Ricola

Related Terms

Acylated flavonoid, alkaloids, almindelig kransburre (Danish), andorn (German, Swedish), Andornkraut (German), antioxidants, bitter lactone, blanc rubi (French), bonhomme (French), borremynte (Norwegian), bouenribl? (French), bull's blood, common hoarhound, diterpene alcohols, diterpene marrubiin, diterpenoid, eye of the star, flavonoids, Gemeiner Andorn (German), Gew?hnlicher Andorn (German), glycosides, Gotteshilfe (German), grand bon-homme (French), grand-bonhomme (French), haran haran, herbe aux crocs (French), herbe vierge (French), hoarhound, horehound, Horus fr? (Danish), hound-bane, houndsbane, Hvit andorn (Norwegian), Hvit marrau (Norwegian), jablecn?k obecn? (Czech), kransborre (Swedish), kransburre (Dutch), labdane, Labiatae (family), ladanein, Lamiaceae (family), lectins, Llwyd y cwn (Welsh), maltrast? (Spanish), mapiochin (French), mapoichin mont blancmaribl? (French), maribl?, Mariennessel (German), marinclin, marrochemin (French), marroio (Brazilian Portuguese), marroio-branco (Brazilian Portuguese), marromba, marrube (Danish), marrube blanc (French), marrube commun (French), marrube des champs (French), marrube officinal, marrube vulgaire (French), marrubenol, marrubic acid, marrubii herba, marrubiin, marrubinic acid, marrubio (Spanish), marrubio commune (Italian), marrubium, Marrubium vulgare, marruboside, maruil, marvel, mastranzo (Spanish), monoterpenes, mont blanc (French), okseblod (Danish), orvosi pemetefu (Hungarian), p-menthane-5,6-dihydroxy-3-carboxylic acid, phenylethanoid glycosides, phenylpropanoid esters, premarrubiin, Ricola?, saponin, seed of Horus, sesquiterpene, soldier's tea, sterol, stjernens ?ye (Danish), szanta zwyczajna (Polish), tannins, thymol, ?rt-penim?nt (Estonian), vitamin C, Weisser Andorn (German), Weisser Dorant (German), wild horehound, witte malrove (Dutch), woolly horehound.
Note: White horehound is not to be confused with black horehound (Ballota nigra) or water horehound (Lycopus americanus, also known as bugleweed).

Background

Since ancient Egypt, white horehound (Marrubium vulgare L.) has been used to help remove mucus from the lungs or throat. Ayurvedic, Native American, and Australian Aboriginal medicines have used white horehound to treat lung conditions. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned horehound from cough drops in 1989 due to insufficient evidence supporting its efficacy. However, horehound is currently used in Europe, and can be found in European-made herbal cough remedies sold in the United States (for example, Ricola?).
The expert German panel, the Commission E, has approved white horehound for an appetite stimulant, heartburn, and as a stimulant for bile acid secretion. There is some early evidence favoring the use of white horehound as a blood sugar-lowering agent for diabetes mellitus, and as a non-opioid pain reliever.
There is limited evidence on safety or toxicity in humans. White horehound has been reported to cause low blood pressure, low blood sugar, and abnormal heart rhythms in animal studies.

Evidence Table

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *
These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *


Animal studies and early human studies suggest that white horehound may lower blood sugar levels. White horehound has been used for diabetes in some countries, including Mexico. In clinical research, treatment with white horehound significantly reduced plasma glucose, as well as total cholesterol and triglycerides. Further well-designed human trials are needed.

 C


Animal studies and early human studies suggest that white horehound may lower blood sugar levels. White horehound has been used for diabetes in some countries, including Mexico. In clinical research, treatment with white horehound significantly reduced plasma glucose, as well as total cholesterol and triglycerides. Further well-designed human trials are needed.

 C
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)

Tradition / Theory

The below uses are based on tradition, scientific theories, or limited research. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. There may be other proposed uses that are not listed below.

Dosing

Adults (18 years and older)
For indigestion or to stimulate the appetite, 4.5 grams of cut white horehound herb, two to six tablespoons of fresh white horehound juice, or the equivalent has been recommended for daily use by the German Commission E. Other traditional dosing suggestions have included one to two grams of dried white horehound or an infusion of white horehound three times daily.
For cough and/or throat ailments, doses that have been used include 10 to 40 drops of white horehound extract in water by mouth up to three times daily, or lozenges dissolved in the mouth as needed. Ricola? drops are recommended by the manufacturer at a maximum of two lozenges by mouth every 1-2 hours as needed.
For diabetes mellitus, infusions containing one gram M. vulgare powder added to a cup of boiling water for five minutes have been taken by mouth three times daily prior to meals for 21 days.

Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.

Interactions

Interactions with Drugs
White horehound may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised when using medications that may also lower blood sugar. People taking drugs for diabetes by mouth or insulin should be monitored closely by a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist. Medication adjustments may be necessary.
White horehound may cause low blood pressure. Caution is advised in people taking drugs that lower blood pressure.
White horehound may interfere with the way the body processes certain drugs using the liver's "cytochrome P450" enzyme system. As a result, the levels of these drugs may be altered in the blood, and may cause altered effects or potentially serious adverse reactions. People using any medications should check the package insert, and speak with a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist, about possible interactions.
White horehound may also interact with 5-HT receptor agonists (triptans), agents for abnormal heart rhythms, agents for depression, agents for the stomach and intestines, agents that affect the immune system, agents that cause increased urine, agents that cause vomiting, agents that help remove mucus from the lungs, agents that prevent spasms, analgesics (agents for pain), anesthetics (loss of sensation), antibiotics, antifungals, bile acid sequestrants, blood vessel constricting and blood vessel widening agents, cancer agents, cholesterol lowering agents, estrogens, fertility agents, hormonal agents, liver toxins, penicillins, pesticides, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), stomach acid-reducing agents, and stomach ulcer agents.

Attribution

This information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).

Bibliography

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