The horehound (Marrubium vulgare), very common throughout Europe, it grows among ruderal vegetation on the edges of roads, wastelands and dry hills. It appears as a very hairy grayish bush, also known as hollyhock, with orbicular-shaped leaves and white flowers gathered in globose whorls.
It blooms from May and in summer, and the flowering tops are harvested for medicinal purposes.
The term «horehound» comes from Latin marrubium and could derive from the name of a town in ancient Rome, Maria Urbsor from the Hebrew word brown, which means «bitter juice.» Unlike its relatives, mints and lavenders, horehound is certainly a very bitter plant that must be combined with others to avoid becoming undrinkable.
In ancient times it was considered an infallible antidote against the poison of other plants, and in ancient Egypt it was used in mortuary rituals.
In herbalists you can find white horehound in the form of a dried plant for infusion, tincture, powders, capsules and liquid extract.
Properties of white horehound
White horehound contains bitter ingredients such as marrubiin, diterpene lactones, choline, tannins, saponosides, flavonoids and mineral salts. Its quality of bitter plant explains its function as a stimulant of gastric secretions and, therefore, its usefulness for awaken appetite and correct digestive system disorders.
It also has carminative properties, as it contributes to reduce bloating, gas and flatulence.
It is considered an excellent liver decongestantof clear choleretic action, ideal after a feeling of hunger or mild food poisoning.
Also a slight hypoglycemic effect is attributed to itand due to its content of mineral salts, it is indicated as a diuretic in fluid retention, edema, oliguria, urinary disorders, high uric acid level and high blood pressure.
But its most outstanding property is its expectorant and mucus thinning effect that accumulates in the respiratory tree.
It is very useful to decongest respiratory allergies, asthmatic processes, bronchitis and as a support to relieve coughing attacks in compulsive smokers.
In topical use, horehound also acts as an astringent and skin healing agent. To clean wounds, simply apply a simple infusion, once warm, carefully watering the affected area.
Horehound infusion recipes
Expectorant herbal tea to relieve congestion: Horehound, combined with other plants, by thinning mucus, can be useful in allergies, asthma and bronchitis. It is combined with violet flower, lungwort and Scots pine buds, in equal parts. How to prepare it: Boil a tablespoon of the mixture per cup of water for 2 minutes, let it rest for another 5 minutes and strain. It is drunk after meals, because the bitterness is better tolerated. To soften it you can add licorice or green anise.
To decongest the liver: For this purpose, it is proposed to combine it in equal parts with other detoxifying plants such as fumaria, boldo and lemon verbena – the latter also helps to correct the taste. How is it prepared: Pour a tablespoon of the mixture per glass of water, infuse for 5 minutes, strain and take after heavy or copious meals.
Precautions and contraindications
Horehound is not recommended in hypersecretory dyspepsia, as well as in cases of nausea and vomiting, during pregnancy and, due to its bitter taste, during breastfeeding.
Jordi Cebrián. Advisor: J Mª Teixé, herbalist from “El Manantial de Salud”