Tussilago farfara: Compositae
THE HERB
PART USED: leaf, flower, root
PLANET: Venus
ELEMENT: Water
TASTE: pungent, astringent, sweet
VIPAKA: pungent
WARMTH: cooling
DOSHAS: V=P-K-
MERIDIANS: Lung
ACTIONS: anti-tussive (suppresses cough reflex), demulcent, expectorant, astringent, antispasmodic, anti-catarrhal, cicatrisant, antimicrobial (leaf extract has action against M. Tuberculosis and other microbes including C albicans, H. influenza and several Gram + organisms), immunostimulant action due to polysaccharides.
INDICATIONS: productive cough due to any cause, asthma, bronchitis, any acute or chronic lung infection, Tuberculosis, whooping cough, pleurisy, silicosis, any throat condition, cutaneous ulcers, boils, abcesses, burns, inflammatory lesions.
PRECAUTIONS: Trace amounts of a pyrrolizidine alkaloid (senkirkine) have been found in the leaves; rats fed a daily high dose of this compound developed tumours in the liver.
CONSTITUENTS: flowers contain mucin, flavonoids rutin and hyperoside, triterpenoid saponins, taraxanthin, tannin, TUSILAGINE, phytosterols (stigmasterol, tarazasterol, sitosterol) arnidiol and faradiol, resin, mucilage (about 8 including polysaccharides based on glucose, galactose, arabinose, fructose, and xylose) and pectin. Leaves contain mucin, tannin, sitosterol, inulin, pectins, saponin, and a bitter glycoside.
PREPARATION AND USE:
-long-steeped infusion, standard proportions, sipped warm, 2-6 oz three times daily
-maceration 2-6 oz three times daily
-tincture, 10-20 drops, three times daily
-the leaves can be rolled and smoked as an aid to quitting smoking
-rolled with lavender, thyme, and eyebright, and smoked to relieve asthma
-may be prepared in a poultice for the chest, or for skin infections and lesions
USE IN MAGIC: Love, Visions
-add to love spells and sachets
-use in spells for peace and tranquility
-smoke for visions
USE IN PERSONAL GROWTH:
-use to learn to express joy as a healing force
-use to loosen suppressed emotions