star, seed of Horus, marvel, and bulls’ blood. The leaves and flower tops of the horehound have long been used in home remedies as a bitter tonic for the common cold. Horehound has the ability to induce sweating, helping the body to eliminate toxins, … Leaves and flowers should be harvested at the peak of blooming, and they can be used fresh or dried. Check with your doctor before using horehound medicinally if you are currently taking medication or have any ongoing health conditions, especially a heart condition, diabetes or low blood pressure. Select one or more newsletters to continue. Motion sickness will typically go away when the motion stops. However, the use of horehound for … As with other plants, horehound’s positive effects on health are a result of its natural plant compounds. Simply pour boiling water over a teaspoon or two of the leaves. The horehound herb is one of them. Horehound's flavor, a cross between menthol and mint, makes it useful as a tea or flavoring for cough drops and candies. Horehound plants have an interesting history of medicinal uses. It acts as an expectorant as it loosens phlegm in the chest. Simmer the concoction until the syrup thickens. It is a perennial, aromatic herb of the mint family. If you have fresh or dried leaves, then you can make horehound tea. (11) Bitter herbs like M. vulgare have a long history of use as a digestive tonic as well as an appetite stimulant. The alkaline diet has been in the limelight recently, with everyone from ... Caralluma fimbriata has been consumed in Indian cultures for thousands of years. When used externally, white horehound is a treatment for ulcers and wounds that exude pus or that are slow to heal. This furry plant is known for its medicinal qualities and has been utilized as a household tonic for centuries. So you know it’s a plant, but are you looking for a more specific horehound definition? Stir well as it comes to the boil and boil for five minutes to hard ball stage. So what exactly makes horehound a medicinal herb? White Horehound: If you're like me and the other 300 million people around the globe who suffer from asthma, white horehound is about to be your new best friend. Black horehound (Ballota nigra) is the smellier relative of white horehound. The leaves of the M. vulgare plant are crinkled and have soft fine hairs. As I mentioned, it contains naturally occurring plant compounds called diterpenes. This is just one of many impressive horehound benefits. When your food is broken down in optimal fashion, you’re much less likely to suffer from digestive complaints like indigestion and gas. Before any surgery, it’s recommended to stop taking M. vulgare at a minimum of two weeks prior to surgery day. Caralluma Fimbriata for Appetite Suppression & Weight Loss: Does It Work? Plus using it topically has been known to cause contact dermatitis for some. Horehound is one of the bitter herbs sometimes included in Passover meals. (6) It’s bitter flavor makes it an excellent choice for improving digestion since plants that taste bitter have been shown to help in managing dyspepsia also known as indigestion or upset stomach. To make the taste more pleasant, and also to help fight a cough, add some raw honey and a squeeze of lemon juice. It is not recommended to ever take this herb in large quantities because this can cause vomiting. (12). It is also sometimes used as a flavoring. are clickable links to these studies. Let it steep for at least five minutes before removing the leaves and make sure not to drink it too hot. Top 10 Vitamin B5 Foods (Pantothenic Acid), Top 20 Anti-Inflammatory Herbs and How to Use Them. White horehound relaxes the bronchi and eases congestion. Stems can be steeped for tea or as a tincture. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. The strong flavor is used in cough drops, candy and liqueurs. Horehound may not be pretty or taste good, but it's very effective at relieving coughs and respiratory congestion - November 17, 2020 Native people have said that plants grow where they are needed, so if you have persistent pesky weeds in your yard, it might be … One of white horehound uses as a folk remedy is to relieve pain. These are two more good reasons why it is a great natural cough reliever. You can actually still find horehound candies being sold to this day! Horehound is mainly a medicinal herb rather than a culinary one. Available for Android and iOS devices. Horehound has been used as a vasodilator, diaphoretic, diuretic, and treatment for intestinal parasites. Horehound is an herb in the mint family. It is considered a good border plant. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) (13) If you’re feeling unsure about what dosage to take for a particular health concern, it’s always a good idea to consult with a certified herbalist for guidance. Horehound is a classic herb often associated with a variety of therapeutic actions. The taste of bitter herbs actually helps to increase the production of saliva and gastric juices. M. vulgare is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women. The expectorant activity of white horehound has been verified by experiments performed in 1976. More specifically, its major active chemical compound is a diterpene called marrubiin. (1) Read on to learn all about how this bitter herb has been used for years and continues to be used for all kinds of common health problems. Well first, ... We know that inflammation is at the root of most diseases, and ... Horehound Plant Origin and Chemical Compounds. Marrubiin, one of the compounds in horehound,... Continue Reading The flowers as well as all of the plant’s parts are used for medicinal purposes. Horehound tea is a great herbal blend for the many nasty flu and cold symptoms. Horehound has been used traditionally as an expectorant and continues to find a place in cough lozenges and cold preparations. