Coltsfoot Herb Powder

Botanical Name:  Tussilago farfara

Common Name:

• English: Cough Wort
• Also, Known As:  Horse Hoof, Bull’s Foot, Foal’s Foot, Huflattich, Tussilage, Tusilago, Tossalaggine, Fanjiun, Watpan Afangium, Ass’s Foot, Foalswort, Fieldhove, Bulls- foot, and Fanjiyun,  Ass's Foot, Brandlattich, British Tobacco, Bullsfoot, Chasse-Toux, Colt's Foot, Coughwort, Farfarae Flos, Farfarae Folium Leaf, Fieldhove, Filuis Ante Patrem, Flower Velure, Foal's Foot, Foalswort, Guflatich, Hallfoot, Herbe aux Pattes, Herbe de Saint-Guérin, Horsefoot, Horsehoof, Kuandong Hua, Kwandong Hwa, Pas Diane, Pas d'Ane, Pas d'Âne, Pas-d'Âne, Pas-de-Baudet, Pferdefut, Pied-de-Cheval, Plisson, Procheton, Taconnet, Tussilage, Tussilage Pas d'Âne, Tussilago farfara, Uña de Caballo.

Origin: Bulgaria

Harvested: Wild 

Part used: Leaves and Flowers

General Information:

Tussilago farfara is a perennial plant that looks like a dandelion when it blooms in spring. This wild edible plant is unusual in that the flowers bloom and die before the appearance of any leaves, which earned Coltsfoot the name of "son before the father" in earlier times. Before the introduction of matches, the felt-like covering of the plant, wrapped in a rag and dipped in a solution of saltpeter, was considered to be excellent tinder after being dried in the sun.

The bright yellow flowers appear early in the spring, prior to the emergence of any leaves. The top of the leaf surface is smooth and almost waxy in appearance, while the underside is covered with white, wool-like hairs. Plant height is between 10 and 17cm.

Coltsfoot flowers are single, measuring about 2 cm across surrounded by involucre bracts. Flowers are bright yellow, have ray-florets with tongue-like pistillate flowers in many rows. It has five stamens. This flower is typically the first flower to appear in spring and withers away when the leaves appear.

The leaves are top ‘hoof-shaped’. Flowering stem leaves alternate, scale-like, reddish brown. Leaf surface is smooth and almost waxy in appearance, while the underside is covered with white, wool-like hairs. Blade broadly kidney-shaped, 10–25 cm broad, with irregularly toothed margins. Coltsfoot can be hard to eradicate as a weed of cultivated ground and in yards because of its deep-reaching, layered root. Its large leaves shade the soil and stop other plants growing.

How to use:

Powdered Herb:

There are different ways to use powdered herb.

Food Preparation: You can add powdered herb to any super food herbal smoothie, sauces, spreads and even cookies. Also for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. This method is also known as "Electuaries".

Capsules: Encapsulating your own powdered herb at home, gives you assurance that the contents of the capsules are pure herb and no filler or any other products. These capsules can be taken with liquid.

Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.

Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot. 

Precautions: 

You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.

All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY

This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.

This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.