Horehound has branching stems and the wooliness of the stems and leaves
make it a
nice addition to the herb garden. It grown 2-3 feet tall.
It takes its name from the Egyptian god of
sky and light. Folk legend through the ages held that
horehound could break magic spells.
Though it isn't used to break magic spells anymore, horehound is still
found in many
over-the-counter and prescription medications, especially
cough syrups.
Horehound is very easy to grow and will self sow if left to go to seed.
It thrives in dry
soil and can get by on very little rainfall. It doesn't
produce flowers until its second year, but can
be cut and harvested during its first year. You should
only take the top third of the plant if using the
first year. If more than a year old, cut just when the
flower buds form. The plant loses its flavor
quickly so you should chop the leaves and store them in
sealed glass jars as soon as they are dry.
Horehound Cough Syrup: Steep one ounce of fresh or
dried horehound leaves in a
pint of boiling water for 10 minutes. Strain and measure
the liquid. Add twice as much honey as
the liquid, mix well and pour into a bottle. To soothe
a cough, take 1 teaspoon at a time, four times
a day.
Horehound Cough Drops: Add sugar to an infusion of the leaves
and boil until the
consistency is very thick. Pour into a shallow pan and
cut into squares when cool.
Hardiness: zone 4 in full sun.
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