Cynoglossum, Hound’s Tongue
Dog’s Tongue
Lingua Canis (Latin)
Udhn-al-Arnab (“Rabbit’s Ears”, Unani)
Yao Yong Dao Ti Hu (TCM)
Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491
Greater and Lesser Cynoglossum
Herbarum Vivae Eicones, Otto Brunfels, 1530
Flora von Deutschland (19), Kohler, 1884
Botanical name:
Cynoglossum officinale (West, TCM)
C. cheirifolium was also used as a source in the West.
Parts used:
Leaf; Root; Flower
The Root has been used in TCM
Temperature & Taste:
Cool, dry. Sweetish, Pungent, disagreeable and slightly nauseous. Slightly Toxic
thickens, lenifies, obstructs
Uses:
1. Clears Phlegm-Heat, Benefits Lung Yin, Stops Cough: (West, TCM)
-thickens hot, thin phlegm
-Cough and Wheezing associated with Phlegm.
-Catarrh
-Hot-Phlegm Masses, Scrofula
-the root is more tonifying and is used for Yin deficient Cough and Hemoptysis in TCM
-“Its decoction is drunk for dryness of the chest”. (Book of Simple Drugs, Al Ghafiqi)
2. Clears Heat and Damp: (West, TCM)
-Diarrhea coming from Heat and Damp.
-Gonorrhea, Leukorrhea, Cystitis, Urinary infections from Heat and Damp
-in TCM for Dysentery, Urinary Tract Infections, Leukorrhea (TCM)
–King’s also mentions it for Diarrhea and Dysentery, saying it was called Dysentery root
3. Resolves Masses, Resists Poison
-Rabid Dog bites (Culpeper and others claimed had been cured alone with this medicine: infusion internally, poultice topically)
-Toxic Swellings, Scrofula, Cancer
-related C. furcatum (syn. C. zeylanicum) has been used for Uterine Tumors
4. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding: (TCM)
-root is used for Heat-type Bleeding and Bleeding from external injury
5. Externally:
-applied to Rabid Dog Bites (and taken internally)
-Fresh leaf or juice boiled in Hogs lard is applied to Baldness and Alopecia (‘which comes of hot, sharp humors’)
-“extracted and rubbed on the face, when fresh, it makes it rosy and beautiful”. (Book of Simple Drugs, Al Ghafiqi)
-Fresh leaf or juice boiled in Hog lard is also applied to Burns and Scalds
-Long applied to Fresh Wounds, and to Ulcers (root, leaf); the tincture can be applied to bruising and contusions too (King’s)
-A suppository of the roasted root or Poultice is very effective to stop the Pain of Hemorrhoids.
-Applied to the Foul Ulcers associated with Syphilis
-poultice for Scrofulous Tumors and Goiter (King’s)
Dose:
King’s says the root can be chewed, or given in powder or infusion ad libitum
Root in Powder: 1–4 grams
Leaf or Root in Infusion: 2–6 grams
Root in Decoction: 3–6 grams
Substitutes:
1. Ceterach
2. Maidenhair
Main Combinations:
1. Heat-type Cough:
i. decoct with Licorice, Raisins, Aniseed (Fuller)
ii. with Coltsfoot, Raisins, Licorice, Barley, Coriander seed
2. Heat-type Catarrh, with Guaiacum, Sassafras, Licorice, Raisins, Barley
3. Cancer, with Guaiacum, Sassafras, Sarsaparilla, Sharp pointed Dock, Filipendula, Walnut bark, Herb Robert, Millipedes (Fuller)
4. Leukorrhea, with Yarrow, Archangel
5. Fomentation for heat-type pain and inflammation, with Henbane leaf, Dill seed, Black Nightshade
Cautions:
1. ‘Because it is counted venomous, it is seldom used’. (Schroder)
2. Contains Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids which are potentially hepatotoxic and carcinogenic (as for Comfrey and Borage).
3. Should not be used internally for more than 2 weeks without a break.
4. Not used in Pregnancy, the very young, those with Liver disease.
5. Large doses have been accounted Narcotic.
Main Preparations used:
Syrup of Hound’s Tongue
1. Syrup of Hounds Tongue:
i. Hounds Tongue juice (clarified, White Sugar (equal parts). Boil to a syrup. (Fuller)
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