COLTSFOOT. Tussilago farfara. N.O. Compositae e.
Synonym : Also recognised as Coughwort and Horsehoof, the name Coltsfoot is from the shape of the leaf, which is supposed to resemble a colt's foot.
Habitat : It prefers moist, clayey soil, and is usually found growing near streams and ditches.
Features : Springing erect from the ground to a height of about eight inches, the stem is entirely covered with small brown scales and a loose cottony down. The angular, long-stalked, toothed leaves are about four inches, green above with long white hairs underneath. Large, daisy type, bright yellow flowers appear, one to each stalk, from February to April, long before the leaf growth. The taste is mucilaginous and rather astringent, the odour scarcely noticeable.
Part used : Leaves.
Action : Expectorant and demulcent.
Coltsfoot leaves are used in a decotion of 1 ounce to pint of water simmered down to 1 pint, which is taken in teacupful doses. Its expectorant and demulcent action is of great help in cough remedies when in conjunction with pectorals such as Horehound.
The leaves also form a useful constituent of asthma and whooping-cough medicines, and are smoked as a relief against asthma, ichitis and catarrh.
These same uses were known centuries ago, as witness Culpeper : "The dry leaves are best for those that have rheums, and distillations upon the lungs, causing a cough, for which also the dried leaves taken as tobacco, or the root, is very good." COMFREY. Symphytum officinale. N.O. Boraginaceae.
Synonym : Knitbone, SynonymL Knitbone, Nipbone.
Habitat : Damp fields and waste places ; ditch and river sides.
Features : The hairy stem is two to three feet high, freely branched, rough and angular. Egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaves, with wavy edges, hug the stem above, the lower ones having long stalks ; they arc all large and hairy. The plant produces yellowish, bluish, or purplish-white flowers in May and June, all on the same side of the stem. The root is brownish-black, deeply wrinkled, greyish and horny internally. The taste is mucilaginous and sweetish, and the dried herb has an odour resembling that of tea.
Part used : Root and leaves.
Action : The roots, and to some extent the leaves, are demulcent and astringent.
The action of Comfrey is similar to that of Marsh Mallow, and consequently it is a popular cough remedy. is also used as a fomentation in strained and infiammaTy conditions of the muscles, and will promote suppuraon of boils and other skin eruptions. A decoction is made by boiling half to 1 ounce of the crushed root in 1 quart of water, reducing to 1 and a half pints, and is taken in wineglass doses. Coffin tells us the root of the plant is also "a good tonic medicine, and acts friendly on the stomach ; very useful in cases where, from maltreatment, the mouth, the throat and stomach have become sore." COWSLIP. Primula veris. N.O. Primulaceae.
Synonym : Herb Peter, Paigles, Palsywort.
Habitat : Moist pastures and open places.
Features : Round, downy stem rising well above the leaves, which lie, rosette-like, on the ground. Leaves grow from the root, stalkless, undivided, velvety appearance similar to primrose leaves, but shorter and rounder. Yellow, tubular flowers bunch together on one stalk, each flower emerging from the same point, outer blossoms drooping.
Part used : Corolla.
Action : Antispasmodic, sedative.
In the reduction of involuntary spasmodic movements, restlessness and similar symptoms. Used also in insomnia. The usual herbal infusion is taken in tablespoonfuls as required.
Both cowslip and primrose were at one time prescribed for rheumatism, gout and paralysis, but their value in these diseases has long since been disproved.
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