The hounds tongue plant has been used from the 16th century onwards as part of some famous French pills (at that time) discovered by the renowned French surgeon Ambroise Pare (1510-1590). Beside hound’s tongue, these pills contained opium, henbane, saffron, incense, and myrrh. However, these pills are no longer used, and the herb is generally only applied externally.
Hounds Tongue Plant Scientific Facts
- Other names: Dog-burr, dog’s tongue, gypsy flower, sheeplice, woolmat, cynoglossum officinale.
- French: Language-de-Chien.
- Spanish: Cinoglosa.
- Environment: It spread all over Europe and was naturalized in warm regions of America, though seldom found. It grows on roadsides and unfarmed lands.
- Description: Vivacious plant of the Boraginaceae family, growing from 30 to 80cm high, with green-greyish large, soft, hairy leaves and wine-red flowers. The plant has a fetid odor.
- Parts of the plant used medicinally: The root when dried and the leaves when fresh.
Healing Properties and Indications
The root of the hound’s tongue plant contains alkaloids (cynoglossine), a toxic glycoside (consolidine), a bitter component (cynglossidine), mucin, allantoin, and tannin. Its leaves are especially rich in allantoin and tannin. Allantoin is an emollient and healing substance with several creams and pharmaceutical preparations.
Hounds tongue has astringent and soothing properties. In external application, it has emollient (calms the inflamed skin mucosa) properties and wound-healing properties due to its allantoin content.
This plant has been used as an infusion for antidiarrheic and pectoral purposes, but since it is harmful to the liver, its external use only is recommended. However, its main application is in external use as a cicatrizant for skin cracks, burns, torpid ulcerations, and complex healing wounds.
Hand baths with a decoction of the hound’s tongue soothe and hydrate the skin and hands and are very useful for dry skin due to cold or chemical products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any medicinal properties associated with the hounds tongue plant?
Hound’s tongue (Cynoglossum officinale) contains compounds with potential medicinal properties. Its roots have been historically used in traditional medicine for their expectorant and anti-inflammatory effects. But before you use it for therapeutic purposes, you must visit a healthcare practitioner.
Can the hounds tongue plant be used for wound healing?
Yes, some studies suggest that hound’s tongue possesses wound-healing properties. Its extracts have shown potential in promoting wound closure and tissue regeneration. However, more research is needed to understand its mechanisms fully and determine safe and practical applications.
Is the hounds tongue plant beneficial for digestive health?
Are there any antioxidant properties associated with hounds tongue?
Because it contains phenolic components, hounds tongue may have antioxidant effects, according to some research. Antioxidants prevent oxidative stress and other cell damage by removing harmful free radicals.
Can the hounds tongue plant be used for respiratory issues?
The expectorant qualities of hounds tongue have long made it a popular remedy for coughs and bronchitis. The conventional wisdom holds that it can ease the passage of phlegm and make its ejection easier. While some anecdotal evidence supports its use for these purposes, scientific research on its efficacy and safety is limited.
Does the hounds tongue plant have any anti-inflammatory effects?
Yes, some studies suggest that extracts from hounds tongue possess anti-inflammatory properties, which may be attributed to certain bioactive compounds present in the plant. These properties could potentially be beneficial for conditions involving inflammation, but further research is necessary to determine the extent of its effectiveness and safety.
Are there any known side effects or risks associated with the hounds tongue plant?
Hounds tongue contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, compounds known to be toxic to the liver. Ingesting excessive amounts might lead to significant health complications. Therefore, caution should be exercised when using hounds tongue products, and adhering to recommended dosages is essential. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid its use due to potential risks to maternal and fetal health.
Can the hounds tongue plant be used topically for skin conditions?
Some traditional practices involve using hounds tongue topically for skin conditions like wounds, burns, and rashes. Its purported wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties may offer benefits for these conditions. To minimize unwanted side effects or drug interactions, it is essential to do a patch test and talk to a doctor before using it topically.
Is hounds tongue plant used in any alternative or complementary therapies?
The hounds tongue plant is occasionally included in herbal remedies and alternative therapies for various health concerns, including respiratory issues, skin conditions, and wound healing. However, its use in such therapies is not widespread, and scientific evidence supporting its efficacy is limited.
Where can I find reliable information about the hounds tongue plant and its health benefits?
Reliable information about hounds tongue and its potential health benefits can be found in peer-reviewed scientific journals, reputable herbal medicine books, and websites maintained by government agencies or reputable botanical and herbal medicine organizations. Furthermore, seeking advice from trained medical experts, such as naturopathic physicians or herbalists, can offer tailored recommendations and direction for specific health issues.
How to Use Hounds Tongue
- Decoction with a spoonful of ground root per cup of water. Drink one cup per day.
- Poultices with mashed leaves are applied to the affected skin for 30 minutes.
- Compresses with the plant’s fresh juice or a decoction of its root.
- Hand baths with a decoction of hound’s tongue prepared with 50g of leaves and root per liter of water, boiling for 5 minutes.
DISCLAIMER: All content on this website is presented solely for educational and informational objectives. It would be best to not rely on the information provided as a replacement for advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified medical expert. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have any preexisting medical concerns, you should talk to your doctor before using any herbal or natural medicines.
REFERENCES
- George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. “Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants.” George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Ed. Francesc X. Gelabert. vols. 2 San Fernando de Henares: Editorial Safeliz, 2000. 703. Print.
- Saeedi M, Ebrahimzadeh MA, Nabavi SF, et al. Antioxidant activity of Hound’s Tongue (Cynoglossum officinale L.). Pharm Biol. 2013 Mar;51(3):399-403. DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2012.729060.
- European Medicines Agency. Assessment report on Cynoglossum officinale L., radix. European Medicines Agency. EMA/HMPC/281328/2014.
- Tilford, G. L., & Wulff, M. L. (2009). Herbs for pets: The natural way to enhance your pet’s life. i5 Publishing.
- Skarnulis, L. (2000). Toxicity, Plant. In The Gale Encyclopedia of Science (3rd ed., Vol. 6, pp. 3431-3434). Gale.
- Tzakou, O., Pitarokili, D., & Chinou, I. (2003). Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Cynoglossum creticum subsp. creticum. Planta medica, 69(10), 932-935.
- European Medicines Agency. Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Community herbal monograph on Cynoglossum officinale L., radix. London: EMA. Doc. Ref. EMEA/HMPC/442188/2009.
