Tussilago farfara (Coltsfoot)

Question 1

How do you recognise Coltsfoot?

Answer 1

• A perennial herbaceous member of the
  Asteraceae.
• Lemon coloured flowers arise from rhizomes before the leaves, early in spring. Leaves are large, heart shaped & downy underneath.
• The plant colonises disturbed ground and because of the rhizomes is seen as an invasive weed.
• Native to Europe, Asia & N. Africa

Question 2

What are Coltsfoot’s main constituents?

Answer 2

Constituents:
* Mucilages & inulin.
* Phytosterols – sitosterol & sigmasterol..
* Flavonoids –based on kaempferol, rutin & hyperoside.
* Sesquiterpenes – tussilagone, bisabolene, farfaratin
* Tannins.
* Essential oil.
* Pyrrolizidine alkaloids – including senicionine, senkirkine, integerrimine & seneciphylline

Question 3

What family is Coltsfoot in?

Answer 3

Asteraceae

Question 4

What is Coltsfoot good for?

Answer 4

Summary: Good for dry and smoker’s coughs, but also productive coughs. Used for bronchitis and whooping cough.

Actions:
* Expectorant.
* Anti-catarrhal.
* Demulcent.
* Anti-tussive.
* Antispasmodic.

Applications:
* Coughs generally.
* Bronchitis.
* Whooping cough.
* Asthma.
* Weiss suggests that coltsfoot is useful in providing symptomatic relief from emphysema and silicosis.

Question 5

What is Coltsfoot ‘s Latin name?

Answer 5

Tussilago farfara

Question 6

What parts of Coltsfoot do you use?

Answer 6

Parts used: flowers & leaves (usually separately).

Question 7

What safety issues might Coltsfoot have?

Answer 7

Safety: current advice – do not use due to presence of toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. This may change with further research

Question 8

What useful research does Coltsfoot have?

Answer 8

External links:
* A review of the ethnobotanical value, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity and quality control of Tussilago farfara L. (coltsfoot) – huge document from 2021 that tends to ignore traditional usage in preference for assessing for novel uses.

• Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Tussilago farfara from Bulgaria –from 2015. Says levels of toxic PAs is low – but makes no clear assessment re safety

Question 9

What remedies might you use Coltsfoot in?

Answer 9

None at the moment.
Dosage 20 – 50ml week 1:3 tincture. Often made into syrups.
Has been smoked (leaves) & made into confectionary.
Bendle thinks the flower makes better medicine.