Guest guest Posted March 8, 2005 Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 HOREHOUND Horehound brings to mind the old fashioned horehound candythat so many people remember fondly from their childhoods.But horehound, Marrubium vulgare, is an herb that can easilybe grown in your garden. One plant is enough for a family and can be used not only for horehound drops, but also tea and homemade cough syrup. Horehound is very easy to grow and can actually become a pest if not watched carefully. It self-seeds readily and rapidly! The flowers should be cut BEFORE they dry and form seeds. This is one of the reasons it's considered a noxious weed in Victoria, Southern and Western Australia plus parts of New South Wales. IF left on its own it can spread to the point of covering entire pastures. Don't let this stop you from growing it though. Cut the flowers and harvest it heavily each season and you should be fine. Horehound is not picky about soil---except if it's wet and heavy. It can even grow in dry, rocky ground in full sun! The seed can be sown in the spring after the frost ends. The plant will bloom the second season, but can be harvested the first year since it's the leaves that are mainly used. As mentioned, you want to keep it well pruned and harvested. During the second season, cut it immediately after it flowers. The leaves and flowers lose their flavor quickly, so snip them into smaller pieces to dry on screens. When dry, crumble and store in jars. Horehound is hardy to Zone 4 and will grow to about 2 foot tall. The leaves are soft and have a wooly crinkled appearance. The small flowers are white and attract beneficial wasps and flies to the garden. It's a great companion plant for tomatoes and peppers as an added bonus! Now, back to using horehound in candy and tea. It's been used for centuries for coughs and other ailments. The FDA took it off the approved list, but not because it was harmful. They didn't see enough scientific evidence to consider it a medicine. I do want to mention a few cautions. Make sure you buy or are growing the proper horehound. There is black horehound, Ballota nigra which is not related. Also bugleweed, Lycopus virginicus, is known as water horehound, but again, it is not related. These plants have their own benefits, but they shouldn't be used interchangeably. People with low blood pressure, heart conditions or those using any type of insulin or related meds should avoid horehound. And lastly, do NOT use horehound if you are pregnant or nursing. The tea can be especially potent, more than the candy, so avoid that at all times if you fit into any of these categories. It's always better to be safe! "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."-- Mahatma Gandhi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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