Description
Medicinal Parts
The medicinal part is the fresh or dried herb.
Flower and Fruit
The flowers are in terminal dense racemes. They are sulfur yellow and remain closed until a bee gains entry. The calyx is only fused at the base and is 5-tipped. The corolla has a long sharp spur and is bilabiate with orange edges. There are 2 large and 2 small stamens and 1 superior ovary. The fruit is an orbicular, dry capsule with some chambers, which open when ripe, flinging out the seeds. The seeds are flattened and are in the middle of a circular wing.
Leaves, Stem, and Root
A number of slim, glabrous, erect, simple stems 30 to 60 cm high grow from a perennial creeping root. The numerous leaves are alternate, sessile, very long, and narrow. The leaves and stems are pale blue and completely glabrous.
Habitat
The plant is indigenous to the northern hemisphere and the southwest U.S.
Production
True Toadflax is the flowering herb of Linaria vulgaris.
Other Names
Brideweed, Butter and Eggs, Buttered Haycocks, Calves' Snout, Churnstaff, Devil's Head, Devil's Ribbon, Doggies, Dragon-Bushes, Eggs and Bacon, Eggs and Collops, Flaxweed, Fluellin, Gallwort, Larkspur Lion's Mouth, Monkey Flower, Pattens and Clogs, Pedlar's Basket, Pennywort, Rabbits, Ramsted, Snapdragon, Toadpipe, Yellow Rod
Actions & Pharmacology
Compounds
Iridoide monoterpenes: chief component - antirrhinoside
Flavonoids: including among others linarin, pectolinarin, linariin (pectolinarigenin-7-rhamnoglucoside- acetate)
Aurones: including among others aureusin, bracteatin-6-O-glucoside
Quinazoline alkaloids: peganine (vasicin)
Effects
The main active agents are the flavon glycosides linarin and pectolinarin, pectin, phytosterol, tannic acid, and vitamin C.
The drug is anti-inflammatory. Diaphoretic and diuretic effects have been documented.
Indications & Usage
Unproven Uses
Yellow Toadflax is used internally to aid digestion problems and urinary tract disorders. Externally, the herb is used for hemorrhoids, ablution of festering wounds, skin rashes, and ulcus cruris.
Precautions & Adverse Reactions
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages.
Dosage
Mode of Administration
The powdered form and the extract are used as a diuretic and a mild laxative (tea). Externally the herb is used in poultices.
Preparation
Tea infusion is prepared from 1 to 2 teaspoonfuls of the drug and 2 to 4 cups of boiling water left to steep for 18 minutes.
Daily Dosage
Drink the tea during the course of the day.
