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Marrubium, Horehound
Prassium
New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563
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Two varieties of Marrubium traditionally used
Herbarum Vivae Eicones, Otto Brunfels, 1530
Herbarum Vivae Eicones, Otto Brunfels, 1530
Koehler, F.E., Medizinal Pflanzen (1890)
Botanical name:
Marrubium vulgare
Parts used:
Herb
Temperature & Taste:
Cool (some said Warm), dry. Bitter, slightly Pungent
Classifications:
2A APERIENT MEDICINES. 2K. RESOLVENT
3G. EMMENAGOGUE. 3K. EXPECTORANT. 3L. ANTI-TUSSIVE
4d. PECTORAL. 4f. SPLENETIC. 4g. HEPATIC
Marrubium vulgare
Parts used:
Herb
Temperature & Taste:
Cool (some said Warm), dry. Bitter, slightly Pungent
Classifications:
2A APERIENT MEDICINES. 2K. RESOLVENT
3G. EMMENAGOGUE. 3K. EXPECTORANT. 3L. ANTI-TUSSIVE
4d. PECTORAL. 4f. SPLENETIC. 4g. HEPATIC
Uses:
1. Benefits the Lungs, Clears Phlegm-Heat, Stops Cough:
-non-productive Cough, Bronchitis, Wheezing, Whooping Cough
-Consumption, Spitting of Blood, Lung Ulcers (Syrup of the Juice made with honey)
2. Clears Damp Heat, Opens obstruction of the Liver and Spleen
-Jaundice, Cholecystitis
-Swelling, Hardness or Tumor of the Liver or Spleen (or other abdominal organs)
-Scrofula
3. Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation:
-delayed or clotted Menstruation, Dysmenorrhea
-promotes Labor and eases the pain, promotes Afterbirth
-Hippocrates used it for Infertility.
4. Clears Heat, Calms and Regulates the Heart:
-anxiety, palpitations, arrhythmia
5. Clears Wind and Damp, promotes Urine:
-difficult, painful or burning Urine
-swelling of the Joints and stiffness of the Body
-also to help with Obesity
6. Benefits the Stomach, Clears Phlegm, Promotes Digestion:
-loss of appetite, dyspepsia, bloating, flatulence (Commission E)
7. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:
-Poison; bites of Snakes or Rabid Dogs
-Typhoid
-Scrofula, Boils and Abscesses
-Taken internally for foul, slow-healing sores and ulcers, Abscesses, Tumors etc.
8. Diabetes
-traditionally used for Diabetes; confirmed by modern research.
9. Kills Worms
10. Externally:
-topically for Foul Ulcers, Slow-healing or Creeping Sores, Abscesses (internally and externally with Honey)
-Wounds, Injuries, Bites
-The juice was dropped into the eyes to clear the Sight; the juice snuffed up the nose for yellow in the whites of the Eyes, or excess watering of them (Gerard); Juice can be mixed with wine and honey for topical application.
-in oils for Earache, Otitis Media, acute Ear Infection
DOSE:
Taken in Hot Infusion to Clear Phlegm and Promote Sweat. Taken with Alcohol (Tincture, or prepared or Decocted with Wine) to Move the Blood; larger doses are Diuretic and Laxative. The Fresh herb, juice, or the Conserve is more nourishing and better for chronic coughs, consumption, acting as a nourishing tonic medicine for the Lungs.
INFUSION or Brief DECOCTION: 2–6 grams, up to 9 grams
INFUSION in WINE (1 oz. in 1 liter): 2 tablespoonfuls to one wineglassful twice daily.
TINCTURE (1:5 in 45% alcohol): 2–6mls, up to 8 mls, 2–3 times daily;
FLUID EXTRACT (1:1 in 25% alcohol): 2–4mls, 2–4 times daily;
SOLID EXTRACT: 5–15 grains;
FRESHLY EXPRESSED JUICE: 5–30mls, 2–3 times daily. 1.5 oz. of the juice (diluted with 2 oz. of water) was given for swelling or obstruction of the Liver or Spleen.
