Coltsfoot Contributions by sshowalter

Coltsfood (Tussilago farfara) has been medicinally used as a cough suppressant for those suffering from asthma or other respiratory coughs.

Coltsfoot rock is a confection made with coltsfoot essence used to sooth sore throats and coughing.

A single case of liver disease in an infant has led to concern around the levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids present in coltsfoot. Germany went so far as the bann the sale of coltsfood in response to the aforementioned case in 1992.¹ Therefore, coltsfoot should not be taken during pregnancy or breast-feeding.²

1. Roulet M, Laurini R, Rivier L, Calame A. Hepatic veno-occlusive disease in newborn infant of a woman drinking herbal tea. J Pediatrics 1988;112:433–6.
2. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A. American Herbal Products Association’s Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1997, 117–8.

A single case of liver disease in an infant has led to concern around the levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids present in coltsfoot. Germany went so far as the bann the sale of coltsfood in response to the aforementioned case in 1992.¹ Therefore, coltsfoot should not be taken during pregnancy or breast-feeding.² Otherwise, coltsfoot is generally safe.11

There is a plant called western coltsfoot (petastites frigidus) which contains higher amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and is therefore not recommended for use.

A single case of liver disease in an infant has led to concern around the levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids present in coltsfoot. Germany went so far as the bann the sale of coltsfood in response to the aforementioned case in 1992.¹ Coltsfoot Therefore, coltsfoot should not be taken during pregnancy or breast-feeding.10 ²

1. Roulet M, Laurini R, Rivier L, Calame A. Hepatic veno-occlusive disease in newborn infant of a woman drinking herbal tea. J Pediatrics 1988;112:433–6.
2. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A. American Herbal Products Association’s Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1997, 117–8.

Coltsfood (Tussilago farfara) has been medicinally used as a couch cough suppressant for those suffering from asthma or other respiratory coughs.

Coltsfoot rock is a confection made with coltsfoot essence used to sooth sore throats and coughing.