Coltsfoot

 

Botanical Name: Tussilago farfara

Other Names: Coughwort, assfoot, horsefoot, foalfoot, bull's-foot, horsehoof, colt-herb, clayweed, cleats, dove-dock, dummyweed.

Family: Compositae

Part used: Dried flowers and leaves

Constituents: Pyrrolizadine alkaloids, bitter glycoside, tannins, mucillage, inulin, phosphoric acid, citric and malic acid, several other sugars, zinc.

 

Traditional Application of Coltsfoot in Herbal Medicine:

Expectorant, anti-tussive, anti-spasmodic, demulcent, anti-catarrhal, diuretic, emollient, pectoral, diaphoretic, tonic, antiasthmatic

 

Indications of Coltsfoot

• Chronic and Acute Bronchitis,
• Irritating coughs,
• Whooping cough and Asthma

According to Mrs Grieve (1977 in 'A Modern Herbal'),

The botanical name, Tussilago, signifies 'cough dispeller,' and Coltsfoot has justly been termed 'nature's best herb for the lungs and her most eminent thoracic.' The smoking of the leaves for a cough has the recommendation of Dioscorides, Galen, Pliny, Boyle, and other great authorities, both ancient and modern, Linnaeus stating that the Swedes of his time smoked it for that purpose.

Pliny recommended the use of both roots and leaves. The leaves are the basis of the British Herb Tobacco, in which Coltsfoot predominates, the other ingredients being Buckbean, Eyebright, Betony, Rosemary, Thyme, Lavender, and Chamomile flowers. This relieves asthma and also the difficult breathing of old bronchitis. Those suffering from asthma, catarrh and other lung troubles derive much benefit from smoking this Herbal Tobacco, the use of which does not entail any of the injurious effects of ordinary tobacco.

 

Most commonly it is used as an exract or tincture added with other chest herbs such as Elecampagne, Horehound, and others.