H E R B S D A Y T H U R S D A Y

Each Thursday we take a look at the magical properties of different herbs & how we can use them to enhance our lives. Today we are going to be looking at the magical properties of Coltsfoot.

Zodiac: Gemini

Solar system: Venus

Element: Water

Gender: Feminine

Powers: Imbolc, Ostara & Beltane

Other Names

Coughwort, Hallfoot, Horsehoof, Fieldhove, Donnhove, Pas d’âne, Filius ante patrem, Tun Hoof, Ass’s foot, Bull’s foot, Butterbur, Farfara, Foal’s foot, Horse Foot, Winter heliotrope, Clayweed, Cleats, Farfara, Fieldhove, Foalswort, Hallfoot, Huki-Tanpopo, K’Uan Tung, Oksurukotu, Son-before-father, To Wu, Tusilago, British tobacco

Coltsfoot is a plant in the Compositae family, to which dandelions and sunflowers also belong. The flower is similar in appearance to a dandelion and forms a similar fluffy white seed head. The toothed leaves are much different, however, and are shaped somewhat like rounded-off inverted heart shape or hoof. These leaves are fuzzy, top and bottom when young, but only on the bottom when mature. The leaves and flowers do not usually appear at the same time, however. First, a shoot emerges and flowers in the spring, and the leaves follow. The yellow flowers only open on sunny days.

It grows just about any damp area where the soil has been disturbed and is a common weed in England and in parts of the Northern and Eastern US and Canada where it has naturalized.

History and Folklore

The name Farfarus is an ancient name for the Poplar tree, which has similar leaves.

Tussilago means “cough dispeller”.

Theocritus’s Idyll 2 mentions coltsfoot in the context of a spell to bring back a wandering lover: “Coltsfoot is an Arcadian weed that maddens, on the hills, the young stallions and fleet-footed mares. Ah! even as these may I see Delphis; and to this house of mine, may he speed like a madman, leaving the bright palaestra.”

Propagation

Coltsfoot is a perennial. It should be grown in a damp area, preferably in clay soil in a full sun position. Will tolerate some shade, but not much. Coltsfoot is invasive and travels underground by rhizomes, so cultivating it may be frowned upon in some neighbourhoods. You might be better off keeping it in a pot to keep it from escaping. Try planting in a large pot sunk into the flower bed.

Harvesting & Storage

The flowers should be collected when they bloom in early spring and the leaves after Midsummer.

Magical Attributes

Coltsfoot is one of the first flowers to emerge in the springtime, often appearing as early as February. This and its bright sunny yellow flowers make it suitable for springtime rituals welcoming the return of the sun, such as Imbolc, Ostara and Beltane– depending on when they bloom that particular year! The long stems can be woven into wreaths.

Coltsfoot has been used in love, tranquillity and money spells and burned during divination rites. It is also burned in divinatory and healing incense.

Coltsfoot corresponds to the element of water and the planet Venus

Healing Attributes

Both flowers and leaves make an excellent cough remedy in conjunction with horehound, liquorice, and marshmallow. You can make it into a syrup or tea. Steep 1-2 teaspoons of leaves or flowers in 1 cup of boiling water. Drink no more than 3 cups daily. It can also be smoked by those with asthma, bronchitis and other lung problems, particularly those involving wet coughs.

Hot or cold coltsfoot tea compresses can be applied to swollen areas, and a cool compress is soothing on the forehead or stomach when one has a fever.

A poultice of the leaves or flowers can be applied to eczema, sores, ulcers and insect bites.

The root is also useful for similar purposes, but it has higher levels of potentially toxic alkaloids and it is not recommended that it be used internally. All parts of coltsfoot contain these alkaloids, which can cause liver disease, but the leaves and flowers are considered safe for normally healthy adults to use in moderation. If you still aren’t better after a few days, switch off with mullein for a while.

Do not use it while pregnant, trying to conceive or nursing. Do not give to children (that is, folks who are still growing).

Do not take more than 3 cups of coltsfoot tea per day, for three days. Do not take coltsfoot for more than 30 days out of the year.

Don’t combine coltsfoot with blood pressure medication.

People who are allergic to ragweed are also likely to be allergic to coltsfoot, proceed with caution.

People with a history of alcohol abuse or liver disease should not take coltsfoot. Do not combine coltsfoot with other potentially liver-damaging substances, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or comfrey.

If you ever begin to feel nauseated while using this herb, stop immediately. It is not a “normal” side effect, but a sign that the coltsfoot is hurting your liver.

Culinary Use

Flower buds, young flowers, and leaves can be added to salads or steamed as a vegetable. The flavour is similar to anise or liquorice.

It is not recommended that you make a habit of eating coltsfoot because of its potential toxicity in high doses, but it is a nice, sunny addition to the Ostara or Imbolc feast.

Additional Notes

Do not confuse common coltsfoot with Western coltsfoot Petastites frigidus, which has much higher levels of potentially toxic alkaloids. This plant may not be used to substitute for the other under any circumstance.

Coltsfoot, like comfrey, has come under fire for containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids which can cause liver damage and there have even been suggestions that it be banned. That being said, Tylenol contains these same alkaloids. Therefore, I suggest you take the same precautions with coltsfoot (and comfrey) as you would with Tylenol. Don’t overdose. Do not take tablets containing concentrated comfrey or coltsfoot. If you do use them internally, use them in their natural form or in tea and use the leaves, not the roots. If you begin to feel nauseated, stop using them. Don’t use them in combination with other PA containing substances. Pick your poison, don’t mix them. Don’t use them for long periods of time. No more than a week. And don’t use them more than three times a day. Some herbalists also suggest using milk thistle extract once you’ve completed a course of coltsfoot (or Tylenol/acetaminophen for that matter) as milk thistle is believed to help the liver heal after stress. And, of course, if you’ve ever had liver issues before, don’t use coltsfoot, comfrey or Tylenol.

To see our other Herbsday Thursday posts, click here & learn about the magical properties of many different herbs. Come back every Thursday to see a new post!

Source:https://witchipedia.com/