Application
Lungwort was used in medieval monastic medicine. For example, Hildegard of Bingen mentions the herb as a good remedy for coughs, asthma, and other lung disorders.
Lungwort is an example of the doctrine of signatures. It was a theory that the appearance of the plant gave information about which diseases it could cure. The spotted leaves of the lungwort can look like a sick lung, and according to the doctrine of signatures, the leaves could be used to cure lung diseases. Another way to link the herb to the lungs is the color of the flowers. The flowers are pink when they have just sprouted. Later they change color to blue-violet. This corresponds to the color change in the blood depending on whether it is flowing to or from the lungs.
Lungwort is said to have an effect on coughs, colds, flu, bronchitis, sore throats and diarrhea. In addition, the content of tannins and flavonoids provides an astringent effect that has a wound-healing effect.
Ingredients
Saponin, tannins, flavonoids, silicic acid, mucilage, allantoin and calcium salts
Photo of page in Joachim Burser's herbarium
