Good day to you! In the plant spotlight today we have: Coltsfoot.
The botanical name of this plant is Tussilago Farfara.
First, some interesting facts about this plant. The name "tussilago" is derived from the Latin word "tussis" - meaning cough. And it's called coltsfoot since the leaves resemble that of a horse's hoof print! Also at first glance, the yellow flowers of this plant can easily be mistaken for dandelion.
Coltsfoot has long been known to help heal lung ailments and lessen coughs, and extracts of the leaves can be used to make hard candy cough drops. Due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and moisturizing properties, it's also commonly used to treat skin problems like eczema, burns, and insect bites. Both the yellow flower petals and the large green leaves can be used for their medicinal benefits, but the flowers are preferred for syrups while the leaves are used as teas and poultices. The large coltsfoot leaves readily appear in late spring or summer after the yellow flowers have bloomed, withered, and turned fluffy (much like dandelions) in early spring.
A word of caution: There's some potential toxicity in this plant, so it's suggested not to overuse it.
Have a magical day,
Jenny
PLANT INGESTION WARNING!
As with all herbs and plants you plan to ingest, never ingest them before doing your own research and/or talking with your doctor - it’s possible that medications you take or health conditions you have could have a negative effect if paired with coltsfoot. Better safe than sorry!
Photo credit goes to Andreas Trepte
