Coltsfoot for adults and children

Tussilago farfara, a coughing coltsfoot, has been used for centuries, and today this perennial plant in the Asteraceae family is pharmacopeia in some countries. [1]This means that its cough healing properties are recognized by official medicine, and the leaves of coltsfoot, as the main medicinal raw material, must meet certain standards. According to some reports, only a flower bud can be used as an antitussive and expectorant herbal medicine. [2]

Indications Coltsfoot

This plant is used for the symptomatic treatment of productive (wet) cough with thick sputum in acute respiratory and bronchopulmonary diseases; in chronic forms of bronchitis (obstructive, allergic) and bronchial asthma.

Also, coltsfoot is used for dry cough, including with acute respiratory viral infections, whooping cough and laryngitis.

Release form

In pharmacies, there are dried leaves of the plant (chopped plant material in packs), from which a decoction or water infusion of coltsfoot is prepared from cough.

Also, this plant is part of the Breast collection for cough (No. 1 and No. 2), for more details, see -  Breast collection for cough .

Syrup of coltsfoot from cough (in bottles of 100-130 ml); syrups with two ingredients: plantain and coltsfoot (extracts), and this combination is due to the pronounced mukokinetic, as well as anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties of plantain.

Pharmacodynamics

The pharmacodynamics of coltsfoot - the biochemical mechanism of its expectorant effect - is due to the synergistic effect of biologically active compounds synthesized by the plant: mucus (mucopolysaccharides); saponins; tannins; carotenoids; terpenes and sesquiterpenes (tussilagone, amirin, bisabolene, α-fellandren, tussfarfarin); quercetin and kempferol flavonoids and their glycosides; phenolic and phenolcarboxylic acids (chlorogenic, caffeoylquinic, ferulic, 4-hydroxybenzoic). [3]It has been proven that caffeoylquinic acids (chlorogenic acid, 3,5-dicaffoylquinic acid, 3,4-dicaffoylquinic acid and 4,5-dicafeoylquinic acid) isolated from Tussilago farfara have antitussive, expectorant and anti-inflammatory effects. [4]

The grass of coltsfoot from coughing (leaves) acts as an exporant, that is, it contributes to both the dilution of the formed tracheobronchial mucous secretion (sputum) - due to the action of saponins and phenol-containing acids, and its removal from the respiratory tract (coughing up) - due to the restoration of mucociliary clearance (functions of the ciliary epithelium of the respiratory tract). In addition, the plant has anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties.

Pharmacokinetics

Although most organic compounds of medicinal plants are broken down by the liver, the pharmacokinetics of herbal medicines, including coltsfoot, have not been studied due to the lack of methods for assessing the effects and metabolism of individual biologically active substances.

Dosing and administration

Syrups, decoctions and infusions are taken orally. A single dose of syrup for children 6-10 years old - one teaspoon (three times a day), children 10-14 years old - two teaspoons, children over 14 years old and adults - one tablespoon. Duration of admission is 7-10 days.

Dry leaves of coltsfoot are used to prepare a decoction or water infusion.

How to brew coltsfoot from coughing is indicated in the instructions. To prepare the coltsfoot infusion, you need to pour a teaspoon of dry leaf in a glass of boiling water, cover the dishes with a lid and let it brew for at least 30 minutes. Cooled down

Filter the infusion and take it several times during the day: one tablespoon for children, two for adults.

A decoction of coltsfoot from cough - both dry and fresh coltsfoot can be used (then the leaves must be washed and finely chopped) - is prepared at the rate of one tablespoon of raw materials per 200-250 ml of water. The broth is kept on fire (with a weak boil) for 10 minutes, taken similarly to infusion.

Use Coltsfoot during pregnancy

In domestic medical practice, it is allowed to use a coltsfoot decoction from a cough during pregnancy, although clinical trials regarding its safety are not available.

In the West, this plant and preparations based on it during pregnancy and lactation are contraindicated or limited in use due to the content of hepatotoxic pyrrolisidine alkaloids (the carcinogenic and mutagenic potential of which was revealed in laboratory studies).

Contraindications

Contraindications to the use of Tussilago farfara include: high blood pressure (hypertension), liver problems, cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, poor blood coagulation and bleeding.

It is also contraindicated to treat coughing with coltsfoot in the presence of an allergy to ragweed or wormwood, in which a cross-allergic reaction can occur.

Coltsfoot for children is allowed for use from the age of 6 after consulting a pediatrician.

Side effects Coltsfoot

The main side effects when using this plant include:

• increase in blood pressure;
• decrease in blood coagulability;
• increased urination;
• with prolonged use - stenosis of intrahepatic blood vessels and liver damage with the threat of the development of its malignant tumor.

The last of the side effects of coltsfoot was identified in several cases in the late 70s. Of the last century, and researchers linked the hepatotoxicity and carcinogenicity of the plant with senkirkin and senetsionin - pyrrolisidine alkaloids. For this reason, Austria and Germany refused to use coltsfoot, the FDA (USA) classified it as an unsafe plant, and some American herbalists recommend treating cough with other drugs.

According to experts, traces of these alkaloids were found in the leaves of Tussilago farfara, and their hepatotoxicity is not manifested in low doses. But in the flowers, the level of pyrrolisidine alkaloids is much higher, therefore, you can not use buds, pedicels and the flowers of coltsfoot from coughing.

By the way, pyrrolisidine alkaloids are found in the root of the comfrey (Symphytum officinale), the passeriformes (Lithospermum officinalis), medicinal black root (Cynoglossum officinale), and in sage (Salvia officinalis). And they are pharmacologically active, for example, relieving vascular spasms of platifillin - alkaloid pyrrolisidine broadleaf (Sonecio platiphyllus); the indicin H-oxide of the Indian heliotrope (Heliotropium indicum), despite the possible negative effect on the liver, is used to treat children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. [5]

Overdose

Until recently, coltsfoot was considered a relatively safe plant, but it should be taken in small quantities and not more than a month. An overdose can cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Interactions with other drugs

Coltsfoot with simultaneous use can reduce the therapeutic effect of antihypertensive drugs and drugs of the group of inducers of hepatic cytochrome P450.

You can not combine the intake of syrup, decoction or infusion of this plant with drugs that reduce the rate of blood clotting, and choleretic drugs.

Storage conditions

Storage conditions: dry raw materials in packs - at room temperature, away from light; syrups - at a temperature of + 6-8 ° C.

Shelf life

The expiration date of syrups and dried medicinal raw materials is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging. After opening the syrup, its shelf life is four weeks (if stored in the refrigerator).

Analogs

Licorice and marshmallow (roots), forest primrose (spring primrose), oregano, thyme and other expectorant herbs for cough are considered analogues of coltsfoot  from cough .