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

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
-“Root has been successfully used, both inwardly in Decoction, and outwardly by way of Cataplasm, in Strumous and Scrophulous Tumors”. (The Compleat Herbal, Tournefort, 1719)
-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)

Main Combinations:

1. Heat-type Cough:
i. decoct Hound’s Tongue with Licorice, Raisins, Aniseed (Fuller)
ii. Hound’s Tongue with Coltsfoot, Raisins, Licorice, Barley, Coriander seed
2. Heat-type Catarrh, Hound’s Tongue with Guaiacum, Sassafras, Licorice, Raisins, Barley
3. Cancer: Hound’s Tongue with Guaiacum, Sassafras, Sarsaparilla, Sharp pointed Dock, Filipendula, Walnut bark, Herb Robert, Millipedes (Fuller)
4. Leukorrhea, Hound’s Tongue with Yarrow, Archangel
5. Fomentation for heat-type pain and inflammation, Hound’s Tongue with Henbane leaf, Dill seed, Black Nightshade
6. Breast Ulcer: “An Ulcer in the Breast of a Woman was cured by the Decoction of this Herb in equal Parts of Wine and Water; the Ulcer being washed with the Decoction, and the Leaves afterwards applied”. (The Compleat Herbal, Tournefort, 1719)
7. Old and Malignant Ulcers, Hound’s Tongue juice made into an ointment with Honey and Turpentine. It is also good for Haemorrhoids. (The Compleat Herbal, Tournefort, 1719)