Marrubium vulgare (White Horehound) Flashcards
(9 cards)
How do you recognise White Horehound?
- A herbaceous perennial member of the
Lamiaceae (Mint) not to be confused with Black Horehound. - Name horehound derives from Old English meaning white and hairy, which describes the plant. Flowers are white.
- Native to Eurasia & North Africa. Occurs as an invasive weed in other parts of the world including the UK.
- Used as an ingredient in cough sweets.
What are White Horehound main constituents?
Constituents:
* Diterpene bitters – marrubiin & marrubinol – expectorant.
* Flavonoids – luteolin, apigenin, vitexin – anti-inflammatory.
* Tannins.
* Saponins expectorant.
* Phenyl propanoids – anti-inflammatory
What family is White Horehound?
Lamiaceae.
What is White Horehound good for?
Summary: Uses echo that of Hyssop so for coughs, sore throats and possibly asthma; quite bitter but an expectorant. Might be more strongly expectorant than Hyssop. Less aromatic than Hyssop.
Actions:
* Expectorant.
* Bitter.
* Spasmolytic.
* Diaphoretic.
* Possibly emmenagogue.
* Historically used as a vermifuge.
Applications:
* Infective respiratory conditions with both productive & unproductive coughs.
* Whooping cough.
* Croup.
* Cattarhal conditions.
* Sore throats.
* Dyspepsia & anorexia.
* Julian Barker mentions its use by Duraffort in tachycardia
What is White Horehound ‘s Latin name?
Marrubium vulgare
What parts of White Horehound do you use?
Parts used: aerial parts
What safety issues might White Horehound have?
Safety: generally seen as being safe
What useful research does White Horehound have?
External link:
* There is little useful research on Marrubium…
* Marrubium vulgare L.: A Phytochemical and Pharmacological Overview – more of an exploration of chemistry than anything
else. Does not really examine traditional uses
What remedies might you use White Horehound in?
Dosage 20 – 30ml/week 1:3 tincture. Bendle tends not to use it as instead uses Hyssop
