Black horehound is a perennial plant that belongs to Lamiaceae family. Native to the Mediterranean region and Central Asia, this plant grows to 3 feet high. It could be found all over Europe and Eastern regions of the United States. Black Horehound is also known as Black (Stinking) Horehound, Black Archangel, Black Hoarhound, Fetid Horehound, Stinking Roger, Ballota, Ballote fétide, Ballota nigra, Ballot Noire, Ballote vulgaire, Ballote puante, Black stinking horehound, Marrube Noir, Marrube fétide and Horehound Black. The herb blooms from May to August. It has fibroid and wood-like root. Leaves are stalked, pale green with coarsely serrated margins which appear on the stem in pairs. Flowers are hermaphrodite and form in crowded and compact whorls with a reddish to purple hue.
The plant prefers well-drained and moist soil. The black horehound plant prefers full sunlight and partial shade. It grows in the wild so it should be kept away from acid soils and is able to tolerate low pH to 5. It is able to bear low temperatures to -10 to -5 ° C. It is found in waysides, hedgerows, and waste ground on disturbed nutrient-rich soils in areas that range from full shade to no shade. The term Ballota was derived from the Greek word ballo which means to reject and nigra refers to the black color of dried leaves. Black Horehound provides an offensive smell and unpleasant odor. It has stout, branching stems with a fibrous root system. Black horehound is used as a treatment for bites of mad dogs, snakes, antidote to vegetable poisons and eliminates intestinal worms. Being an emmenagogue, it restores the balance of the menstrual cycle.
Flower and Fruit
Flowers measures about 1-1.5 cm long. It is made up of five sepals which are fused together in a tube with five teeth. The labiate corolla measures 12-13 mm and its color ranges from pink to purple to white. The corolla has tube of 6 mm with two lips. The lower one is glabrous with two lateral lobes; and the upper one is slightly concave and is externally hairy. It is arranged in 4-10 loose and short stemmed cymes in axils. The superior ovary has two parted stigma and single white style. Calyx is funnel shaped and has five awned tips. Stamens have hairy base and small spreading pollen sacks. The flower later on turns into a nut. Nuts are smooth, ovoid in shape and measures 12 mm long.
Stem and Leaves
Horehound has sturdy, branches, upright and angular stems. The plant is fresh green and pubescent. Leaves are opposite and decussate, oval to lanceolate to heart shaped with dentate or crenate border. The pubescent, dark green leaves measures 3-8 cm per 2-6 cm and petiole is about 1-3 cm. Lower leaves are ovate to round and are 2 cm long. Leaf blades are 1.5-3.5 cm wide.
Traditional uses
- Black Horehound is useful for vomiting, nausea, vomiting and nervous dyspepsia.
- It is useful for hypochondria, hysteria, spasms, whooping cough, stomach cramps and for increasing bile flow.
- Horehound also treats nausea, upset stomach and vomiting.
- This herb is used in France for nervous disorders in children and adults, mila sleep disorders and coughs.
- Use it externally for gout.
- It provides relief from nervous disorders.
- Black horehound helps to eliminate intestinal worms.
- The herb is used for motion sickness and nausea caused due to nervousness.
- Use it orally for gout and arthritis.
- It is used by ancient people as a treatment for rabies.
- Black horehound was used for convulsions, menopause, low spirits and problems associated with respiratory system.
- This herb is helpful for asthma, bronchitis and coughs.
Precautions
- Avoid its excessive use.
- Not recommended to use by children, pregnant and breast feeding women.
- Avoid by psychotic disorders and schizophrenia patients.
- It might interact with specific drugs or supplements, iron supplements and counting sedatives.
- Black Horehound could obstruct with the body’s ability of iron absorption.
- People who are allergic to Black horehound should avoid it.
- In the people with Parkinson’s disease, Black horehound could interfere with the dopamine action in the brain.
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