Cynoglossum officinale
Botanical Nomenclature | Cynoglossum officinale |
Common Name | Dog's Tongue, Gypsy Flower, Houndstongue, Houndstooth |
Taxonomy- Family | Boraginaceae |
Distinguishing Features of the Plant | Cynoglossum officinale is a perennial, herbaceous plant growing from 40 to 80cm, with pubescent, lanceolate leaves and small, red-brown flowers in inflorescences. The flowering lasts from May to August, the harvesting of the root takes place from May to June, while the harvesting of the whole plant takes place from March to April |
Region Found | Epirus |
Part of the Plant with Active Substances | Aboveground plant parts, roots |
Active Substances | Essential oil, tannins, cynoglossin, consolidin (alkaloids), pigment, resin, inulin, pimelic acid, allantoin (leaves) |
Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications | The whole plant is administered in the form of herbal tea as antitussive and emollient, for the treatment of lungs inflammation diseases such as pneumonia, asthma and bronchitis. The herbal tea is recommended against dry cough, runny nose, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, kidneys and liver colics. Also, the herbal infusion is used against insomnia. Finally, in folk medicine a poultice made from the fresh leaves is applied externally for the treatment of edema, burns, rheumatic pain, gangrene and eye pain. |
Method of Administration | The plant is administered as antitussive and emollient in the form of herbal tea (30-60g of dried leaves and root in 1L of boiled water, one cup before every meal) and in the form of infusion (50g of dried leaves and root in 1L of boiling water, 2-3 times day). It is applied externally as soothing and healing in the form of poultice made from the fresh leaves. Warning: The use of herb preparations is not recommended without seeking advice from your physician or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with the subscribed drugs that the patient already takes, thus eliminating their therapeutic efficacy or inducing toxicity. They may also burden further weakened vital functions of the body thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life threatened conditions. |
Toxicity- Adverse Effects | Plant's consumption may cause dermatitis and somnolence. The seeds are toxic and they possibly have carcinogenic, hepatotoxic and teratogenic properties. |
References | 1) Bιβλίο: Τα φαρμακευτικά βότανα και οι θεραπευτικές τους ιδιότητες, Λάμπρου Π. Σπύρου, Αγροτικός εκδοτικός οίκος, Αθήνα 1981, Β' τόμος, σελίδες: 319-320 2) Βιβλίο: Οδηγός των φαρμακευτικών φυτών, Paul Schauenberg, Ferdinand Paris, Εκδότης Μ. Γκιούρδας, Αθήνα 1981, σελίδες 28-29, 3)http://www.reherb.eu/el/node/198 4)http://montana.plant-life.org/species/cyno_offic.htm 5)http://www.sandmountainherbs.com/hounds_tongue.html 6)http://www.herb.gr/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/692/s/kinoglosso/ |