Coltsfoot Leaf
Tussilago farfara
Also known as Ass's Foot, Brandlattich, British Tobacco, Bullsfoot, Coughwort, Farfarae Folium Leaf, Fieldhove, and Foal's Foot, Foalswort
History: Coltsfoot leaves have been used as a remedy for cough and asthma since the Greek and Roman times. The herb has also been used in a variety of cough syrups and herbal smoking mixtures. Traditionally, Coltsfoot Leaf has had many uses. Amazingly, the dried Coltsfoot Leaf was actually "smoked" - in other words, this medicinal herb was put in a pipe from which patients would draw the fumes into their lungs. Needless to say, this method of ingesting Coltsfoot Leaf likely did more harm than good; however, dried Coltsfoot Leaf is still used in herbal smoking blends as a tobacco substitute. Other reported uses of Tussilago farfara involved crushing the flowers and making a poultice that is applied to the skin. Trained herbalists note that Coltsfoot leaf contains mucilage, tannins and zinc. However, the alkaloid substances naturally occurring in the organic herb means that in large doses, Tussilago farfara can be potentially poisonous; people with a history of liver disorders should avoid Coltsfoot Leaf.
Modern Use: The German E Commission recognizes Coltsfoot for Acute catarrh of the respiratory tract with cough and hoarseness, acute, mild inflammation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa.