W
(f; EFS); Antischistosomal (1; CAN); Antiseptic (f; EFS; MAD); Antiserotonin (1; PNC); Antis-
pasmodic (f; CAN); Antitussive (1; APA; BGB); Aperitif (1; APA; BGB; PH2); Arrhythmogenic
(1; APA; BGB; CAN); Bitter (1; APA; CAN); Cardioactive (1; BGB; CAN); Carminative (f; EFS);
Cholagogue (f; EFS); Choleretic (1; APA; BGB; HHB; KOM; PH2); Dermatitigenic (1; CAN);
Diaphoretic (1; WAM); Digestive (1; APA); Diuretic (1; EFS; WAM); Emmenagogue (f; APA;
HHB; MAD); Expectorant (1; APA; BGB; FEL; MAD; WAM); Gastrogogue (1; PH2); Hepatotonic
(f; MAD); Hypoglycemic (1; APA); Hypotensive (1; APA; PNC); Laxative (1; APA; CAN; HHB;
PHR; PH2); Nephrotonic (f; MAD); Secretagogue (1; CAN); Sialagogue (1; APA); Stimulant (f;
EFS); Stomachic (f; EFS); Tonic (f; BGB; HHB; PNC); Vasodilator (1; APA); Vermifuge (f; HHB).
Indications (White Horehound) — Adenopathy (f; JLH); Amenorrhea (f; FEL); Anorexia (2; APA;
BGB; KOM; PH2); Arrhythmia (1; APA; BGB; CAN); Atherosclerosis (f; MAD); Asthma (f; APA;
MAD; PHR; PH2); Bloating (2; KOM; PH2); Bronchiectasis (f; MAD); Bronchosis (2; MAD; BGB;
PHR; PH2); Cancer (f; JLH); Cancer, breast (f; JLH); Cancer, gum (f; JLH); Cancer, liver (f; JLH);
Cancer, spleen (f; JLH); Cancer, uterus (f; JLH); Cardiopathy (1; APA); Catarrh (f; BGB; MAD; PHR;
PH2); Chlorosis (f; MAD); Childbirth (f; DEM); Cholecystosis (2; MAD; PHR); Circulosis (f; DEM);
Cold (1; APA; DEM; FEL); Constipation (1; APA; CAN; HHB; PHR; PH2); Corn (f; JLH); Cough
(2; BGB; FEL; PHR; WAM); Cramp (f; CAN; MAD); Debility (f; PH2); Dermatosis (f; MAD; PHR);
Diabetes (1; APA); Diarrhea (f; PHR; PH2); Dog Bite (f; BGB); Duodenosis (f; MAD); Dysmenorrhea
(f; APA; MAD; PHR); Dyspepsia (2; APA; KOM; PHR; PH2); Earache (f; MAD); Enterosis (f; APA);
Fever (1; EFS; WAM); Fibroid (f; JLH); Flu (f; DEM; KOM); Gas (2; APA; BGB; EFS; KOM; PH2);
Gastrosis (f; FAD); Gingivosis (f; JLH); Gout (f; MAD); Hepatosis (2; MAD; PHR); High Blood
Pressure (1; APA; PNC); Hysteria (f; FEL); Induration (f; JLH); Infection (f; EFS; PH2); Inflammation
(f; JLH; PH2; PNC); Jaundice (1; MAD; PHR; PH2); Laryngosis (f; MAD); Malaria (f; MAD);
Mastosis (f; JLH); Nephrosis (f; DEM); Pertussis (1; BGB; MAD; PHR; PH2); Pharyngosis (f; PH2);
Placenta (f; MAD); Polyp (f; JLH); Ptyalism (f; FEL); Respirosis (1; APA; BGB; PHR; PH2); Rheu-
matism (f; MAD); Schistosomiasis (1; CAN); Sore (f; PHR); Sore Throat (1; APA; BGB; FAD);
Splenosis (f; JLH; MAD); Stomachache (f; DEM); Stomatosis (f; PH2); Stone (f; MAD); Swelling (1;
PNC); Tuberculosis (f; APA; BGB; MAD; PHR; PH2); Ulcer (f; MAD); Uterosis (f; JLH); Water
Retention (1; EFS; WAM); Worm (f; APA; FEL; HHB); Wound (f; PHR; PH2).
Dosages (White Horehound) — 1.5 g/cup (HHB); 4–5 g herb (KOM); 2–3 tsp (3.4–5.1 g) herb;
1–2 g herb in tea 3 ×/day (APA; CAN); 1.5 g chopped herb/cup water several ×/day (WIC); 1–2
g powdered herb (PNC); 4 g powdered herb (MAD); 1 drachm herb (FEL); 2–4 oz herb tea or
syrup (FEL); 2–4 ml herbal syrup (APA; PNC); 2–4 ml concentrated herb infusion (PNC); 2–6
tbsp fresh juice (KOM); 30–60 ml expressed herb juice (PHR); 2–4 ml liquid herbal extract (1:1
in 20% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 2–4 ml liquid herb extract (PNC).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (White Horehound) — Class 2b. Emmenagogue
and uterotonic (AHP). Five cups may cause arrhythmia (APA). None known (KOM; PHR). “Hazards
and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). APA notes that, to my confusion
and consternation, the FDA “banned horehound” from OTC remedies in 1989, finding no convincing
support for efficacy. Their German counterparts approved the herb a year later for colds, coughs, and
dyspepsia with its accompanying gas and anorexia (APA). The plant juice from white horehound is
an irritant and may cause dermatosis (CAN). Because it is reputed to be abortifacient, and reputed
to affect the menstrual cycle, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided (CAN). Lack of
toxicity data and suggested cardioactive properties suggest it should not be taken in excessive doses.
Larger doses are laxative (CAN). Contraindicated in cardiopathy, hypertension, and pregnancy
(WAM). Large doses are possibly arrhythmigenic or laxative (AHP; WAM).
Extracts (White Horehound) — HOH extracts are antihydroxytryptamine; EO is an expectorant,
schistosomicidal, and vasodilator. Marrubiin is an antiarrhythmic, but in higher doses may reverse,
becoming arrhythmogenic (CAN).