Coltsfoot
OTHER NAME(S): Ass's Foot, Brandlattich, British Tobacco, Bullsfoot, Chasse-Toux, Colt's Foot, Coughwort, Farfarae Flos, Farfarae Folium Leaf, Fieldhove, Filuis Ante Patrem, Flower Velure, Foal's Foot, Foalswort, Guflatich, Hallfoot, Herbe aux Pattes, Herbe de Saint-Guérin, Horsefoot, Horsehoof, Kuandong Hua, Kwandong Hwa, Pas Diane, Pas d'Ane, Pas d'Âne, Pas-d'Âne, Pas-de-Baudet, Pferdefut, Pied-de-Cheval, Plisson, Procheton, Taconnet, Tussilage, Tussilage Pas d'Âne, Uña de Caballo, Tussilago farfara, foals foot, Asses Foot, Colt's Foot, Uña De Caballo, Pas-d'âne
Overview
Coltsfoot is a plant. It is native to Europe and parts of Asia. It has been introduced to North America. The leaf, flower, and root are used to make medicine.
Despite serious safety concerns, coltsfoot is used for asthma, cough, sore throat, swelling of the airways, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
The chemicals in coltsfoot might fight pain, swelling (inflammation), and wheezing.
The chemicals in coltsfoot might fight pain, swelling (inflammation), and wheezing.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Swelling (inflammation) of the main airways in the lung (bronchitis).
- Asthma.
- Swelling (inflammation) of the voice box (laryngitis).
- Whooping cough (pertussis).
- Sore throat.
- Cough.
- Wheezing.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of coltsfoot for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Coltsfoot is considered LIKELY UNSAFE. It contains chemicals called hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). These chemicals can damage the liver and lungs. Dietary supplement products sold in the US are not required to state the amount of PAs they may contain. So, if the package doesn't say the product is certified hepatotoxic PA-free, you can assume that there are probably hepatotoxic PAs in it. Avoid using coltsfoot products that are not certified and labeled as hepatotoxic PA-free.
When inhaled: There isn't enough reliable information to know if coltsfoot is safe when inhaled or what the side effects might be.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Coltsfoot is considered LIKELY UNSAFE. It contains chemicals called hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). These chemicals can damage the liver and lungs. Dietary supplement products sold in the US are not required to state the amount of PAs they may contain. So, if the package doesn't say the product is certified hepatotoxic PA-free, you can assume that there are probably hepatotoxic PAs in it. Avoid using coltsfoot products that are not certified and labeled as hepatotoxic PA-free.
When inhaled: There isn't enough reliable information to know if coltsfoot is safe when inhaled or what the side effects might be.
Coltsfoot is considered LIKELY UNSAFE for anyone, but people with the following conditions should be especially careful about avoiding this plant:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Coltsfoot preparations are LIKELY UNSAFE for use during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Coltsfoot contains chemicals called hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). These chemicals might cause birth defects and liver or lung damage. Even if the product is certified hepatotoxic PA-free, it's best to avoid use.
Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Coltsfoot may cause an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to the Asteraceae/Compositae plant family. Members of this family include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking coltsfoot.
High blood pressure, heart disease: There is a concern that coltsfoot taken in large amounts might interfere with treatment for these conditions. Don't use coltsfoot if you have these conditions.
Liver disease: There is a concern that hepatotoxic PAs might make liver disease worse. Don't use coltsfoot if you have this condition.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with ColtsfootExcessive doses of coltsfoot seem to increase blood pressure. By increasing blood pressure coltsfoot might decrease the effectiveness of medications for high blood pressure. Some medications for high blood pressure include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), diltiazem (Cardizem), amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril), furosemide (Lasix), and many others.
- Medications that increase break down of other medications by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inducers) interacts with ColtsfootColtsfoot is broken down by the liver. Some chemicals that form when the liver breaks down coltsfoot can be harmful. Medications that cause the liver to break down coltsfoot might increase the toxic effects of chemicals contained in coltsfoot. Some of these medicines include carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin, rifabutin (Mycobutin), and others.
- Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with ColtsfootColtsfoot might slow blood clotting. Taking coltsfoot along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of coltsfoot depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for coltsfoot. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
- Roulet M, Laurini R, Rivier L, Calame A. Hepatic veno-occlusive disease in newborn infant of a woman drinking herbal tea. J Pediatr 1988;112:433-6.
- Klepser TB, Klepser ME. Unsafe and potentially safe herbal therapies. Am J Health Syst Pharm 1999;56:125-38.
- WHO working group. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Environmental Health Criteria, 80. WHO: Geneva, 1988.
- Food and Drug Administration. FDA Advises Dietary Supplement Manufacturers to Remove Comfrey Products From the Market. July 6, 2001. Available at: https://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dspltr06.html.
- Takada Y, Bhardwaj A, Potdar P, Aggarwal BB. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents differ in their ability to suppress NF-kappaB activation, inhibition of expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and cyclin D1, and abrogation of tumor cell proliferation. Oncogene 2004;23:9247-58.
- Chojkier M. Hepatic sinusoidal-obstruction syndrome: toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. J Hepatol 2003;39:437-46.
- Roeder E. Medicinal plants in Europe containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Pharmazie 1995;50:83-98.
- Vukovich MD, Schoorman R, Heilman C, et al. Caffeine-herbal ephedra combination increases resting energy expenditure, heart rate and blood pressure. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2005;32:47-53.
- Haller CA, Jacob P 3rd, Benowitz NL. Enhanced stimulant and metabolic effects of combined ephedrine and caffeine. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2004;75:259-73.
- Wilson BE, Hobbs WN. Case report: pseudoephedrine-associated thyroid storm: thyroid hormone-catecholamine interactions. Am J Med Sci 1993;306:317-9.
- Wang YP, Yan J, Fu PP, Chou MW. Human liver microsomal reduction of pyrrolizidine alkaloid N-oxides to form the corresponding carcinogenic parent alkaloid. Toxicol Lett 2005;155:411-20.
- Li YP, Wang YM. Evaluation of tussilagone: a cardiovascular-respiratory stimulant isolated from Chinese herbal medicine. Gen Pharmacol 1988;19:261-3.
- Hwang SB, Chang MN, Garcia ML, et al. L-652,469--a dual receptor antagonist of platelet activating factor and dihydropyridines from Tussilago farfara L. Eur J Pharmacol 1987;141:269-81.
- Freshour JE, Odle B, Rikhye S, Stewart DW. Coltsfoot as a potential cause of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in a patient also consuming kava and blue vervain. J Diet Suppl 2012;9:149-54.
- Hwang JH, Kumar VR, Kang SY, Jung HW, Park YK. Effects of flower buds extract of Tussilago farfara on focal cerebral ischemia in rats and inflammatory response in BV2 microglia. Chin J Integr Med. 2018;24(11):844-852.
- Boucher MA, Côté H, Pichette A, Ripoll L, Legault J. Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of Tussilago farfara (L.) essential oil from Quebec, Canada. Nat Prod Res. 2018;34(4):545-548.
- Cheon HJ, Nam SH, Kim JK. Tussilagone, a major active component in Tussilago farfara, ameliorates inflammatory responses in dextran sulphate sodium-induced murine colitis. Chem Biol Interact. 2018;294:74-80.