Coltsfoot Leaves, Flowers 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Coltsfoot Leaves, Flowers – 100 g ($14.99), 50 g ($9.99), 25 g ($6.99)

Chemistry  Pyrrolizidine alkaloids, especially senkirkine, are present in coltsfoot; however, the total alkaloid content is lower than that in butterbur.

Sesquiterpenes, including tussilagone, bisabolene, triterpenes, flavonoids, and pyrrolizidine alkaloids, are well described.  Phenolic compounds have been identified using high-performance liquid chromatography techniques. Reviews of the chemical constituents in the flowers, leaves, whole plant, and essential oil are available.

Respiratory   Small doses of coltsfoot open the bronchial passages, although large doses close them. The herb also contains mucilages that coat the throat, relieving irritation. Antitussive and expectorant effects of coltsfoot flowers have been investigated in mice. Caffeic acid constituents, as well as other compounds such as tussilagone and sitosterol, are considered active antitussives and expectorants and exhibit additional anti-inflammatory properties.  Tussilagone has been investigated in vitro for mucin regulatory activity, which is important in the production of mucus.

In traditional herbal medicine, coltsfoot is often used as a natural remedy for respiratory conditions like bronchitis, asthma, and whooping cough. Research in animals suggests that coltsfoot could help relieve chronic coughing.

One older animal study found that treating mice with a mixture of coltsfoot compounds helped reduce cough frequency. It was also linked to increased secretion of sputum and decreased inflammation. High quality human studies are needed.

Heart  In dogs, cats, and rats, an alcoholic extract of T. farfara produced a pressor effect similar to that of dopamine; however, no tachyphylaxis was observed. This blood pressure response was associated with increased heart rate. In vitro studies suggest extracts of coltsfoot may have applications in diabetes, possibly related to inhibitory activity against diacylglycerol acyltransferase and aldose reductase.

Inflammation  Coltsfoot is often promoted as a natural remedy for inflammatory conditions like asthma and gout, a type of arthritis. However, research on using coltsfoot for these specific conditions is lacking.

One 2018 study on mice found that tussilagone, an active component in coltsfoot, reduced several inflammatory markers in mice with drug-induced colitis. Another rodent study showed that tussilagone helped block specific pathways involved in regulating inflammation.

Studies are needed to determine if the same benefits apply to humans, or that it’s safe.

In vitro and rodent studies (eg, mice with induced colitis or cerebral ischemia) report anti-inflammatory effects of extracts of T. farfara (sesquiterpenoids, tussilagone), including moderation of nitric oxide production and inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B cells, which leads to suppression of cyclooxygenase, inflammatory cytokine, and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels.

Brain  Some research suggests that coltsfoot could influence brain health.

For example, a 2018 animal study showed that administering coltsfoot extract decreased brain cell damage from stroke that was induced by decreased blood flow. It also prevented tissue death in the brain and reduced inflammation.

However, there’s little evidence that this applies to humans. One review stated that more in vitro and in vivo studies were needed to determine how effective and safe coltsfoot is as a remedy.

Antimicrobial   Antimicrobial effects against Bacillus cereus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Staphylococcus aureus have been observed in vitro.

Antioxidant  Several animal and in vitro studies have demonstrated antioxidant effects for coltsfoot, possibly related to its anti-inflammatory and chemo- and neuroprotective effects.

Cancer  In vitro and rodent studies suggest that extracts of coltsfoot may possess activity of relevance in cancer, such as induction of apoptosis in human cancer cell lines.

Protective effects of the polysaccharide extract on chemotherapy-induced toxicities have been demonstrated.

Recommended Uses
Coltsfoot is traditionally used in tea form, although it also appears in over-the-counter (OTC) formulas for colds and congestion. You should not give coltsfoot to a child in cold-remedy form.

Wild coltsfoot contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, compounds that can induce liver cancer even in very small amounts. However, the amounts of these alkaloids that occur naturally in a standard dose of coltsfoot is less than one-hundredth of the amount that produces toxicity. Moreover, a genetically engineered variety of coltsfoot that contains none of the offending substances is now available. Therefore, you should use only a coltsfoot product that is certified pyrrolizidine-free. In particular, do not use tinctures. If other products with these alkaloids are used, you should not consume more than 1 microgram of total pyrrolizidine alkaloids with 1.2 unsaturated necine structure. The product should not be used for more than four to six weeks a year. When made with wild coltsfoot, such tinctures contain ten times the concentration of alkaloids as teas made with the same amount of the herb. In addition, wild coltsfoot tinctures can aggravate high blood pressure. No form of this herb should be used during pregnancy and lactation.

 

Botanical Name: Tussilago farfara
English: Coltsfoot, Cough Wort
Also, Known As: Horse Hoof, Bull’s Foot, Foal’s Foot, Huflattich, Tussilage, Tusilago, Tossalaggine, Fanjiun, Watpan Afangium, Ass’s Foot, Foalswort, Fieldhove, Bulls- foot, and Fanjiyun.
Habitat: England and Western Himalayas
Origin: Bulgaria
Harvested: Wild or Cultivated
Parts used: Leaves and Flowers

General Information:
Tussilago farfara is a perennial plant that looks like a dandelion when it blooms in spring. This wild edible plant is unusual in that the flowers bloom and die before the appearance of any leaves, which earned Coltsfoot the name of “son before the father” in earlier times. Before the introduction of matches, the felt-like covering of the plant, wrapped in a rag and dipped in a solution of saltpeter, was considered to be excellent tinder after being dried in the sun.

The bright yellow flowers appear early in the spring, prior to the emergence of any leaves. The top of the leaf surface is smooth and almost waxy in appearance, while the underside is covered with white, wool-like hairs. Plant height is between 10 and 17cm. Coltsfoot flowers are single, measuring about 2 cm across surrounded by involucre bracts. Flowers are bright yellow. have ray-florets with tongue-like pistillate flowers in many rows. It has five stamens. This flower is typically the first flower to appear in spring and withers away when the leaves appear.

The leaves are top ‘hoof-shaped’. Flowering stem leaves alternate, scale-like, reddish brown. Leaf surface is smooth and almost waxy in appearance, while the underside is covered with white, wool-like hairs. Blade broadly kidney shaped, 10-25 cm broad, with irregularly toothed margins. Coltsfoot can be hard to eradicate as a weed of cultivated ground and in yards because of its deep-reaching, layered root. Its large leaves shade the soil and stop other plants growing.

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How Much To Use
An effective amount is 1-2 tsp/day, 1-3 times/day of dried herb. As a tea/infusion or adding to your food as described above.