CORRECTIVES:
1. Licorice, Raisins (Schroder)
2. Aniseed, Fennel seed
SUBSTITUTE:
Galen said Balm and Horehound acted very similarly
Taken in Hot Infusion to Clear Phlegm and Promote Sweat. Taken with Alcohol (Tincture, or prepared or Decocted with Wine) to Move the Blood; larger doses are Diuretic and Laxative. The Fresh herb, juice, or the Conserve is more nourishing and better for chronic coughs, consumption, acting as a nourishing tonic medicine for the Lungs.
INFUSION or Brief DECOCTION: 2–6 grams, up to 9 grams
INFUSION in WINE (1 oz. in 1 liter): 2 tablespoonfuls to one wineglassful twice daily.
TINCTURE (1:5 in 45% alcohol): 2–6mls, up to 8 mls, 2–3 times daily;
FLUID EXTRACT (1:1 in 25% alcohol): 2–4mls, 2–4 times daily;
SOLID EXTRACT: 5–15 grains;
FRESHLY EXPRESSED JUICE: 5–30mls, 2–3 times daily. 1.5 oz. of the juice (diluted with 2 oz. of water) was given for swelling or obstruction of the Liver or Spleen.
CORRECTIVES:
1. Licorice, Raisins (Schroder)
2. Aniseed, Fennel seed
SUBSTITUTE:
Galen said Balm and Horehound acted very similarly
Main Combinations:
1. Cough:
i. Horehound with Licorice, Hyssop and Marshmallow
ii. Horehound with Hyssop, Basil, Maidenhair, Licorice (as in Decoction for Cough and Asthma of Galen)
iii. Horehound with Rue, Hyssop, Oregano, Thyme, Pennyroyal, Aniseed (as in Decoction for Cold Coughs of Nicholas)
2. Asthma:
i. Horehound with Elecampane, Coltsfoot, Licorice (as in Decoction of Horehound)
ii. Horehound with Licorice, Maidenhair, Hyssop, Aniseed, Fennel root, Orris, Fig (as in Syrup of Horehound)
iii. Horehound with Squill, Orris, Hyssop, Myrrh, Saffron (as in Lohoch Effective for Asthma)
iv. Horehound with Agaric, Orris, Turbith, Hiera Picra, Sarcocolla, Myrrh (as in Pills of Agaric)
v. Horehound with Birthwort and Lacca (as in Medicament Strong Against Asthma)
vi. Horehound with Parsley root, Elecampane, Fennel root, Licorice, Raisins, Jujube, Coltsfoot, Hyssop, Maidenhair, Aniseed (as in Anti-Asthmatic Syrup)
3. Lung diseases, Horehound with Licorice, Fennel root, Maidenhair, Oregano, Hyssop, Thyme, Coltsfoot, Aniseed, Raisins, Figs (as in Syrup of Horehound)
4. Excess mucus of the Lungs:
i. Horehound, Orris
ii. Horehound with Butterbur root, Coltsfoot leaf, St. Johns wort
5. Whooping Cough, Horehound with Aniseed, Coltsfoot, Blessed Thistle
6. Scrofula, Horehound with Herb Robert, Celery, Agrimony, Dill seed (as in Decoction Against Scrofula)
7. Boils and Abscesses, Horehound with Centaury, Rosemary, Wormwood (as in Decoction for Boils and Abscess)
8. Gall Stones, Horehound with Agrimony, Rhubarb, Restharrow (Pick); in Liver disease, add Elecampane (Flämig)
9. Liver obstruction, Horehound with Chicory root, Agrimony, Maidenhair, Wormwood, Fumitory, Aniseed, Ginger, Raisin, Senna (as in Opening Hepatic Decoction)
10. To promote Menstruation, Horehound with Dandelion root (Klöpfer)
11. Vertigo, Horehound with Lavender, Fennel, Asparagus root, Cinnamon (Culpeper)
12. Trauma, Bruising, form an Ointment Horehound with Tansy, Wormwood, Horehound, Hops (as in Ointment for Trauma)
Major Formulas
Decoction of Horehound
Decoction for Cough and Asthma (Galen)
Decoction for Cold Coughs (Nicolas Myrepsus)
Decoction for Boils and Abscess
Decoction Against Scrofula (Fuller)
Syrup of Horehound
Syrup of Horehound of Hamech
Syrup of Horehound (Fernelius)
Anti-Asthmatic Syrup (D'Aquin)
Medicament Strong Against Asthma
Powder for Hardness of the Kidneys
Powder of Aloeswood (Mesue)
Electuary of Horehound (Diaprassium) (Nicholas)
Pills of Agaric
1. Pectoral Potion:
i. Extracts of Horehound, Couch Grass (2 drams each), Dandelion (10 oz.), Oxymel of Squill, Syrup of Fennel (2 oz.). Mix. Dose: half a glassful every 2 hours. (Pharmacopoeia extemporanea, Augustin, 1822)
Cautions:
‘It is thought to hurt the Bladder and Kidneys, except it be corrected with Licorice and Raisins’. (Schroder)
Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water of the whole plant, Conserve, Juice, Syrup, Extract
1. Conserve of Horehound:
i. Fresh tops of Horehound (1 part), White Sugar (3 parts). Beat.
