A-Z Challenge
My theme is Herbs
C is for Coltsfoot
Coltsfoot plant
is more commonly
found in Europe
but also found
sporadically in
N. America.
The flower looks
like an aster
but when you
spot the yellow, you think it's a dandelion. The name is curious.
After the flowers have withered, broad, hoof-shaped leaves
develope.
Both the flowers and the leaves have midicinal purposes.
As far back as Pliny and Dioscorides, old herbalists regard Coltsfoot
as the best herb for lung and thorasic complaints. It serves as a
prime cough remedy.
The old herbalists smoked Coltsfoot to capture all it's
curative values. The leaves are the primary ingredient in
British herbal tobacco and smoking this is beneficial
to sufferers of asthma, catarrh and most lung troubles.
Hi Manzanita .. many might need that now here - as we're cloaked in Saharan dust - at least the air is warm, and thankfully I don't seem to suffer from asthma, lung or thoracic complaints ... interesting about Coltsfoot .. and amazing how far back remedies and knowledge go ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary
DeleteI was amazed that your country still uses it in herbal tobacco. I guess we retain some uses of herbs. Goodness, dust and all that moisture you guys have had. Right here, I coud use a litte more warmth. Ha
I'm curious about how it looks withered now. It's pretty when it's flourishing.
ReplyDeleteRosey
DeleteIt really is a pretty little aster-like flower. Do you like asters? I planted many little plants last summer to brighten the autumns.
I do like them, and my bumble bees that come to visit each year, seem to like them too!
DeleteI've read about Coltsfoot as thoracic and lung relievers in the Earth's Children series of books where a tea was made to ease the coughing spasms of those with TB. O fcourse the books are set in the caveman ages, so they didn't actually know about TB, just that the coughing was worse in cold weather and after exertion, could be eased by the tea, but once blood was coughed up the person was more likely to die soon.
ReplyDeleteRiver
DeleteThose sound like a wonderful series of childrens books. I love all the kids books that teach them something about events and history. TB was in running wild when I was young. I remember several of my young friends got it and they lived in a sanitorium for months and months.
They aren't children's books, written by Jean M Auel, look them up if you like, the first is called The Clan of the Cave Bear, there are six books in the series. They aren't entirely about herbs and remedies, more about the main character and her journey through life.
DeleteManzi, thanks to you I'll learn many plants' names in English too! ;) Yes, this one is personally familiar to me.)) In Russia, where we're still currently reside, coltsfoot is the first flower to appear after snow has melted and there comes more sunshine. In Russian language it is called like ' Mother-and-Stepmother'. The underside of the coltsfoot leaf is called 'mother' side because it's warm, and the outer side, a cold one at a touch, is a 'stepmother'.
ReplyDeleteExcited about your other coming herbal guides! :)
Dear Zara
DeleteSo happy to hear from you and find out that you know Coltsfoot. You must know the name for it in so many different languages. I've been busy with this challenge and I also just had (this week) a remarkable toxin discharge from a powerful cleanse I'm doing and I haven't had a minute to think about Russian.
That is very funny having the cold side the mother-in-law as that is always the joke about MIL's.
Take care dear friend. My best thoughts to you.
My mind naturally rebels at the idea of smoking anything to be curative of lung issues. But, I suppose if you are inhaling something curative that does make sense. Maybe all smokers who want to cute should switch to coltsfoot cigs. It could help undo the damage and they would still be smoking. Sounds like a good plan to me!!!
ReplyDeleteRobin
DeleteI am 100% with you. I don't like the idea of smoking either but it this case it has a good purpose. I wonder why more people who want to quit smoking don't switch to the herbal. Maybe they do, but I dont know much about smokers.
looks like a dandelion
ReplyDeleteAdam
DeleteLooks like a dandelion, smells like a dandelion but it's Not a dandelion. PS..... That's for "D."
Why don't I proofread? Another case of my using a word that begins and ends psuedo-same was used.... quit not cute. Gah.
ReplyDeleteRobin
DeleteCute or quit.... it's all the same as I understand. I never proofread either. Who has time? But it really is cute to quit. Ha
I don't know if we have here in Texas, I'll have to look it up and see. But with this terrible drought we're having (into the 5th year) many wildflowers and native plants are taking it on the chin.
ReplyDeleteBish
DeleteI didn't know Texas was still in drought. We were beginning to be another dust bowl too but got a lot of snow this winter and now we're getting rain. The wildflowers usually have great stamina.
I would have guessed dandelion at my sea, familiar it is to them. Thankfully lungs are fine, for now, knock on wood lol
ReplyDeletePat
DeleteI'm in the throes of a really good discharge of toxins. I feel like sh-- but yay, I can see some light at the end of the tunnel. And a big weight loss too. Ain't herbs grand?
I think I have seen some around
ReplyDeleteHoly Ghost
ReplyDeleteIt's fun when walking to try to spot the medicinal herbs
I have walked by this plant many times, and wondered why it was different from the other dandelion. Well, now I know. Not a dandelion.
ReplyDeleteSusan
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, I think I thought the same thing up at the ranch, I thought they had different dandelions.
Wow! Smoking that's healthful. That's a first.
ReplyDeleteC. Lee
DeleteOften I wish I smoked because then I'd have a match when I needed one.
Found you on the A to Z blogging challenge. Going to follow you as your topics look super interesting! I've got an herb garden that came ready planted with the house we bought but I have no idea what I've got or what to do with them. I'll look forward to your posts every day!
ReplyDeleteSusan www.freezerburned-suddenlysusan.blogspot.com
Susan
DeleteSusan
Lucky you. Many of the medicinal herbs I'll mention are considered noxious weeds and wouldn't necessairly be found in a garden. But some might. I would be the person who owned the garden before you was sad to leave it behind. I moved last summer and have to start all over. I cried to leave my garden behind and I was just telling my son that I suppose the people who bought the house don't care for gardens.
I bet your herb garden is beautiful.
A natural cough remedy - I like that a lot.
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic, I'd much prefer to take herbal remedies over drugs (I mean the medicinal kind of course).
ReplyDeleteUsing an oat milk based cream for my Psoriasis at the moment and its working wonders!
Great post, all the best A to Z'ing. :)
I am always amazed at the long history of the use of herbs.Their longevity should tell us something. I need to pay closer attention to things I think are weeds.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I may use this flowering medicinal in my current book.
ReplyDeleteI love your theme for the A-Z challenge I'm glad I found your blog. I clicked on it because of the title "Wanna buy buy a duck."
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I do want to buy duck ;-)
Hmmm, I wonder if that's what is growing on our lawn. They're yellow, but the leaves don't look like dandelion ones.
ReplyDeleteWe have coltsfoot growing where ever there is bad soil. Mostly along our highways.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if smoking it would give a high? Probably not. LOL...