The herbal and health information provided in this Web Site is intended as historical information only. The historical uses are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Nothing listed within this Web Site should be considered as medical advice for dealing with a given problem. You should consult your health care professional for individual guidance for specific health problems. Persons with serious medical conditions should always seek professional care.
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) is a perennial plant found in waste places, in upland fields and pastures, and along roadsides in coastal areas of the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe. A fibrous, spindle-shaped rootstock sends up numerous bushy, square, downy stems. The above-ground portion of this plant is typically used. Horehound was used by Navaho Indians to help a woman through childbirth. 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. The common name, Horehound, is from the old English, har hune, meaning 'downy plant'.
The primary properties of Horehound are considered to be antispasmodic, appetizer, bitter tonic, cholagogue, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, and expectorant. This herb is typically available in the following forms: tea, tincture, capsules, syrup, and lozenges. The essential oils in Horehound help dilate the arteries and relieve lung congestion. The extreme bitterness helps drive away worms. Horehound also increases circulation to the lungs, expels mucus, and cools infection.
Primary constituents of Horehound include essential oil (pinene, limonene, camphene), diterpene alcohols (marrubinol, marruciol, silareol), sterols, saponins, bitter lactone, alkaloids (betonicine, stachydine), tannin, mucilage, bitter principle (marrubin), and Vitamin C.
Horehound is, above all, a support remedy for coughing, and also for bronchial problems generally. Additionally, it has shown to aid in the restoration of the normal balance pfd secretions by various body organs & glands. It has shown positive results in treating nervous heart conditions, and to calm overall heart action.
Caution: large doses may be a laxative.
(This herbal ingredient can be purchased from Viable Herbal Solutions in powdered and capsule form as part of our Single Herb sales program, and in capsule form as part of our Combo Herbs sales programs.)
