Coltsfoot
Tussilago farfara(?)
Other names: Coltsfoot
Photo credit: Andreas Trepte
This plant carries serious safety risks. All information is for educational reference only.
Safety information
Toxicity: SERIOUS (modern). Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (hepatotoxic, possible carcinogen). Internal use restricted in several countries; PA-free cultivars exist. | Coltsfoot contains hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs); modern toxicology links internal PA exposure to veno-occlusive liver disease; restricted/banned for internal sale in several countries. The book's internal decoctions and lung-disease courses are not safe by modern standards. | Contains hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) — can cause cumulative liver damage (hepatic veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome) and are genotoxic; a recognised safety concern leading to restrictions and PA-free cultivars in some countries.
Contraindications: Pregnancy, breastfeeding, liver disease, infants (modern). None specified by Grieve. | Pregnancy, breastfeeding, liver disease, infants/children (the book's pediatric chest/internal uses are unsafe). | Pregnancy and breastfeeding (PAs cross placenta/milk, have caused infant veno-occlusive disease — avoid); liver disease; children; long-term/repeated use.
Interactions: None specified by source; avoid with hepatotoxic agents (modern). | Additive hepatotoxicity with other liver-stressing drugs/herbs. (Safety gate.) | Additive hepatotoxicity with other liver-stressing drugs/herbs and other PA sources (comfrey, borage, butterbur).
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Avoid (modern). | Contraindicated. | Contraindicated (PAs cross placenta/milk).
Evidence level
Documented in systematic traditional medicine literature.
Preparations
This plant carries serious safety risks. All information is for educational reference only.
milk decoction (FLAGGED) · leaf
Part used: leaf
decoction, infusion, syrup (B.P.), dried leaves smoked, Coltsfoot Rock, British Herb Tobacco component · leaves/flowers
Part used: leaves/flowers
Traditional use: coughs, colds, asthma, bronchitis, consumption
Proposed mechanism: demulcent, expectorant, tonic (Grieve)
leaf poultice · leaf
Part used: leaf
Traditional use: mastitis; childhood asthma (chest)(Folk and historical sources have not been validated by clinical research.)
infusion/decoction · flower/leaf
Part used: flower/leaf
Traditional use: folk cough/respiratory remedy(Folk and historical sources have not been validated by clinical research.)
poultice · leaf
Part used: leaf
Traditional use: skin(Folk and historical sources have not been validated by clinical research.)
decoction (FLAGGED) · leaf
Part used: leaf
Traditional use: bronchial asthma, chronic cough, bronchitis, pneumonia, lung TB, expectorant(Folk and historical sources have not been validated by clinical research.)
Proposed mechanism: hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs)
Dosage note (descriptive only): FLAGGED - not safe internally by modern standards
Reference only — not a dosage instruction
Associated conditions
Nutritional notes
Not relevant. | Not a food.
Healing traditions
Sources (3)
- Keti 2018, "მედეადან დღემდე" (folk)
- Bussmann et al., A comparative ethnobotany ... Republic of Georgia, J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2016;12:43
- Grieve M., A Modern Herbal — botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/coltsf88.html