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 2 Feb 2021), Cerner Multum™ (updated 3 Feb 2021), ASHP (updated 29 Jan 2021) and others. (4), Research has also shown that horehound has both antispasmodic and analgesic (pain-relieving) effects. In vitro studies have also demonstrated that M. vulgare essential oil appears to have antibacterial, antifungal and anti-cancer properties. Horehound is native to Europe and Asia and has been naturalized to other areas, including the US. This means once it is planted it will return year after year. It now is used primarily as flavorings in liqueurs, candies and cough drops. It is thought to relieve asthma symptoms, calm sore throats, and lessen coughing caused by a cold or influenza. White horehound helps protect your immune system and is said to be helpful in treating diabetes, eliminating indigestion and gastrointestinal problems.. Horehound may even help prevent certain types of cancer. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been any scientific research to date, but black horehound has been used as a traditional remedy for motion sickness. In addition, extracts of the plant were used for the treatment of intestinal parasites and as a diaphoretic and diuretic. An excellent herbal soak is the same as drinking a cup of tea, but for the outside of your body. You can use fresh or dried versions to make homemade cough drops, syrups and teas. Historically, it was also used to make candies. But many people who commonly deal with motion sickness are curious about natural ways to improve their queasy feelings. (16). For a tasty old-time cough syrup, slice 3 lemons and place them in a pan with honey and a bit of horehound leaves and flowers. Horehound tea addresses the symptoms of the common cold and improves intestinal health and digestive issues. Large doses may induce cardiac irregularities. In recent times, some of the top makers of herbal cough drops and cough syrup include horehound in their formulations, which is no surprise since it is said to be one of the oldest known cough remedies! ... Do you know some of the best vitamin B5 foods? When you have bronchitis, the tubes that carry air to your lungs (bronchial tubes) are inflamed. The most common use of horehound is as a flavoring for cough drops and syrups. Along with foods like endive and horseradish,  horehound is believed to be one of the Bible’s bitter herbs. But some say that the the best quality is grown in the intense desert heat. Today, your best move is to take a good supplement that contains a wide variety of antioxidants and a balanced supply of nutrients. Honey, Lemon & Horehound. Sometimes, the stems are included … The recommended dosage is one to two milliliters as a tincture. Our team aims to be not only thorough with its research, but also objective and unbiased. But food amounts of white horehound while nursing are likely OK. Horehound can be combined with elecampane, angelica, or hyssop for excellent results. The variety of horehound used in the manufacture of horehound candy is common horehound, or Marrubium vulgare. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. Take an infusion, tincture, syrup, or suck on horehound candy. It has a particular affinity for both the digestive and respiratory system. Cowslip is another powerful expectorant good for loosening old phlegm and easing dry coughs. There is not currently any standard range of doses established. Horehound drops are bittersweet hard candies made with sugar and an extract of M. vulgare. Some studies suggest that in people with type 2 diabetes, taking horehound tea before meals may slightly lower blood sugar levels, improve appetite, dyspepsia, or indigestion after regular use for three weeks. Appetite Stimulant. The earliest records of the use of this plant come from Egypt and ancient Rome. (14) Black horehound is not recommended for people with Parkinson’s disease or schizophrenia. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information -. Our team includes licensed nutritionists and dietitians, certified health education specialists, as well as certified strength and conditioning specialists, personal trainers and corrective exercise specialists. White horehound is used as a traditional folk medicine ingredient and administered in tea and lozenge form. You will now find it growing across many countries, with a large population now found across the continents of America. Horehound (Marrubium vulgare), otherwise known as white horehound or common horehound, is a perennial herb.It is a member of the mint family, native to large areas of Europe, Northern Africa and parts of South and Central Asia. Horehound Digestive Tea. It has small white flowers. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. The leaves can be dried and used to make tea and the leaves can be stored for up to a year in a jar. It now is used primarily as flavorings in liqueurs, candies and cough drops This Dr. Axe content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure factually accurate information. (7), Why are bitter foods helpful to healthy digestion? Horehound is a perennial plant. Avoid use. Sometimes people struggle with a lack of appetite for various reasons including stress, pregnancy, hypothyroidism, metabolic problems, liver disease and more. There’s a good reason why this herb is employed in these natural cough remedies. Researchers claim that when horehound is introduced into the body, it is able to handle large amounts of glucose more efficiently, making it a potential solution for diabetics. The powdered leaves have also been employed as a vermifuge and the green leaves, bruised and boiled in lard, are made into an ointment which is good for wounds. For example, horehound beer or ale is an herbal, alcohol-free, soft drink.