Coltsfoot - Tussilago farfara

Historical Uses
The flower bud Coltsfoot has been used for more than 2000 years for the treatment of cough, phlegm, bronchitic, and asthmatic conditions. It also has been recorded in all editions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia and applied in many Chinese patent medicines.

John Gerard recommends the fume of the dried leaves taken through a funnel or tunnel, burned upon coals, effectually helpeth those that are troubled with the shortness of breath, and fetch their wind thick and often, and breaketh without peril the impostumes of the breast. Being taken in manner as they take Tobacco, it mightily prevaileth against the diseases aforesaid. 1

Culpepper said that the fresh leaves, or juice, or syrup thereof, is good for a bad dry cough, or wheezing and shortness of breath. The dry leaves are best for those who have their rheums and distillations upon their lungs causing a cough: for which also the dried leaves taken as tobacco, or the root is very good. 2

R. L. Hool, author of Common Plants and Their Uses in Medicine 1922 wrote of Coltsfoot: “In all affections of the lungs and other organs connected with them, its sanative and cleansing influence will be found highly beneficial. The Coltsfoot, being mucilaginous, soothes all the mucous surfaces that it comes in contact with, through the blood and absorbent vessels, and by that means allays the inflammation of the lungs and bronchial tubes”


Modern Research
A 2013 study of the compounds verified that the leaves and flower buds contain caffeoylqunic acids that are likely responsible for its antitussive effects. Moreover, these compounds exert their action by inhibiting the airway inflammation, reducing sputum, or directly relieving cough. The steam of Coltsfoot, from the flowers as well as from the leaves, should be inhaled several times a day in chronic bronchitis with fits and shortness of breath. 3

Unfortunately, this plant has recently been implicated in safety issues due to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). A recent Report to the National Institute of Medical Herbalists in September 2018 found little human evidence of harm with the arguments in the literature extrapolated from two sources: evidence from human exposure to other plant species (not coltsfoot) which contain PAs or evidence from animal studies, often utilising Pas that are not found in coltsfoot. As with Comfrey, a risk/benefit analysis should be made before use and the potential benefits weighed against the potential risks and the weakness of the evidence, including dietary and supplementary recommendations to support protective liver function during treatment. 4

Topical Uses
Coltsfoot flowers are also used in making poultice or balm, which is applied for relief from skin complaints, for instance eczema, sores, inflammations and even ulcers.


Dosage
Tisane – ½ tsp/2.5g 3 times per day.
Tincture: 1:5 45%. 2-8ml – 20 drops = 1ml/1tsp = 5ml
The total daily dose is 4.5 to 6 gm of drug. 5

Precautions
These plants should not be used with pregnant and lactating women. They should also be avoided in individuals with low hepatic glutathione stores or selenium deficiency or those with pre-existing liver conditions. Caution should also be exercised in those taking herbs or medicines that induce the cytochrome P45O 3A enzyme system.

References
1 Gerards Herbal – 0946495270
2 Culpeper’s British Herbal
3 Metabolomic profiling of the antitussive and expectorant plant Tussilago farfara L. by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and multivariate data analysis -
4 Report on the safety of the oral consumption of the PA containing herbs Symphytum officinale, Tussilago farfara and Borago officinalis
5 PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES 2000