HOREHOUND: PROPERTIES, HOW TO TAKE IT AND EFFECTS - ECONOMÍA - 2025

The horehound (Marrubium vulgare) is a perennial plant medicinal use. It belongs to the Labiatae family (Lamiaceae), one of the largest groups in the current plant kingdom. The infusion that is prepared with the leaves has an intense bitter taste and has multiple therapeutic properties.

Among these properties it has been pointed out that it acts as a stimulant of digestion and is especially useful for the treatment of respiratory disorders; in particular, it moderates bronchial secretion and causes its expulsion. Its use as an expectorant is documented from ancient Egypt.

In addition, it lowers fever, stimulates menstrual flow, is analgesic, hypoglycemic and hypotensive. It is also used topically in the treatment of wounds, burns and as a hair tonic. Some of these uses have been backed by scientific evidence.

Horehound is also made into a non-alcoholic herbal drink, and it has been used to make mouthwashes, toothpastes, and even candy. The plant may be native to Mediterranean countries, and today it is in the wild in central and southern Europe, North Africa, and much of Asia. It grows almost in any soil.

The height of the plant oscillates between 25 and 80 cm; the stems are erect and their section is quadrangular. The leaves are between 2 to 5 cm long and are simple, with a wrinkled surface, petiolate, covered with soft hairs, greyish green on the face and whitish on the reverse.

The flowers are white and small, arranged in clusters on the upper part of the main stem, and measure approximately 15 mm. It is also known as white horehound or manrubio, lemon balm cuyano, toad grass, hortelana or camarruego. The appearance of the plant is reminiscent of pennyroyal, another lipped (Mentha pulegium).

This plant should not be confused with the black horehound or black manrubio. It is another species, with larger and more red flowers and with leaves of such a color, which give the plant the name "black".

Properties

Chemical composition

In its tector (non-secreting) hairs it accumulates non-volatile diterpenes. Despite its strong aroma, it produces trace amounts of essential oil.

Horehound is found in the branches at the ends where the flowers and leaves are. This substance is attributed most of the biological properties of Marrubium ssp., and particularly those of M. vulgare.

This active principle is structurally related to other terpenes such as peregrinol, vulgarol and marrubiol.

The plant contains flavonoids. These include apigenin, luteolin, and vitexin. It also has phenolic acids, among which caffeic and chlorogenic stand out. Among the important substances that support its properties are tannins, saponins, vitamin C and minerals such as iron and potassium.

Relieves cough

Diterpenes such as horehound present in horehound have expectorant properties; therefore it is not surprising that it is part of the ingredients of medicinal preparations for the natural treatment of cough.

Small tablets are made with horehound, to be dissolved slowly in the mouth and temporarily contain the cough, calming the irritation of the throat.

When the plant is used, the presence of mucilage and saponins also contributes to its fluidifying action on bronchial secretions.

Bronchitis

Horehound relieves inflammation in the tubes that carry air to the lungs, which is what happens when there is bronchitis. Inflammation of these ducts causes the intense and persistent cough that characterizes this pathology.

The plant has a vasodilator effect, since it promotes the relaxation of the smooth muscles of the walls of the blood vessels. As the vessels widen, there is better transport of oxygenated blood.

Digestive properties

Horehound is the compound responsible for the bitter taste of horehound. Bitter plants help control an upset stomach and improve the digestive process.

Its mode of action is believed to be through a mechanism that increases the production of bile, the solids it secretes, saliva, and gastric juices.

Caffeic, marrubic and chlorogenic acids partly explain this choleretic action. Although marrubic acid is not found in the drug or its extracts, it is formed by saponification from marrubiin.

It produces relief from indigestion and flatulence, and tones the organs related to this function. Horehound tablets dissolve slowly in the mouth and ease digestion. Also, horehound stimulates the appetite more than gentian.

Antidiabetic activity

In tests with laboratory rats, a strong decrease in blood glucose levels was observed after the third day of treatment with the aqueous extract of M. vulgaris.

The percentage decrease observed is very close to that resulting from the treatment used as a control. The high effectiveness in reducing blood glucose due to the use of the aqueous extract of horehound confirms its powerful action in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

The preparation of the infusion, to later make the extract, was done following approximately the same proportion that is used in a traditional way. That is, in 25 milliliters of water about 6 grams of minced grass were infused.

