Horehound(Marrubium vulgare) is referred to as White Horehound and is in the mint(Laminacea) family. It grows wild in many areas of the world, including the US, Europe, Asia and South America. It has a distinctive soft, crinkly, grey leaf, and is a perennial that grows to approx. 25 to 45 centimeters tall.

The use of Horehound in folklore extends back in history, and was written about by the 1st century BC. It appears in numerous ancient herbal texts, including De Medicina by the Roman author Aulus Cornelius Celsus , who discussed its use to support respiratory health*, which many still use it for today. Other herbalists have mentioned Horehound thoughout history, such as John Gerard, The Herball, and Dr. John Tennent, Every Man His Own Doctor: or, The Poor Planter’s Physician .

In modern times, horehound can be found as a common ingredient included in natural cough drops*.

Horehound contains a wide range of bitter tasting constituents, which may explain its popularity for use as an herbal. * These include Vitamin C, flavonoids, essential oils, saponins and alkaloids, along with specific components including luteolin, quercetin 3 glycoside and quercetin 3-rhamnoglycoside, and unique components including marrubin.