- Region
- Europe
- Origin
- Europe, North Africa and western Asia; naturalised in the Americas and Australia. Marrubium vulgare
Europe · Herb · № 113
Marrubium vulgare
Herb · Europe
White horehound
Marrubium vulgare
A bitter herb traditionally used for coughs with sticky phlegm and bronchitis. In Europe it is recognised as a traditional herbal medicine; clinical evidence is limited.
Safety notes
Large amounts may affect heart rhythm. Avoid in pregnancy.
Preparation
The herb as tea, syrup or in cough sweets. No dosage is given here.
Use in traditions
Horehound was already used by the ancient Egyptians and Romans. Ody notes it as a classic English cough candy. In Australia it has become an invasive weed.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Stimulating expectorant, antispasmodic, bitter digestive, soothing tonic for mucous membranes.
Preparation and amount
Aerial parts.
Western herbalism
Attributed effects
Expectorant, tonic, stomachic, induces sweating, bitter; soothes cough, sore throat and strained vocal cords, breaks up stuck mucus in respiratory infections.
Preparation and amount
Tea: 1–2 tsp per cup, 10–12 min, 1–3 cups a day; lozenges as needed; syrup ½–1 tsp 1–4 times a day; tincture 10–30 drops 1–3 times a day.
Folklore and herbal magic
Symbolic meanings from folk use and modern herbal magic. These are handed-down associations, not effects.
Protection, healing (as tea).
Home, kitchen and folk use
Attributed effects
Purifies the blood and strengthens digestion (in tonic tea).
Preparation and amount
Tonic tea (rosemary, yarrow, horehound, sage, catnip; 1 tbsp to 1½ cups of boiling water, steep 7–10 min; optionally honey).
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Tea (infusion)TinctureSyrup, honey and oxymel