Black Horehound is a straggling herbaceous perennial growing upto 90cm high and 80cm wide belonging to the Mint or Dead Nettle family Lamiaceae, having oval, toothed leaves and pink-purple flowers in whorls at the base of the upper leaves, found throughout much of Europe, North America and Asia.
Black Horehound is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and like many other plants in the Mint family, it is attractive to bees, butterflies, and other insects.
• In ancient Greece, the plant was known by the name “ballote” deriving from the Greek word “ballo” meaning to reject or repel. Probably because of the plant’s rather unpleasant taste and smell.
• The plant’s species name “nigra” derives from the Latin word niger meaning black, referring to the blackish apPearance of the herb when dried.
Plant Description
It can grow upto 90cm in height with erect herbaceous soft-Haired stems.
The plant has a taproot and the leaves are opposite, toothy, heart-shaped and covered with soft Hairs.
The pink or purple flowers are organized in verticillaster and appear from July to September (northern hemisphere).
The Fruit consists of four smooth cylindrical to ovoid, black nutlets.
It has stout, branching stems and a fibrous root system.
It may be recognised by the clusters of Hairy flowers, identified by the tubular calyx and two lipped corolla.
The colour may range from reddish purple to an occasional white flower. Around 15-30 flowers are held in dense whorls with the stalk extending above the main plant.
The leaves have a serrated edge and are oval lanceolate to heart shaped, ranging from 3-8cm long.
They are a dull green colour, covered in soft grey Hairs and quite wrinkled on the upper surface with conspicuous veins.
The leaves are arranged in pairs on the stem, with each pair being positioned at right angles to the pair above and below it.
White Horehound (Marrubium vulgaris) is a well-known pectoral remedy, extensively used in Coughs, hoarseness, Asthma, Bronchitis, and consumption; but when boiled it gives off a peculiar, bitter, nauseous principle, which tastes and smells like Bitter Aloes, and is liable to purge freely if taken by persons of weak constitution (for which reason it is best to use Black Horehound only).
Habitat:
Black Horehound is probably native to the Mediterranean region and western Asia, but is now widely distributed in Europe including the southern parts of Scandinavia, North Africa, and Central Asia.The plant is now naturalized in South and North America and New Zealand.
History
Types & Varieties
Mechanism of Action
Additional Information
Key Actions
• Alterative,
• Antacid,
• Anti-arteriosclerotic,
• Anti-arthritic (Osteoarthritis),
• Anti-emetic,
• Anti-Nausea,
• Anti-Spasmodic (Digestive spasm),
• Anti-tussive,
• Anxiolytic (Anxiety, minor sleep disorders),
• Choleretic,
• Diaphoretic,
• Digestive,
• Diuretic,
• Emmenagogue,
• Expectorant,
• Febrifuge,
• Mild Hypotensive,
• Mild Sedative,
• Nervine,
• Pectoral,
• Stimulates bile,
• Tonic,
Usable Parts
The aerial parts
Aerial parts is harvested when in flower in summer.
The plant Material is collected at the beginning of the flowering period, mainly from the wild, and it can be used fresh or dried.
The medicinal properties of the dried herb diminish over time and it should be replenished every year or so.
Directions of Preparation
Tea:
• Infuse a table spoon in a cup of boiling water, cover, steep for 5 minutes and filter, then drink 1-3 cups a day.
or
• Add 1-2 teaspoons of the dried herb to a cup of boiling water and let it draw for 10-15 minutes before Straining.
or
• For therapeutic purposes, three (3) cups of the tea can be drunk daily. The tea can also be used in compresses.
Its Active Constituents:
• Black Horehound contain:
• Diterpenoids (marrubin, ballonigrin, ballotinone, ballotenol, preleosibirin and 7-aacetoxymarrubiin),
• Phenylpropanoids (verbascoside [acteoside], forsythoside B, arenarioside, ballotetroside, alyssonoside, lavandulifoliside, angoroside, caffeoylmalic acid),
• Flavonoids,
• Tannins,
• Saponins,
• A volatile oil (beta-caryophyllene and germacrene D).
