11 Magical Coltsfoot Benefits Which You Didn’t Know

A fruit? A flower? Medicine? What is it?

Many of you have already googled the name, isn’t it? And I bet whoever is seeing it for the first time you have mistaken it as a dandelion by now. But those yellow little flowers are more than just visually attractive.

What is coltsfoot?

The scientific name of coltsfoot is Tussilago farfara, observed mostly in Europe, Asia, North Africa, Morocco, China, and Russian Far East. Coltsfoot is also very common in the lands of North and South America since it was introduced in these places as a medicinal plant. With a typical plant height of 10-30 cm, these plants grow in colonies and are spread by seeds and rhizomes. The plant generally begins to flower during early spring.

Coltsfoot is a perennial herbaceous plant of the family Asteraceae having profound physical similarities with dandelion. But its medicinal benefits are way beyond that and that’s where the name Tussilago came from (in Latin tussis meaning cough and ago meaning to act on).

Its uses and benefits are appreciated for a very long time. Hence it is a well known herbal medicine. It can be consumed with food products or applied externally to cure many disorders.

So, let’s look into the magical benefits of coltsfoot.

Magical Benefits of Coltsfoot:

The various benefits of coltsfoot are surely commendable and very helpful, especially to the medicinal world. Due to the presence of mucilage compounds, carotenoids, flavonoids, sugars and various acids (malic, tartaric, tannic and many more) it has innumerable benefits.

Also, if you go through the medicinal history of coltsfoot you can find its records in Chinese medicine. In ancient times one of the major benefits of coltsfoot was using it like cough medicine.

Medicinal benefits of coltsfoot

1. For curing sore throat

One of the major benefits of coltsfoot is that it can cure sore throat instantly. This has been proven to be very effective due to the mucilage content in it. The herb provides a demulcent effect (relieving inflammation) and hence reduces the constant irritation. It is also recommended not to burn the herb or inhale the vapor by boiling it as doing that destroys the mucilage.

And apart from a sore throat, it is also used to cure Influenza, Cough, Bronchitis, Wheezing and many more respiratory disorders that have a similar effect in our body.

2. Good anti-inflammatory agent

Since the herb contains anti-inflammatory flavonoids it is very effective in case of asthma or any other anti-inflammatory conditions.

A fact regarding magical benefits of coltsfoot which might sound very weird is that Dioscorides, an ancient Greek physician, and the Romans Pliny and Galen suggested treatment for curing cough and asthma by smoking the coltsfoot herb.

Well, in today’s world that sounds kind of absurd, isn’t it?

3. Helps in fighting depression

The fragrance of coltsfoot flower helps in relieving stress and hence used in therapeutic oils. It also helps in boosting your immune system by improving the lymphatic discharge of your body if you consume it on a daily basis.

4. Anti-microbial properties

Coltsfoot has outstanding anti-microbial properties and hence it is also used in the treatment of cystitis and other urinary tract infections.

Well, it feels like we are never going to run out of magical benefits of coltsfoot.

5. To cure vaginal irritation

Coltsfoot leaf is also known to cure vaginal irritation but should be used for douching under the proper prescription of a doctor as over douching leads to other vaginal issues.

6. Eye irritation

Creates magic when it comes down to cure eye irritation. Coltsfoot tea along with pot marigold flowers, barberry bark, and purple coneflower can cure eye irritations within a fraction of time.

7. To cure the digestive disease

Coltsfoot dried leaf tea is used to cure colitis and other duodenal problems.

8. Rich in Nutrition

Contains various essential elements like copper, potassium, zinc, calcium, iron and Vitamin A, B, C, and P.

9. Cure minor injuries:

For using it as an external remedy an extract of crushed leaves is made.

Other benefits of Coltsfoot

10. Useful for skin

Due to its natural anti-oxidant properties coltsfoot helps in protecting our skin. It reduces the wrinkles and hence used in many anti-aging products.

11. Used for treating dandruff:

The mucilage content in coltsfoot along with silica, minerals, sulfur and plant protein helps in repairing the hair shaft and also improves the hair growth. Even if you are suffering from hair loss or heavy breakage you can switch to shampoos and conditioner containing coltsfoot.

You can also make your own DIY hair mask with coltsfoot and monitor the rate of improvement all by yourself.

Here’s a method to make a hair mask out of coltsfoot. Just follow the simple steps and make your hair grow naturally.

Take a teaspoon of dried coltsfoot in a big jug and add around half a liter of boiled water to it. Allow the mixture to blend well and wait till it cools down. Now, strain the coltsfoot and allow the liquid to come down to room temperature. Wash your hair with shampoo, conditioner and then apply this coltsfoot tea all over your scalp and hair. Do not rinse after this.

Other uses of Coltsfoot

• Apart from applying coltsfoot tea in your hair, you can also drink it. Since it cures digestive problems you can drink it two to three times a day.

Just add a tablespoon of dried coltsfoot flowers and leaves on a mug and pour boiling water in it. Wait for 10 minutes, strain it and drink it.

• Coltsfoot capsules are also available in medicine stores these days. But they should be taken strictly under a medical practitioner’s advice.

Some negative effects of coltsfoot

• If you are already in a medication that slows down the process of blood clotting, coltsfoot triggers the chances of bleeding and hence makes your system more vulnerable.
• Coltsfoot interacts with the medication of high blood pressure. If you are taking medicine for high blood pressure coltsfoots interaction with it increases your blood pressure thus suppressing the effect of the medicine in your body.

Points to Consider

• It’s not safe to consume coltsfoot during the time of pregnancy and breastfeeding. It can cause harm to the fetus thus resulting in birth defects. Coltsfoot contains chemicals called hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) which can interfere with the breast milk. Hence, it is best to avoid it from pre reproduction to post reproduction period.
• The hepatotoxic PAs can also cause damage to your liver. So, if you are already suffering from a liver disease you should not be consuming coltsfoot.

Apart from all these, we have realized that coltsfoot has utter importance on both the medicinal and the cosmetic world. So, feel free to use it until and unless you are facing either of the situations mentioned above.