Horehound is a valuable plant in the treatment of bronchitis where there is a non-productive cough. It combines the action of relaxing the smooth muscles of the bronchus while promoting mucus production, and thus expectoration. It is also beneficial in the treatment of whooping cough.
Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Viable Herbal Solutions is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
History and Uses:
Horehound
is a perennial plant with small white flowers, and it may be found growing in the wild throughout
Europe and Asia. The genus name, Marrubium, is thought to be derived
from marrob, the Hebrew word for "bitter juice," and it is believed that Horehound
was one of the original bitter herbs of the Jewish Passover tradition. The common
name, Horehound, comes to us from the old English, har hune, meaning "downy plant." The part of this plant used medicinally is the above ground portion, and it
was reportedly first used by the physician, Galen, in ancient Rome, who
recommended it as a therapy for coughs and other respiratory ailments. Like
Galen, Nicholas Culpepper, the seventeenth-century English pharmacist, commented that
it was helpful for a cough and also useful in helping remove stubborn phlegm
from the lungs. Similarly, American Eclectic physicians of the nineteenth century remarked
on its value as a medicinal plant not only for coughs and asthma, but also for
menstrual complaints. Horehound was used by Navaho Indians to help women through
childbirth. Horehound is considered an antispasmodic, a stimulant and a vermifuge. The
primary chemical 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. It
has a relaxing effect on heart tissue and is used by some herbalists as a circulatory
tonic to help lower blood pressure. It also acts on the hormonal system and
is thought to normalize heavy or scanty menstrual flow. Horehound has been used in the treatment of whooping
cough and is thought to be valuable in the treatment
of bronchitis, where there is a non-productive cough. It combines the action
of relaxing the smooth muscles of the bronchus, while promoting mucus production,
and thus expectoration. The bitter action is said to stimulate the flow and secretion of bile from the
gallbladder, thereby aiding digestion. Horehound has also been used externally
to promote the healing of wounds, eczema, shingles and dog bites. The essential
oils in Horehound are believed to help dilate the arteries and relieve lung congestion. The
extreme bitterness helps drive away worms. Horehound is said to increase circulation to
the lungs, expel mucus and cool infection.
Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) capsules, two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.
Contraindications:
Horehound is not advisable for pregnant women (uterine stimulant), nursing mothers, younger children or adults over sixty-five years of age. Those with heart problems or stomach ulcers should not use Horehound without consulting with a physician. Do not overuse; larger doses may cause diarrhea. Women with menstrual problems should consult a physician before using Horehound, as it may increase menstrual flow. Because Horehound acts as a bitter and may increase production of stomach acid, individuals with gastritis or peptic ulcer disease should use it cautiously.
Capsule Information:
Our Horehound supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" capsules. (click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs. |