In recent years, some of the active ingredients isolated from horehound showed greater antidiabetic activity than oral hypoglycemic agents traditionally used in clinical therapy.

Antibacterial activity

In in vitro studies, horehound essential oil showed antibacterial and antifungal activity against various pathogens.

The highest antibacterial activity was observed against Gram positive strains. These include Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter cloacae, Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus luteus. The response was moderate to weak against Enterococcus faecalis and Bacillus cereus

Regarding fungi, the maximum inhibition of their growth was observed with Botrytis cinérea. Other fungi studied such as Fusarium solani, Penicillium digitatum and Aspergillus niger showed a weak sensitivity to the application of horehound essential oil.

Lowers blood pressure

Horehound treatment in hypertensive rats produced a strong hypotensive effect. In animal experimentation, the aqueous extract of horehound associated with that of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) was tested.

It was found that the substances present in the mixture act by different and complementary mechanisms. Both experiments support the customary use in traditional medicine of the aqueous decoction of herbs as an antihypertensive treatment.

Other uses

It is also used in drinks. In the southern United States, Australia, and England, a carbonated soft drink flavored with horehound, hops and cane sugar is enjoyed.

It is considered a non-alcoholic beer and is called horehound or horehound ale (strong light-colored beer, made with horehound).

How to take it?

It has multiple ways of taking it, depending on what you want to treat. Dosages are individual and depend on the condition.

- Before meals it is recommended as an aperitif and choleretic.

- For the respiratory tract it can be taken several times a day.

- Herbalists usually have horehound in different forms of presentation: fresh, dry herb, powder, capsules, extract, tincture or juice.

- Orally, white horehound is prepared as herbal tea; the dried herb is soaked in a cup of boiling water. The amount used is about half to a teaspoon and honey and lemon juice can be used as flavoring. That roughly corresponds to an intake of 4.5 g of dried herb.

- As an analgesic (to reduce sore throat) and mucolytic, take one cup three times a day.

- To reduce goiter, the dried and ground seeds are joined to the dry leaves and pork fat, and are spread as an ointment.

- The bath with horehound leaves is indicated for children with respiratory conditions and when there are skin lesions.

- The result of the cooking of the leaves is used as a shampoo.

- The plaster made with fresh leaves acts as a healing agent for skin wounds.

- If the herb is in the form of a tincture, 2.1 milliliters daily can be taken in a dilution of one part of herb to 5 parts of 40% alcohol.

Side effects

The regular use of this plant is not advisable and it is recommended only to take it when necessary. It can cause vomiting if taken in large quantities, as well as increased heartburn. It is irritating to the mucous membranes.

Wearing white horehound for a long period of time can lead to changes in blood pressure. If the dose is high it can cause irregular heartbeat.

In addition, the fresh plant causes a rash, redness, discomfort and inflammation in allergy sufferers.

The plant should be processed with caution, as the dust from the dried herb can irritate the respiratory tract. When available in natural medicine stores, the herbal presentation manufacturer's instructions should be followed to avoid adverse reactions.

Contraindications

People with heart, kidney, blood pressure, peptic ulcer or gastritis problems and diabetes should use horehound with caution and, if possible, consult with the treating physician before ingesting it.

Its use should be discontinued two weeks before any surgical procedure. In animal tests it has been shown to have uterogenic properties and an abortifacient effect, so it should not be used during pregnancy or when its existence is suspected. It is also not recommended during lactation or in children under 2 years of age.

References

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3. El Bardai S., Lyoussi B., Wibo M., Morel N. Pharmacological evidence of hypotensive activity of Marrubium vulgare and Foeniculum vulgare in spontaneously hypertensive rat. Clinical and experimental hypertension. 2001; 23 (4), 329-343.
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Zarai Z., Kadri A., Ben Chobba I., Ben Mansour R., Bekir A., ​​Mejdoub H., Gharsallah N. The in-vitro evaluation of antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic properties of Marrubium vulgare L. essential oil grown in Tunisia. Lipids in Health and Disease. 2011; 10: 161.