Remedies for healing
The physicians of antiquity did not yet mention the lungwort. Paracelsus, however, used in various lung diseases the lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis). He wrote, “Through liquorem pulmonariae asthma is cured” (II, 637). In folk medicine the lungwort is applied for cough with little or a lot of mucus, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, hoarseness and sore throat. Often the herb is administered together with plantain and horsetail.
It is believed that the white spots on the leaves of the lungwort stem from the milk of the Virgin Mary and that it dripped onto the plant. After Paracelsus’ doctrine of signature one could detect in the white spotted leaves a resemblance to the lungs which – after Paracelsus – gives an indication to the application for lung problems.
The leaves are the most curative plant parts. They contain most silica as well as mucilage, tannins, minerals (potassium and calcium salts) and small amounts of saponin. These agents provide mucilaginous, expectorant, anti-inflammatory and astringent results. The lungwort is used not only for lung diseases, but also in cases of diarrhea and hemorrhoids, due to the high content of tannin.
Herbal tea against lung and bronchial ailments:
200 g dried lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis L.)
200 g plantain leaves (Plantago lanceolata L.)
100 g nettle leaves (Urtica dioica L.)
100 g horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.)
From this mixture, take 1 heaped teaspoon for 1 cup, but prepare right away in the morning the quantity for 3 cups and add for 3 cups 3 teaspoons of honey after straining and cooling to the heat which is agreeable for drinking. Drink in sips this elixir during the day (Willfort, p 343).
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–Literature
Paracelsus: Sämtliche Werke (Complete Works), Anger: Verlag Eick; 1993, vol. II
– Willfort, Richard: Gesundheit durch Heilkräuter (Health through medicinal herbs), Rudolf Trauner Verlag, Linz; 23 Edition 1986
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