What can you do with coltsfoot?
Coltsfoot / Tussilago farfara
Also known as:
British tobacco, bull’s foot, Coltsfoot, coughwort, fieldhove, flower velure, foal’s foot, foal’s wort, ginger root, horse foot, horse hoof, the son before the father
Parts used: Flowers + Leaves
Coltsfoot is one of our first spring plants here in Ontario! It looks really similar to dandelion and to the untrained eye is hard to distinguish. Upon looking closely you can use a few identifiers to spot the difference.
The stalk looks like asparagus
The flower is much smaller than that of it’s friend the dandelion.
But what is it used for?
Coltsfoot Herbal Actions
Analgesic
Anti-inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Antispasmodic
Antitussive
Demulcent
Diaphoretic
Emollient
Expectorant
Pectoral
Vulnerary
Since Coltsfoot has so many beautiful herbal actions it can be used in a variety of ways! I would suggest making an infused honey to take when you experience a cough. The latin name Tussilago translates to “cough dispeller” - tussis meaning cough - and ago meaning to cast off.
To Make Coltsfoot Honey:
Harvest flowers in the spring. Leave the root in the ground
Cut up flowers and stalks and place in a jar
Cover plant material completely with honey.
Keep on your counter or with your other on-going medicines and flip the jar every other day or so. If the flowers rise to the top and aren’t covered with honey, open and stir to immerse them.
After a month, or honestly, leave it on your shelf until the fall, strain the honey into a clean vessel and compost the plant material. And there you have it! Coltsfoot honey!
Recommended Dose:
1/2 tsp - 1/4 tsp by mouth or in your herbal tea. Safe for all ages.
Safety Concerns
Coltsfoot does contain a constituent called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) which can be of concern.
The concentration of PAs in coltsfoot is said to be extremely low, around 0.01% (van Wyk & Wink, 2014). Making a tincutre of coltsfoot would concentrate the PAs up to 10x what you may find in a water-based preparation like a tea, infusion, or syrup.
Because of this PA content, it is generally not recommended in times of Pregnancy or Breastfeeding.
As always, do your own research, and make your own informed choice!
