Coltsfoot
Tussilago farfara · 款冬花
Herbs & Roots. Western & European and Chinese Medicine.
Also called Coughwort, Foalswort, Son-before-father
Pinyin: Kuǎn Dōng Huā
Spanish: Tusílago
Liver risk from plant toxinsAn early spring flower and leaf used for coughs, but it contains liver-harming plant chemicals.
Did you know? Coltsfoot flowers bloom in early spring before the leaves appear. Its Latin name, Tussilago, means cough dispeller.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Sore throat & cough. Traditional cough remedy. Human research is very limited.Traditional proof
- Breathing & asthma. Used for bronchitis and chest congestion. Safer choices exist for the same use.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
European herbalists used it for coughs and chest colds for centuries. In Chinese medicine, the flower bud (kuan dong hua) is used for coughs and phlegm.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Expectorant, Antitussive, Demulcent. Energy: warming.
- Chinese medicine
- 款冬花 Transform phlegm & stop cough. Nature: warm. Flavour: pungent, bitter. Enters the Lung channel.
How people take it
Traditional tea uses about 1 to 2 grams of dried leaf or flower bud a day. Some European health guidance limits use to short courses of a few weeks a year.
Tea and syrup.
Where to get it
Grows on disturbed ground and clay soils across Europe, Asia, and North America. Sold as dried leaf, flower bud, teas, and some syrups.
Be careful
Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), natural plant toxins that can damage the liver and may raise cancer risk with long use. Do not use it in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, or in children under 12. If used at all, keep it to short courses.
Avoid if: liver disease; pregnancy; breastfeeding; children under 12.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
A common cough tea partner in European folk medicine.
- Works well together
A soothing, slippery herb often used with cough herbs.
- Use cautionAlcohol (beer, wine, spirits)
Both can strain the liver, so alcohol adds to the risk.
The honest take
Coltsfoot has a long history for coughs, but its liver-harming plant chemicals are a serious problem. European regulators restrict it, and it is not a good choice for children or pregnancy. Most people with a cough do better with safer options and a doctor's advice.