Scientific Name: Lungwort
Other Names: Bethlehem Sage, Jerusalem Cowslip, Jerusalem Sage, Lungenkraut, Sage of Jerusalem, Spotted Comfrey, Spotted Lungwort
Who is this for?
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.
When should I be careful taking it?Precautions
Very little information is available on how lungwort might affect a developing fetus, an infant, or a small child. Therefore, its use is not recommended during pregnancy, while breast-feeding, or during early childhood.
What side effects should I watch for?
No side effects have been associated with using lungwort. Since few reliable studies of its use have been conducted in humans, however; it may have side effects that are not yet known. Individuals who experience unexplained side effects while taking lungwort, should stop taking it and tell a doctor or pharmacist about the side effects.
What interactions should I watch for?
Some evidence from laboratory studies suggests that lungwort may have slight anticoagulant (blood thinning) effects. Therefore, taking it may increase the effects of drugs (including warfarin and aspirin) or herbals (including ginkgo, Panax ginseng, red clover, and saw palmetto) that may also keep blood from clotting quickly. Uncontrolled bleeding may occur if lungwort is taken with an anticoagulant drug or herbal.
No other interactions between lungwort and prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, other herbal products, or foods have been reported. However, because few reliable studies of lungwort have been conducted in humans, its possible interactions may not be understood completely.
Some interactions between herbal products and medications can be more severe than others. The best way for you to avoid harmful interactions is to tell your doctor and/or pharmacist what medications you are currently taking, including any over-the-counter products, vitamins, and herbals. For specific information on how lungwort interacts with drugs, other herbals, and foods and the severity of those interactions, please use our Drug Interactions Checker to check for possible interactions.
Should I take it?
Lungwort is an attractive plant that is related to the borage family of plants. More common in Europe than in North America, it may be used as a houseplant due to the unusual appearance of its large, flat leaves, which are light green with white spots. It produces reddish buds that open to lavender-colored flowers in the early spring. A perennial that occasionally may be found growing wild in shady woods, lungwort is often used in British gardens and landscaping. Both the flowers and the seeds that develop in early summer attract bees, birds, and butterflies. Lungwort leaves are sometimes eaten raw in salads or cooked as a vegetable similar to spinach but with a more slippery texture. Lungwort is used to flavor the alcoholic beverage vermouth. For use in medicine, lungwort leaves are gathered and dried.
Until recently, lungwort was believed to contain harmful chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are associated with liver damage. While species of plants related to lungwort do contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, they have not yet been found in lungwort.
Dosage and Administration
To relieve coughing, a common suggestion is to sip up to three cups of lungwort tea throughout the day. This tea may be made by soaking up to 2 teaspoons of dried lungwort in about 8 ounces of boiling water for 10 minutes to 15 minutes and then straining out the solid particles. Lungwort tea may also be cooled and applied topically to treat hemorrhoids or minor skin irritations.
Occasionally lungwort is available by itself as extracts and other oral dosage forms, but it is more often combined with other herbals--such as white horehound--that are also promoted to treat conditions of the respiratory tract. All the products containing lungwort have different directions for use. Individuals who decide to take a lungwort preparation should follow the dosage recommendations on the package that is bought.
Summary
The traditional use of lungwort to treat respiratory conditions has little scientific support. It may be a mild astringent, however, which could give it some effectiveness in relieving minor skin conditions when it is applied topically.
Risks
Lungwort is not recommended for use by young children or by pregnant or breast-feeding women.
Side Effects
No side effects have been attributed to taking or applying lungwort.
Interactions
Lungwort shows slightly anticoagulant effects in laboratory studies, so it may increase the risk of bleeding when it is taken orally while a blood-thinning drug or herbal product is also being taken. Topically applied lungwort is not known to interact with any drugs, herbals, or foods.
Revised October 12, 2007
References
Byshevskii AS, Gerbert IIa, Dement'eva IA, Leven PI, Chiriat'ev EA. Nature, properties and the mechanism of the effect on blood coagulation of the preparation obtained from Pulmonaria officinalis. [Article in Russian] Gematol Transfuziol. 1990;35(10):6-9.
Grieve M. Lungwort. In: A Modern Herbal. New York: Dover Publishers, 1971. Available at: http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/mgmh.html. Posted 1995. Accessed November 3, 2003.
Hoffmann DL. Lungwort herb. Herbal Materia Medica. No date given. Available at: http://www.healthy.net/asp/templates/article.asp?PageType=article&ID=1410. Accessed November 4, 2003.
Jellin JM, Gregory P, Batz F, Hitchens K, et al, eds. Pharmacist's Letter/Prescriber's Letter. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 3rd Edition. Stockton CA: Therapeutic Research Facility, 2000.
Leven PI, Dement'eva IA, Chabanov MK. The anticoagulant action of a factor from the nondialyzed fraction of the ammoniacal extract of the lungwort, Pulmonaria mollissima. [Article in Russian] Eksp Klin Farmakol. 1992;55(1):38-40.
Liu S. Radiosensitivity of marrow stromal cells and the effect of some radioprotective agents. [Article in Chinese] Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao. 1991 Oct;13(5):338-342.
Luthy J, Brauchli J, Zweifel U, Schmid P, Schlatter C. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in medicinal plants of Boraginaceal: Borago officinalis L. and Pulmonaria officinalis L. [Article in German] Pharma Acta Helvetica. 1984;59(9-10):242-246.
Plants for a Future Database. Pulmonaria officinalis. No date given. Available at: http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Pulmonaria+officinalis. Accessed November 4, 2003.
Revised October 12-20-2007
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.