Horehound |
|
| Common Name | Horehound |
| Scientific Name | Marrubium vulgare |
| Horehound is also called Hoarhound, Marrubium, and White Horehound, and ancient Egyptian priests called it the Seed of Horus, Bull's Blood, and Eye of the Star. Recommended in John Gerard's Herball of 1597 as an antidote for "those that drunk poyson or have been bitten of serpents," horehound tea is also suggested for pulmonary afflictions and as a useful standby for bronchitis, coughs, and colds. In' Wales, infusions are used externally and internally to cure eczema and shingles. Because of its bitterness when unsweetened, horehound is sometimes thought to be marrob, one of the five bitter herbs mentioned in early writings as being eaten by Jews at Passover. | |
| Plant | Perennial. Supposedly hardy to - 30ºF ( - 34ºC), but often subject to winterkill. Some gardeners treat it as a biennial. A fibrous, spindle-shaped root sends up bushy, square, downy stems. Aromatic, wrinkled, oval, grey green leaves are tooth-edged and covered with white hair. A relative of mint, horehound has small creamy-white flowers from June to September. |
| Height | 1 to 3 feet. |
| Soil | Sandy, not overly rich; dry and well-drained. |
| Exposure | Sun |
| Propagation | By seeds planted during the third lunar phase. Germinates in 2 to 3 weeks. Also by root division or cuttings. |
| Care | Plants should be placed 12 inches apart. Keep pinched back to prevent weediness, unless you want seeds -then let horehound go to bloom. In autumn, cut off old stalks. |
| Part used for Tea | Leaves. Pick on a clear, dry day before the sun gets too hot and before blossoms have formed. |
| Taste | Bittersweet, musky. Combines nicely with coltsfoot. Usually sweetened with honey or some ground ginger root. |
| How to Brew | BY INFUSION: 1 teaspoon of dried leaves-or 3 teaspoons of fresh herb, crushed to release aromatic oils-to 1 cup of boiling water. Steep to taste. |
Copyright © 2008 My Herbal Wellbeing