Coltsfoot Leaf

History:

Coltsfoot is a hardy, perennial that is native to Europe and introduced to North America, where it grows wild as an invasive weed (it is even banned in some states) in waste places and on roadsides. The plant bears yellow, dandelion-like flowers on brown-tipped stems and broad, heart-shaped leaves that have downy white hairs on the underside that have an aromatic fragrance and appear only after the flowers are in bloom. The plant may grow to a height of twenty inches and thrives in moist, damp, clayey, neutral-to-alkaline soil in sun or partial shade. Coltsfoot is so-named, because many people thought the plant's leaf was shaped like a colt's hoof. Its botanical genus, Tussilago, is derived from the same Latin word, which is translated as "cough dispeller," obviously referring to the plant's universal historic use for coughs. This is also a reference to many of the plant's other common names, i.e., Coughwort, Cough Plant, etc. Coltsfoot is one of the very earliest of spring wildflowers to blossom, but because the leaves do not open until after the bright yellow flowers have bloomed, another common name evolved, i.e., Son-before-the-Father. For more than two thousand years, Coltsfoot Leaf has been regarded as one of the best herbal supports for the respiratory system, and both the ancient Greeks and Romans used it for healthy lungs. Dioscorides, Pliny, and Galen all recommended that the leaves and roots be burned over cypress charcoal and the smoke swallowed for coughs and lungs (although this seems somewhat self-defeating). The esteemed English herbalist of the seventeenth century, Nicholas Culpeper, echoed the ancient applications when he prescribed it for "bad, dry cough or wheezing and shortness of breath." The plant has also been used in Chinese medicine for virtually all the same applications. Today, the German Commission E recommends Coltsfoot Leaf for  "catarrh of the respiratory tract, with cough...." echoing all the ancient uses. The leaves of this bittersweet, astringent, expectorant herb are said to have a licorice-like flavor and has been used to flavor cough syrups and herbal tobaccos. The plant has been used in curing pipe tobaccos and in making country wines. Some of the constituents included in Coltsfoot are soothing mucilage, tannin, pyrrolizidine alkaloids (which can be toxic if the herb is overused), zinc (lately found to be helpful in cough and cold preparations) a bitter glucoside, phytosterol and faradial.

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) capsules, one (1) time each day with water at mealtimes. Do not use more than the recommended dosage.

Contraindications:
Pregnant and nursing women should avoid Coltsfoot Herbal Supplement. Extended usage or overuse (many times the recommended dosage) should be avoided. Excessive use of Coltsfoot may cause hypertension for some individuals and liver failure (hepatic veno-occlusive disease). It is recommended that the use of this herb be conducted under the supervision of a health care provider, as the pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the herb are potentially toxic, particularly for individuals with liver or kidney problems. The herb is subject to legal restrictions in some countries. Those who are allergic to members of the Compositae (daisy) - Asteraceae (aster) families, should not take Coltsfoot.

Capsule Information:
Our Coltsfoot Leaf supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules.(click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs.

Special Note:
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Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.