Coltsfoot



tussilago farfara

USE
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.

The botanical name, Tussilago,
signifies 'cough dispeller,' and Coltsfoot
has justly been termed 'nature's best herb
for the lungs and her most eminent thoracic.'
The smoking of the leaves for a cough
has the recommendation of Dioscorides, Galen,
Pliny, Boyle, and other great authorities, both
ancient and modern, Linnaeus stating that
the Swedes of his time smoked it for that purpose.
Pliny recommended the use of both roots and leaves.
The leaves are the basis of the British Herb Tobacco,
in which Coltsfoot predominates, the other
ingredients being Buckbean, Eyebright, Betony,
Rosemary, Thyme, Lavender, and Chamomile flowers.
This relieves asthma and also the difficult
breathing of old bronchitis.
Those suffering from asthma, catarrh and other
lung troubles derive much benefit from smoking
this Herbal Tobacco, the use of which does not entail
any of the injurious effects of ordinary tobacco.

A decoction is made of 1 OZ. of leaves,
in 1 quart of water boiled down to a pint,
sweetened with honey or liquorice, and taken
in teacupful doses frequently.
This is good for both colds and asthma.

Coltsfoot tea is also made for the same
purpose, and Coltsfoot Rock has long been
a domestic remedy for coughs.

A decoction made so strong as to be
sweet and glutinous has proved of great service
in scrofulous cases, and, with Wormwood,
has been found efficacious in calculus complaints.

The flower-stalks contain constituents
similar to those of the leaves, and are directed
by the British Pharmacopceia to be employed
in the preparation of Syrup of Coltsfoot, which
is much recommended for use in chronic bronchitis.

In Paris, the Coltsfoot flowers used to be painted
as a sign on the doorpost of an apothecarie's shop.

Culpepper says:
'The fresh leaves, or juice, or syrup thereof,
is good for a bad dry cough, or wheezing
and shortness of breath.
The dry leaves are best for those who have
their rheums and distillations
upon their lungs causing a cough:
for which also the dried leaves
taken as tobacco, or the root is very good.
The distilled water hereof
simply or with elder-flowers or nightshade
is a singularly good remedy against
all agues, to drink 2 OZ.
at a time and apply cloths wet therein
to the head and stomach,
which also does much good being applied
to any hot swellings or inflammations.
It helpeth St. Anthony's fire (erysypelas)
and burnings, and is singular good
to take away wheals.'

One of the local names for Coltsfoot, viz. Donnhove,
seems to have been derived from Donn,
an old word for horse, hence Donkey (a little horse).
Donnhove became corrupted to Tun-hoof
as did Hay-hove (a name for Ground Ivy) to ale-hoof.

The plant is so dissimilar in appearance
at different periods that both Gerard and Parkinson
give two illustrations: one entitled
'Tussilago florens, Coltsfoot in floure,' and the other,
'Tussilaginous folia, the leaves
of Coltsfoot,' or 'Tussilago herba sine flore.'

'Coltsfoot hath many white and long creeping roots,
from which rise up naked stalkes about a spanne long,
bearing at the top yellow floures; when
the stalk and seed is perished there appear
springing out of the earth many broad leaves,
green above, and next the ground
of a white, hoarie, or grayish color.
Seldom, or never, shall you find leaves and floures
at once, but the floures are past before the leaves
come out of the ground, as may appear
by the first picture, which setteth forth the naked
stalkes and floures, and by the second,
which porttraiteth the leaves only.'

Pliny and many of the older botanists
thought that the Coltsfoot was without leaves,
an error that is scarcely excusable, for,
notwithstanding the fact that the flowers appear
in a general way before the leaves,
small leaves often begin to make their
appearance before the flowering season is over.

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.


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