Horehound Herb:Seed of Horus

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Horehound, White

Botanical: Marrubium vulgare (LINN.)

Family: N.O. Labiatae

Decription

Cultivation

Constituents

Medicinal Action and Uses

---Synonym---Hoarhound.

---Part Used---Herb.

---Habitat---White Horehound is a perennial herbaceous

plant, found all over Europe and indigenous to

Britain. Like many other plants of the Labiate tribe,

it flourishes in waste places and by roadsides,

particularly in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk,

where it is also cultivated in the corners of cottage

gardens for making tea and candy for use in coughs and

colds. It is also brewed and made into Horehound Ale,

an appetizing and healthful beverage, much drunk in

Norfolk and other country districts.

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---Description---The plant is bushy, producing

numerous annual, quadrangular and branching stems, a

foot or more in height, on which the whitish flowers

are borne in crowded, axillary, woolly whorls. The

leaves are much wrinkled, opposite, petiolate, about 1

inch long, covered with white, felted hairs, which

give them a woolly appearance. They have a curious,

musky smell, which is diminished by drying and lost on

keeping. Horehound flowers from June to September.

The Romans esteemed Horehound for its medicinal

properties, and its Latin name of Marrubium is said to

be derived from urbs, an ancient town of Italy.

Other authors derive its name from the Hebrew marrob

(a bitter juice), and state that it was one of the

bitter herbs which the Jews were ordered to take for

the Feast of Passover.

The Egyptian Priests called this plant the 'Seed of

Horus,' or the 'Bull's Blood,' and the 'Eye of the

Star.' It was a principal ingredient in the negro

Caesar's antidote for vegetable poisons.

Gerard recommends it, in addition to its uses in

coughs and colds, to 'those that have drunk poyson or

have been bitten of serpents,' and it was also

administered for 'mad dogge's biting.'

It was once regarded as an anti-magical herb.

According to Columella, Horehound is a serviceable

remedy against Cankerworm in trees, and it is stated

that if it be put into new milk and set in a place

pestered with flies, it will speedily kill them all.

---Cultivation---White Horehound is a hardy plant,

easily grown, and flourishes best in a dry, poor soil.

It can be propagated from seeds sown in spring,

cuttings, or by dividing the roots (the most usual

method). If raised from seed, the seedlings should be

planted out in the spring, in rows, with a space of

about 9 inches or more between each plant. No further

culture will be needed than weeding. It does not

blossom until it is two years old.

Until recently, it was chiefly collected in Southern

France, where it is much cultivated. It is in steady

demand, and it would probably pay to cultivate it more

in this country.

White Horehound is distinguished from other species by

its woolly stem, the densely felted hairs on the

leaves, and the tentoothed teeth of the calyx.

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---Constituents---The chief constituent is a bitter

principle known as Marrubium, with a little volatile

oil, resin, tannin, wax, fat, sugar, etc.

---Medicinal Action and Uses---White Horehound has

long been noted for its efficacy in lung troubles and

coughs. Gerard says of this plant:

'Syrup made of the greene fresh leaves and sugar is a

most singular remedie against the cough and wheezing

of the lungs . . . and doth wonderfully and above

credit ease such as have been long sicke of any

consumption of the lungs, as hath beene often proved

by the learned physitions of our London College.'

And Culpepper says:

'It helpeth to expectorate tough phlegm from the

chest, being taken with the roots of Irris or

Orris.... There is a syrup made of this plant which I

would recommend as an excellent help to evacuate tough

phlegm and cold rheum from the lungs of aged persons,

especially those who are asthmatic and short winded.'

Preparations of Horehound are still largely used as

expectorants and tonics. It may, indeed, be considered

one of the most popular pectoral remedies, being given

with benefit for chronic cough, asthma, and some cases

of consumption.

Horehound is sometimes combined with Hyssop, Rue,

Liquorice root and Marshmallow root, 1/2 oz. of each

boiled in 2 pints of water, to 1 1/2 pint, strained

and given in 1/2 teacupful doses, every two to three

hours.

For children's coughs and croup, it is given to

advantage in the form of syrup, and is a most useful

medicine for children, not only for the complaints

mentioned, but as a tonic and a corrective of the

stomach. It has quite a pleasant taste.

Taken in large doses, it acts as a gentle purgative.

The powdered leaves have also been employed as a

vermifuge and the green leaves, bruised and boiled in

lard, are made into an ointment which is good for

wounds.

For ordinary cold, a simple infusion of Horehound

(Horehound Tea) is generally sufficient in itself. The

tea may be made by pouring boiling water on the fresh

or dried leaves, 1 OZ. of the herb to the pint. A

wineglassful may be taken three or four times a day.

Candied Horehound is best made from the fresh plant by

boiling it down until the juice is extracted, then

adding sugar before boiling this again, until it has

become thick enough in consistence to pour into a

paper case and be cut into squares when cool.

Two or three teaspoonsful of the expressed juice of

the herb may also be given as a dose in severe colds.

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