Houndstongue

Other Names : Cynoglossum officinale, beggar’s lice, dog’s tongue, sheep bur, dog bur, sheep lice, glovewort, woolmat

Special Precautions of Houndstongue

Cynoglossum officinale contains tumorigenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. It is toxic to cows and is specially dangerous to pasture owners.

Health Benefits and Uses of Houndstongue

Houndstongue has a long history of use for a variety of magical, medicinal, and practical purposes.

• The name houndstongue comes from the belief that a leaf worn in the shoe could ward off dog attacks.
• Extracts of roots and leaves of houndstongue have been used in folk remedies for various ailments including fever, eczema, acne vulgaris, and hemorrhoids.
• Houndstongue ointment is said to cure baldness.
• The red pigments of the outer root surface are antibacterial and reportedly have wound-healing properties.
• Roots and leaves have been used as pesticides and leaves have been used to repel moles in gardens and rodents from stored foods.