Already forgotten medicinal plants Andorn is the medicinal plant of the year 2018

What positive effects does Andorn have on health??
As every year, the University of Würzburg selects the medicinal plant of the year. This year, the experts decided for the hornet (Marrubium vulgare). Most people will not know this, but the hornet has many qualities that promote good health.

The physicians of the University of Würzburg have now chosen Andorn as a medicinal herb for the year 2018. This plant is hardly known in today's society as a medicinal plant and is often referred to as the White Horehound or the Horde of the Wall.

The medicinal plant of the year 2018. Image: katharinarau-fotolia

What are the typical features of Andorn??
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) was already used by the ancient Greeks and Egyptians. In the present time, however, the healing effect of the plant has rather fallen into oblivion. The plant grows mostly at the edges of paths, blooms there from June to September and reaches heights of approximately 30 to 80 cm. The plant has small white flowers and hollow filzig hairy vierkantige stems. In addition, the undersides of the marginal toothed leaves of the medicinal plant are hairy, explain the experts.

Which diseases can Andorn help?
Normally, andorn grows in the area from the Mediterranean to Central Asia. But also in Central and Northern Europe, the plant has been around for a long time. It is possible to process the whole plant. Hornet contains so-called diterpene bitter substances. The main part of the bitter substances consists of Marrubiin. In addition, the plant still contains tannins and small amounts of an essential oil. In general, bitter and tannins are said to have a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the components of the plant stimulate gastric acidity and gastrointestinal movement. Andorn helps against gallbladder problems, flatulence, bloating and loss of appetite.

Indigestion and respiratory diseases can be treated with andorn
Horehound is mostly used for indigestion and respiratory problems. The plant promotes the expectoration, say physicians. Already the well-known physician and alchemist Paracelsus saw in the plant a medicine of the lung. Hornet helps to liquefy tight tough bronchial mucus. So the mucus can be better transported and coughed off. The essential oil in the plant leads to the observed effect. In addition, the plant helps with so-called mild dyspeptic symptoms, such as bloating and flatulence. Even with a temporarily occurring loss of appetite, the plant can remedy the situation, say the researchers. The containing bitter substances lead to an increased bile flow. However, the experts recommend that the plant should only be used in adults and children over 12 years.

In what form can the plant be eaten??
The plant may be taken, for example, in the form of tea. This is then taken three times a day before meals. The tea itself can be made with a teaspoon of andorn and the addition of 150 ml of hot water. However, the plant is also available as a finished drug in pharmacies. Such drops should liquefy existing secretions and also have an analgesic and anti-spasmodic effect. In addition, the coughing of the tough bronchial mucus is facilitated. It is recommended by physicians that adults and children over the age of twelve before meals take 40 drops three times daily with enough fluid. However, a dosage of 120 drops per day should not be exceeded.

Hopefully in the future more people will become aware of andorn
In addition to the positive effect of the bitter substances, the experts also found so-called analgesic and anti-edematous effects in a model on mice. The Horner has been part of our European history of medicine for about 2000 years and was once among the most popular medicinal plants, the experts explain. Perhaps the award for medicinal plant of the year 2018 will lead to the horde becoming a commonly used natural remedy even today. (As)