- Stimulating Appetite
- Bronchitis, Cough and Respiratory disorders
- Indigestion
- Treatment of Liver and Gallbladder problems
There is one thing no one seems to agree on regarding Horehound, however...the taste! Some find it quite pleasant while others find it highly disagreeable. I've found natural honey helps a great deal if you do find the taste unpleasant at first!
Horehound can be given as a hot infusion or tea to induce sweat and combat cold symptoms. Given as a cold infusion it functions best a digestive bitter tonic. The fresh or the dried herb may be used, as a powder, a juice, an extract or a tea. Taken in large doses, it acts as a gentle purgative, having a laxative effect.
- Horehound Tea
Steep ΒΌ teaspoonful (2 grams) in hot water, strain and drink. (Or 1 ounce of the herb to a pint.) Take as needed. - Horehound Cough Syrup
from Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs
Make an infusion by steeping 1 ounce of fresh or dried Horehound leaves in a pint of boiling water. Allow it to steep only 10 minutes. Strain off the leaves, then measure the quantity of liquid remaining. Add twice as much honey as liquid, mix well, and bottle. Take 1 teaspoon at a time, four times a day for cough. - Horehound Cough Drops
An easy recipe for your own Horehound candy/cough drops is made by adding sugar to an infusion of the leaves and boiling it until the mixture reaches a thick consistency. Pour it into a shallow pan and cool. Cut when cool. Some more detailed variations on this recipe can be found at Horehound Candy and Horehound Drops
Horehound makes a wonderful companion plant in the garden, as it is a favorite of bees and other pollinating insects, while grasshoppers and other types don't care for it at all. Consider planting it among tomatoes, it will increase production and encourage fruits longer in the season.
Like any member of the mint family, Horehound is a fast growing and even faster spreading perennial. It prospers in dry, well drained soil and full sun, and reaches up to two feet in height on greyish green stalks. The stalks themselves are actually a deep green, but the fine hairs that cover the plant give it an interesting greyish hue. Horehound mounds nicely and will tolerate heat and drought extremely well. Horehound flowers from June to September, although the flowers are not showy. The plant itself has a pleasant, musky odor that diminishes upon harvesting.
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