WHITE HOREHOUND

OTHER NAME(S):

Bonhomme, Common Horehound, Grand Bonhomme, Herbe aux Crocs, Herbe Vierge, Horehound, Houndsbane, Marrube Blanc, Marrube des Champs, Marrube Commun, Marrube Vulgaire, Marrubii Herba, Marrubio Blanco, Marrubium, Marrubium vulgare, Mastranzo.

Overview

Overview Information

White horehound is a plant. The parts that grow above the ground are used to make medicine.

White horehound is used for digestion problems including diabetes, loss of appetite, indigestion, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and liver and gallbladder complaints. It is also used for lung and breathing problems including cough, whooping cough, asthma, tuberculosis, bronchitis, and swollen breathing passages.

Women use white horehound for painful menstrual periods.

People also use it for yellowed skin (jaundice), to kill parasitic worms, to cause sweating, and to increase urine production.

White horehound is sometimes applied to the skin for skin damage, ulcers, and wounds.

In manufacturing, the extracts of white horehound are used as flavoring in foods and beverages, and as expectorants in cough syrups and lozenges. Expectorants are ingredients that make it easier to cough up phlegm.

How does it work?

The chemicals in white horehound can thin mucus secretions, reduce spasms in the stomach and intestines, and decrease swelling (inflammation).

Uses

Uses & Effectiveness?

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Diabetes. Early research suggests that drinking tea prepared from white horehound before meals, in addition to taking medication for diabetes, for 3 weeks slightly slower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. However, drinking tea prepared from guarumo for the same duration seems to have a greater blood sugar-lowering effect.
  • Liver and gallbladder problems.
  • Constipation.
  • Fluid retention (edema).
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Indigestion.
  • Bloating.
  • Gas (flatulence).
  • Coughs and colds.
  • Skin damage.
  • Ulcers.
  • Wounds.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of white horehound for these uses.

Side Effects

Side Effects & Safety

White horehound is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth in food amounts. It's POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth as a medicine. However, taking white horehound by mouth in very large amounts is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Large amounts can cause vomiting. Applying white horehound directly to the skin can cause skin reactions.

Not enough is known about the safety of white horehound when applied to the skin.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's LIKELY UNSAFE to take white horehound by mouth during pregnancy. It might start menstruation and could cause a miscarriage.

If you are breast-feeding stick to food amounts of white horehound. There isn't enough information about the safety of medicinal amounts.

Don't use white horehound on the skin if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Not enough is known about the safety of topical use.

Diabetes: White horehound might lower blood sugar. Taking white horehound along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.

Heart conditions: There is some concern that white horehound might cause irregular heartbeat in people with heart problems. It's best not to use it.

Low blood pressure: White horehound might lower blood pressure. This could cause blood pressure to go to low. White horehound should be used cautiously in people with low blood pressure or those taking medications that lower blood pressure.

Surgery: White horehound might lower blood sugar. This might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop taking white horehound at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions

Interactions?

We currently have no information for WHITE HOREHOUND Interactions.

Dosing

Dosing

The appropriate dose of white horehound depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for white horehound. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

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View References

REFERENCES:

  • Alkhatib, R., Joha, S., Cheok, M., Roumy, V., Idziorek, T., Preudhomme, C., Quesnel, B., Sahpaz, S., Bailleul, F., and Hennebelle, T. Activity of ladanein on leukemia cell lines and its occurrence in Marrubium vulgare. Planta Med 2010;76(1):86-87. View abstract.
  • Berrougui, H., Isabelle, M., Cherki, M., and Khalil, A. Marrubium vulgare extract inhibits human-LDL oxidation and enhances HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage. Life Sci 12-14-2006;80(2):105-112. View abstract.
  • Boudjelal, A., Henchiri, C., Siracusa, L., Sari, M., and Ruberto, G. Compositional analysis and in vivo anti-diabetic activity of wild Algerian Marrubium vulgare L. infusion. Fitoterapia 2012;83(2):286-292. View abstract.
  • De Jesus, R. A., Cechinel-Filho, V., Oliveira, A. E., and Schlemper, V. Analysis of the antinociceptive properties of marrubiin isolated from Marrubium vulgare. Phytomedicine 2000;7(2):111-115. View abstract.
  • El Bardai, S., Lyoussi, B., Wibo, M., and Morel, N. Comparative study of the antihypertensive activity of Marrubium vulgare and of the dihydropyridine calcium antagonist amlodipine in spontaneously hypertensive rat. Clin Exp Hypertens. 2004;26(6):465-474. View abstract.
  • El Bardai, S., Lyoussi, B., Wibo, M., and Morel, N. Pharmacological evidence of hypotensive activity of Marrubium vulgare and Foeniculum vulgare in spontaneously hypertensive rat. Clin Exp Hypertens. 2001;23(4):329-343. View abstract.
  • Firuzi, O., Javidnia, K., Gholami, M., Soltani, M., and Miri, R. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of 24 Lamiaceae species growing in Iran. Nat.Prod.Commun. 2010;5(2):261-264. View abstract.
  • Henderson MS and McCrindle R. Premarrubiin. A diterpernoid from marrubium vulgare L. J Chem Soc 1969;C:2014-2015.
  • Karryvev MO, Bairyev CB, and Ataeva AS. Some therapeutic properties of common horehound. Chem Abstr 1977;86:2355.
  • NICHOLAS, H. J. ISOLATION OF MARRUBIN, A STEROL, AND A SESQUITERPENE FROM MARRUBIUM VULGARE. J Pharm.Sci. 1964;53:895-899. View abstract.
  • Paula de, Oliveira A., Santin, J. R., Lemos, M., Klein Junior, L. C., Couto, A. G., Meyre da Silva, Bittencourt C., Filho, V. C., and Faloni de, Andrade S. Gastroprotective activity of methanol extract and marrubiin obtained from leaves of Marrubium vulgare L. (Lamiaceae). J Pharm Pharmacol 2011;63(9):1230-1237. View abstract.
  • Perez-Cruz, F., Cortes, C., Atala, E., Bohle, P., Valenzuela, F., Olea-Azar, C., Speisky, H., Aspee, A., Lissi, E., Lopez-Alarcon, C., and Bridi, R. Use of pyrogallol red and pyranine as probes to evaluate antioxidant capacities towards hypochlorite. Molecules. 2013;18(2):1638-1652. View abstract.
  • Robles-Zepeda, R. E., Velazquez-Contreras, C. A., Garibay-Escobar, A., Galvez-Ruiz, J. C., and Ruiz-Bustos, E. Antimicrobial activity of Northwestern Mexican plants against Helicobacter pylori. J Med Food 2011;14(10):1280-1283. View abstract.
  • Zarai, Z., Kadri, A., Ben, Chobba, I, Ben, Mansour R., Bekir, A., Mejdoub, H., and Gharsallah, N. The in-vitro evaluation of antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic properties of Marrubium vulgare L. essential oil grown in Tunisia. Lipids Health Dis 2011;10:161. View abstract.
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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