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Herbs & Supplements
Lungwort
Other Names: Bethlehem Sage, Jerusalem Cowslip, Jerusalem Sage, Lungenkraut, Sage of Jerusalem, Spotted Comfrey, Spotted Lungwort
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Uses
Note: Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis) should not be confused with lungmoss (Lobaria pulmonaria), a lichen that may be called lungwort in some parts of the world. While both are used to treat respiratory conditions, they are two very different products.
Although no evidence from clinical studies supports the use of lungwort for any respiratory ailment, it has been used traditionally to relieve breathing conditions--such as bronchitis--and their related symptoms, such as coughing and sore throat. Lungwort is known to contain small amounts of tannins, which may exert a drying effect on respiratory tissue. It also has high percentages of mucilage, which may help to soothe irritated tissue. Mucilage is a natural gummy substance present in the coatings of many seeds. Although it does not dissolve in water, mucilage forms a thick, gooey mass when exposed to fluids.
The tannins in lungwort may also have a slight astringent effect when applied to the skin. Astringents shrink and tighten the top layers of skin, thereby reducing secretions, relieving irritation, and improving tissue firmness. Due to this effect, lungwort has been used as a wash, poultice, or soak for hemorrhoids and minor skin injuries such as scrapes and sunburn. A poultice is usually a soft cloth that has been soaked in a medication, possibly heated, and then applied to an aching or injured area of skin surface.
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Note: The above information is not intended to replace the advice of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not meant to indicate that the use of the product is safe, appropriate, or effective for you.
In general, herbal products are not subject to review or approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not required to be standardized, meaning that the amounts of active ingredients or contaminants they contain may vary between brands or between different batches of the same brand. Not all of the risks, side effects, or interactions associated with the use of herbal products are known because few reliable studies of their use in humans have been done.
This information is provided for your education only. Please share this information with your healthcare provider and be sure that you talk to your doctor and pharmacist about all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you take before you begin to use any herbal product.
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