Labiatae

Habitat: Found growing wild throughout Europe, cultivated in Britain.

Collection: The herb should be gathered just as it begins to bloom in July.

Part Used: Dried aerial parts.

Constituents: Diterpenoids, including marrubiin, ballonigrin, ballotinone (=7-oxomarrubiin), ballotenol and 7-acetoxymarrubiin.

Actions: Anti-emetic, nervine, astringent, emmenagogue, expectorant.

Indications: Black Horehound - which should not be confused with WhiteHore hound - is an excellent remedy for the settling of nausea andvomiting where the cause lies within the nervous system rather than in the stomach. It may be used with safety in motion sickness for example, where the nausea is triggered through the inner ear and the central nervous system. This herb will also be of value in helping the vomiting of pregnancy or nausea and vomiting due to nervousness. This remedy has a reputation as a normalizer of menstrual function and also as a mild expectorant.

Combinations: For the relief of nausea and vomiting it may be combined with Meadowsweet, Peppermint and Chamomile or other aromatics.

Preparations & Dosage: Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto l-2 teaspoonfuls of the dried herb and leave to infuse for l0-l5 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day or as needed. Tincture: take l-2 ml of the tincture three times a day.