Dioscorides the Greek physician recommended this plant for coughs and asthma. The specific name is derived from farfarus, an ancient name of the white poplar. Coltsfoot grows abundantly throughout England, especially along the sides of railway banks.

The flowers are traditionally used as an expectorant, anticatarrhal and antispasmodic and are ideal for bronchitis, asthma and stubborn irritating coughs.

Mucilage, tannins, alkaloids, inulin, zinc, bitter principle, sterols, flavonoids, potassium, calcium

The plant is traditionally used a relaxing expectorant, anti-catarrhal, antispasmodic and softens and smoothes damaged surfaces.

Decoction This is traditionally prescribed for coughs, catarrh and colds and influenza.

Tincture This is traditionally prescribed for chronic or persistent coughs and combines well with thyme and elecampene.

Syrup This is traditionally prescribed for coughs using the decoction process.

Leaves

Decoction This is traditionally prescribed for coughs and catarrh.

Tincture This is traditionally used for chronic coughs.

This is a restricted herb in Australia and New Zealand. In the UK, it may be used internally only under professional guidance. The herb contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

However, Swedish research suggests the active chemical is destroyed when making a decoction.