Botanical Name: Tussilago farfara Group: Dicot Family: Asteraceae Duration: Perennial Common names: Cough wort, Foal's foot, son-before-father, horse hoof, English Tobacco Coltsfoot is also commonly known as cough-wort, foal's foot, son-before-father and English Tobacco.
It is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the daisy family.
But it appears in the early spring before the daisies.
The flowers are yellow and superficially resemble the dandelions and appear before the leaves.
The leaves appear after the flowers have died which is why it is also known as "son-before-the -father" plant.
The solid, purplish and woolly stem gives rise to yellow flowers.
The leaves are dark green and woolly underneath and appear after the flowers have died.
Owing to its common name, the leaves on the basal part of the plant are comparatively larger and shaped like animal hooves.
Hence, the plant is also commonly called foal's foot or horse hoof.
The plants grow rampantly as an invasive species along the sunny sidewalks, rocky road sides and the waste rocky fields.
Coltsfoot is also called English Tobacco as it is used as a healthy substitute of tobacco.
During the World War II, soldiers in Europe smoked it as a substitute for tobacco.
Since the historical times, it is widely used as a healthy substitute for tobacco which is why it is referred to as "herbal tobacco".
In some part of the Britain,it is referred to as "bacy plant" or "poor-man's-bacy" It is the main source of food for some insects.
Species of some Lepidoptera, The Gothic and Angel Shades feed on these plants.
The dried leaves are burnt and inhaled as an alternative treatment for cough.
Tussilago in Latin stands for "cough suppressant" therefore it has been used for treating cough of all types since the historical times.
So it is also commonly called cough-wort.
It is an extremely preferred herbal medication for lung related ailments like asthma, cough, bronchial congestion and chest problems triggered by smoking.
Words of Precautions: Despite of it being a widely preferred herb to soothe coughs and treat lung related ailments, it also has side effects when use excessively.
USDA classifies it as an herb of "unknown" safety because of the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
It is harmful when consumed by the infants as it causes liver problems.
Pregnant women should avoid it too as it is harmful for the liver of the developing infant.
More so because it may be an abortifacient.
The alkaloids have been found to cause liver toxicity and cancer due to which it has been banned in West Germany.
It is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the daisy family.
But it appears in the early spring before the daisies.
The flowers are yellow and superficially resemble the dandelions and appear before the leaves.
The leaves appear after the flowers have died which is why it is also known as "son-before-the -father" plant.
The solid, purplish and woolly stem gives rise to yellow flowers.
The leaves are dark green and woolly underneath and appear after the flowers have died.
Owing to its common name, the leaves on the basal part of the plant are comparatively larger and shaped like animal hooves.
Hence, the plant is also commonly called foal's foot or horse hoof.
The plants grow rampantly as an invasive species along the sunny sidewalks, rocky road sides and the waste rocky fields.
Coltsfoot is also called English Tobacco as it is used as a healthy substitute of tobacco.
During the World War II, soldiers in Europe smoked it as a substitute for tobacco.
Since the historical times, it is widely used as a healthy substitute for tobacco which is why it is referred to as "herbal tobacco".
In some part of the Britain,it is referred to as "bacy plant" or "poor-man's-bacy" It is the main source of food for some insects.
Species of some Lepidoptera, The Gothic and Angel Shades feed on these plants.
The dried leaves are burnt and inhaled as an alternative treatment for cough.
Tussilago in Latin stands for "cough suppressant" therefore it has been used for treating cough of all types since the historical times.
So it is also commonly called cough-wort.
It is an extremely preferred herbal medication for lung related ailments like asthma, cough, bronchial congestion and chest problems triggered by smoking.
Words of Precautions: Despite of it being a widely preferred herb to soothe coughs and treat lung related ailments, it also has side effects when use excessively.
USDA classifies it as an herb of "unknown" safety because of the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
It is harmful when consumed by the infants as it causes liver problems.
Pregnant women should avoid it too as it is harmful for the liver of the developing infant.
More so because it may be an abortifacient.
The alkaloids have been found to cause liver toxicity and cancer due to which it has been banned in West Germany.
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