Coltsfoot

(Tussilagofarfara L., Compositae)

Also Called: Coughwort, Horsehoof, Foal's Fool Ass's Foot. Bull's Foot.

Description: Perennial plant, at times extending over large areas because of scrambling subterranean stolons which spread rapidly.
Flowering shoots up to 20cm (8in) high, covered with small, purple, linear scaly
leaves.
Capitula about 1 -5cm (0.6in) in diameter with numerous golden-eyllow ligulate florets.
Leaves of the basal rosette iounded-cordate, each lobe terminating in a point, margin dentate; upper surface dark green, with few hairs; lower surface white-felted with abundant hairs.
Flowering: March-April.

Parts Used: Generally the dried flowerheads; rarely the dried leaves.

Habitat and Collection: On sandy and clay soils, especially in uncultivated places, in ditches, beside streams and lakes, on banks; throughout Europe, northwards; abundant in Britain.
The flowers are collected in early spring, the leaves in May and June.
The flowers are dried in the shade, the leaves may also be dried in sunlight.

Constituents and Action The flowers contain a small amount of volatile oil, mucilage and tannin.
The leaves are free from volatile oil but contain mucilage and tannin.
Both drugs are mildly resolutive for persistent coughs.
A spasmolytic activity has been discovered recently.
Externally coltsfoot aids the healing of wounds.

Usage: Both drugs are used as a tisane (1 litre (1 75pt) of cold water on 1-2 tablespoonfuls of drug, raise to the boil and allow to stand) mainly for chills of the respiratory tract, bronchitis.
Rarely as depurative for scrofula, cutaneous eruptions, etc. (action very weak).
Externally it is used as a lotion, or the bruised leaves are applied to wounds that are slow to heal.