Coltsfoot is a particularly well-favored item
in the herbal medicine chest. It is so widely
favored as a remedy for coughs that it even shares
its botanical name, Tussilago (meaning “cough
relieving”) with the Latin word for cough,
tussis.
Tussilago farfara is more commonly
known as coltsfoot and horse’s hoof due
to the shape of its leaves, which resemble the
shape of a horse’s hoof. Another interesting
name you might run across when researching this
herb is son-before-father. This interesting name
came about because of the way the plant’s
flowers bloom before any leaves appear.
Coltsfoot offers expectorant
and healing properties to respiratory maladies.
There was a time when the most effective way to
treat a persistent cough was by smoking the appropriate
medicinal herbs, cigarette style. Coltsfoot was
one of the standard herbs used in these medicinal
cigarettes and is still a standard addition to
medicinal cigarettes today.
Tea and syrup made from the
coltsfoot plant were once standard remedies for
asthma and bronchitis. A candy known as coltsfoot
rock was an important medicinal formulation for
treating coughs, especially for children. Perhaps
the candying process sweetened the herbal remedy
enough so it would appeal to children, much like
the sweetly flavored cough drops used today.
Highly valued for its medicinal
action, pharmacies in France once painted pharmacy
doors with the coltsfoot flower. This attractive
painting worked as a pharmaceutical logo, directing
shoppers into the store, back in the days before
common people learned to read.
The leaves of the coltsfoot
plant contain a high level of zinc, which has
anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties. Fresh
leaves were once crushed and applied externally
to speed healing for abcesses and boils.
There are questions of toxicity
associated with coltsfoot flowers. For this reason,
please use this herb only under the care of a
reputable herbal practitioner.
Reference
Kruger, Anna; An Illustrated Guide to Herbs: Their
Medicine and Magic; A Dragon’s World Book;
Limpsfield and London; 1993
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