• Choline,
• Organic acids,
• Pectin.
Precaution:
* Its not recommended for pregnant and Breastfeeding women, because chemicals in it may interfere with Pregnancy maintaining Hormones and lead to miscarriage.
* Its not recommended for use by children, pregnant and breast feeding women without consulting a professional healthcare.
* It is not recommended for use in large doses over a long time.
* Psychotic disorders, Schizophrenia patients and people with Parkinson’s Disease, should avoid it because it could interfere with the dopamine action in the brain. The chemicals in the plant may affect medications since they also affect brain chemistry and could cause overdosing and lead to increased side effects or enhanced intended effects.
* It might interact with specific drugs or supplements, Iron supplements and counting Sedatives.
* Black Horehound could obstruct with the body’s ability of Iron absorption.
* People who are allergic to it should avoid it.
Health Benefits of Black Horehound
Digestive System
• Black Horehound is used as an anti-emetic (preventing or reducing Nausea or Vomiting), particularly when Nausea arises from disorders of the inner ear (such as Ménière’s disease) as opposed to those of the Digestive System.
• Traditionally used in herbal medicine to help relieve Digestive spasms (Anti-Spasmodic) and Nausea and Vomiting (anti-emetic).
• Black Horehound is sometimes used to curb Nausea and Vomiting, especially when the cause is related to the Nervous System and not to the Digestive System.
• It is used to relieve Digestive complaints.
• Black Horehound is one of the most efficacious remedy for the cure of biliousness, bilious Colic, and sour belchings. It act as if a current of electricity had passed into The Stomach.
Foods & Digestive System
Musculoskeletal System
• Black Horehound perceived mildly Sedative and Anti-Spasmodic activity, makes it occasionally taken for Arthritis and Gout.
• It is used mainly to relieve the symptoms of Vertigo labyrinthitis caused by the dysfunction of the inner ear (such as Menière’s syndrome).
• It is used as an Astringent and can also be applied topically in the form of a compress as a relief for rheumatic diseases (such as Gout).
Foods & Musculoskeletal System
Pregnancy
• It may also be helpful for Morning Sickness (or Nausea is triggered in the inner ear and central Nervous System, but caused by Stress and Anxiety). In that regard, the herb is often used in conjunction with Meadowsweet and German Chamomile .
• Black Horehound combined with Motherwort is an excellent remedy in the pains of labour.
Foods & Pregnancy
Respiratory System
• It can act as a mild Expectorant agent for treating ailments associated with the Respiratory System (such as a sore throat, Cough, Bronchitis and mild cases of a Whooping Cough [Pertussis]).
• It is exceedingly useful in Coughs (accompanied by spitting of blood), Bronchitis, and Asthma. It is either used alone or combined with other reliable remedies (such as Lobelia, Marshmallow, Hyssop).
• Its action resolves the viscidity of the mucus secretions, and acts as an Alterative-tonic upon the mucous follicles, detering and healing the diseased membranes, and corrects the acrimony of the discharges.
Foods & Respiratory System
Skin Health
• In external use, used since antiquity in ointment to relieve Wounds, ulcers and dog bite.
• Black Horehound has Astringent properties and may be used externally to treat minor Skin rashes, insect bites, and sunburn.
Foods & Skin Health
The Brain & Nervous System
• Black Horehound has some Sedative properties, used traditionally for the symptomatic treatment of mild forms of Nervousness, Anxiety, and Insomnia in both adults and children.
• Black Horehound is sometimes used by herbalists to treat Nausea associated with Motion Sickness.
• Black Horehound has primarily been used to relieve Nausea, Anxiety, or the combination of these conditions. Its believed to be useful for treating Nausea associated Motion Sickness due to a possible effect on the central Nervous System.
• It is used as a mild Sedative.
Foods & Nervous System
Women Health
• Black Horehound has been used traditionally for Menorrhagia (heavy periods).
• It also is used to regulate and increase Menstrual flow.
Foods & Women Health
