Tussilago farfara (Coltsfoot)
Family: Compositeae (Asteraceae)
Habitat/Botanical Description: The root is small, creeping, blackish-brown, with numerous fibers. The flower stems rise from the root, 6 – 8 inches high and bearing a single flower head. The flower has bright yellow ray florets in rows. Leaves are radical appearing after the flowers.
Part Used: flowers, leaves
Active Constituents:
Alkaloids (pyrrolizidine), flavonoids (hyperoside, isoquercitin, rutin), mucilage, tannin
Medicinal Actions:
Anti-catarrhal, anti-tussive, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, tonic
Medicinal Use:
1)       The mucilage and bitter combine to make Tussilago a soothing tonic to the lungs.
2)       Mucilage thus it is a good expectorant
3)       Reduce exudates
4)       Diffusive expectorant
5)       Calming the brain. Good for anxious coughy child good to add to the formula
6)       As an infusion and tincture it works well
7)       Dandelion like flower
8)       Leaves look like the hoof of the cult
9)       Works well with other herbs
10)    Volatile oil is excreted through the kidney thus good for kidney
11)    Good for carbuncle and supperating ulcer
12)    Cannot use alone
13)    Do not use pt. With history of liver problem
14)    Used mostly for acute problem for 1 to 2 weeks at a time
15)    The tannins make it astringent. It is a diffusive expectorant, both sedative and demulcent, which are useful when treating patients with debilitated and chronic conditions. It works well in formulas for treatment of emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and silicosis. When treating spasmodic coughs, like asthma, bronchitis and Pertussis, it combines well with other anti-spasmodic herbs. It is best used on an acute or an intermittent basis due to the presence of a very small amount of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. The presence of tannins decreases absorption thus reducing the toxicity of the alkaloids.
16)    The diuretic action also indicates Tussilago for treatment of spasmodic urinary conditions. The crushed fresh herb is also used topically to bring carbuncles, furuncles and suppurating ulcerations to a head and promote healing.
Contraindications: Use with caution in patients with hepatic inflammation.
Toxicity: None documented
Drug Interactions: None
Pharmacy:
Infusion: 1 –2 tsp/cup BID – TID
Tincture (1:5): 2 – 5 ml TID