2. Juice of Horehound:
i. Bruise fresh Horehound with a sprinkle of water, express the juice strongly; set apart, decant to clear juice in bottles, adding to each pound of juice 1 dram of alcohol. Dose: 1–2 oz.
3. Simple Syrup of Horehound:
i. Dried Horehound (2 oz.), Water (2 pounds); infuse, add to the strained liquor Sugar (4 lbs.). Form a syrup, strain. (Pharmacopoeia Hispana, 1798)
ii. Dried Horehound (1 oz.), Distilled Water of Horehound (2 lbs.). Digest 2 hours in a water-bath, covered; strain, filter, add White Sugar (twice the weight). Make a Syrup. (Pharmacopoeia Gallica, 1818)
4. Water Extract:
i. Fresh Horehound, bruise with a little water, strain through a sieve; set aside the juice, decant, coagulate over a gentle heat and strain again. Then evaporate to the consistency of honey, add the fecula from which the juice was obtained and reduce to an extract. (Pharmacopee Usuelle, Louvain, 1821)
5. Alcohol Extract:
i. Horehound, Alcohol (1 pound each), Water (8 pounds). Digest 3 days with a moderate temperature, express; set aside, decant the clear liquor, distil off the alcohol, then evaporate to a proper consistency.
‘It is thought to hurt the Bladder and Kidneys, except it be corrected with Licorice and Raisins’. (Schroder)
Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water of the whole plant, Conserve, Juice, Syrup, Extract
1. Conserve of Horehound:
i. Fresh tops of Horehound (1 part), White Sugar (3 parts). Beat.
2. Juice of Horehound:
i. Bruise fresh Horehound with a sprinkle of water, express the juice strongly; set apart, decant to clear juice in bottles, adding to each pound of juice 1 dram of alcohol. Dose: 1–2 oz.
3. Simple Syrup of Horehound:
i. Dried Horehound (2 oz.), Water (2 pounds); infuse, add to the strained liquor Sugar (4 lbs.). Form a syrup, strain. (Pharmacopoeia Hispana, 1798)
ii. Dried Horehound (1 oz.), Distilled Water of Horehound (2 lbs.). Digest 2 hours in a water-bath, covered; strain, filter, add White Sugar (twice the weight). Make a Syrup. (Pharmacopoeia Gallica, 1818)
4. Water Extract:
i. Fresh Horehound, bruise with a little water, strain through a sieve; set aside the juice, decant, coagulate over a gentle heat and strain again. Then evaporate to the consistency of honey, add the fecula from which the juice was obtained and reduce to an extract. (Pharmacopee Usuelle, Louvain, 1821)
5. Alcohol Extract:
i. Horehound, Alcohol (1 pound each), Water (8 pounds). Digest 3 days with a moderate temperature, express; set aside, decant the clear liquor, distil off the alcohol, then evaporate to a proper consistency.