Tussilago farara

	Common Name	Colt's Foot
	Family	ASTERACEAE or COMPOSITAE Sunflower family
	Other Names	Coughwort
	Parts Used:	Leaves and stems of mature plant
	Constituents	Mucilage, alkaloid, saponins, tannin (especially in the leaf), zinc, potassium, calcium.

Colt's Foot Remedies

How to prepare

Water infusion(tea), tincture, or syrup

Colt's Foot Medicinal Properties & Benefits

Coltsfoot is used as a respiratory disinfectant, expectorant, and cough suppressant. Since the days of ancient Greece and Rome, coltsfoot has been used to relieve asthma, coughs and bronchial congestion.

History and Traditions

In former times a replica of the coltsfoot flower was to be found above the door of pharmacies in Paris, an emblem of the effectiveness of their medicine. "Demulcent, expectorant and tonic. One of the most popular of cough remedies. It is generally given together with other herbs possessing pectoral qualities, such as Horehound, Marshmallow, Ground Ivy, etc. Pliny recommends the dried leaves and roots of Coltsfoot to be burnt, and the smoke drawn into the mouth through a reed and swallowed, as a remedy for an obstinate cough, the patient sipping a little wine between each inhalation. To derive the full benefit from it, it had to be burnt on cypress charcoal."^{(Grieve, M.,213)}

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Colt's Foot Medicinal Uses

^[387] Coltsfoot hinders the body's production of an inflammatory protein, which narrows the air passages and prompts asthma attacks.

(Duke, James A, Ph.D. )

Expectorant, sore throat

^[388] You will notice by reading the characteristics of coltsfoot that it is both emollient and expectorant. It will soothe the tissues of the throat as well as cause phlegm to be expelled.

(Dawson,Adele )

Stop smoking, soothe lungs

^[679] Coltsfoot helps soothe inflamed lung tissue, loosen secretions, and tones the lungs.

(White,Linda B., M.D. )

Side Effects:

Coltsfoot contains PAs (pyrrolizidine alkaloids), about one-third that of comfrey, which is low and is generally considered safe, unless used in the absence of common sense. Trials in Sweden found that a decoction boiled for 30 minutes contained no detectable pyrrolizidine alkaloids while further research indicates that the abundant mucilage in the plant made the minute amount of alkaloid in the plant safe. There is medical controversy about this plant; it is best to avoid excessive consumption.^{Mabey, Richard ,48}

Plant Description

Koehler's Medicinal-Plants 1887
Tussilago farara

This hardy perennial grows wild in wet areas, along stream banks or pastures and in almost any loamy and limestone soil. The botanical name, Tussilago means cough dispeller and common name coltsfoot refers to the shape of the round leaves. Coltsfoot, unlike most plants does not flower while it is in leaf. The large radial yellow blossoms come in early spring, and the cordate shaped leaves when the flowers begin to wilt.

Folklore, Myths and Legends

Astrology:

The plant is under Venus. The fresh leaves, or juice, or a syrup made thereof, is good for a hot dry cough, for wheezings and shortness of breath. ^{Nicholas Culpeper}

Medicinal herbs : Properties and Uses

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Common Name Listing

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A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z

Common Typos: Colt Foot colts foot

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Certified Organic Coltsfoot leaf

(Wildharvested) Tussilago farfara Origin- Germany At one time, smoking dried coltsfoot leaves was a recommended treatment for coughs, bronchit

Certified Organic Coltsfoot extract