Who still knows horehound? Once a staple in every monastery garden, known from every medieval herbal book, today it's barely a familiar name – common horehound (Marrubium vulgare) is one of the most underrated medicinal herbs of our time. Even Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179) wrote about its healing power in her Physica: “Anyone who suffers from the throat, but also anyone who has a cough, should drink this horehound wine and the cough will subside.”
Horehound belongs to the mint family – a relative of sage, lavender, and peppermint. As one of the most important Hildegard herbs, it stands for respiratory health, digestion, and inner warmth in monastic medicine. There’s no good reason it’s been forgotten – it’s high time to bring it back. In 2018, it was named Medicinal Plant of the Year.
In this article, you’ll learn all about horehound: how it supports coughs, the respiratory tract, and digestion, how to properly prepare horehound tea, and what exactly Hildegard von Bingen did with this plant.
Expert Opinion: What Does Science Say About Horehound?
“These days, horehound as a medicinal plant is almost a bit forgotten. But it has a lot to offer: Dioscorides already wrote that it draws mucus from the chest, Paracelsus called it the ‘doctor of the lungs’ – and it also appears in the writings of Hildegard von Bingen for this very use. Its expectorant effect, meaning it helps loosen mucus, is also supported by spasmolytic, analgesic, and vasorelaxant properties.”
Source: PhytoDoc – Horehound: How the Medicinal Plant of the Year 2018 Works, professionally reviewed by Prof. Dr. Michael Wink, medicinal plant expert and co-author of the standard reference “Handbook of Medicinal Plants” (Wiss. Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart, 2015).
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) also officially recognizes horehound herb (Marrubii herba) as a traditional herbal medicine – for colds with cough as well as for loss of appetite and mild digestive complaints.
What Hildegard von Bingen described intuitively is confirmed by modern phytotherapy: The active ingredient marrubiin – a diterpene bitter compound found only in horehound – is now well characterized pharmacologically. It has a mucus-loosening effect on the bronchi, relaxes the respiratory muscles, and also stimulates digestive juices. The Monastic Medicine Research Group at the University of Würzburg describes it as a plant of great cultural and historical interest, which has been unjustly forgotten from a medical perspective.
Horehound – the Forgotten Healing Herb of the Monasteries
Common horehound (Marrubium vulgare) is a perennial, herbaceous plant from the mint family (Lamiaceae). It grows between 20 and 80 cm tall, has silvery-gray, velvety hairy leaves, and small white flowers arranged in dense whorls around the stem. Its scent is aromatic and spicy, and its taste is intensely bitter. Even the botanical name hints at this: Marrubium comes from the Hebrew marrub (= bitter juice).
Originally from the western Mediterranean, horehound was cultivated throughout Europe in the Middle Ages – no monastery garden was without it. The famous “Lorsch Pharmacopoeia” from the 8th century lists it, as does the “Hortulus” by the monk Walahfrid Strabo from the Reichenau monastery. And finally, Hildegard von Bingen also describes it in detail in her Physica: as “warming and drying in the second degree,” effective for throat ailments, coughs, and troubled intestines.
Since the 19th century, horehound has increasingly faded into obscurity – undeservedly so. In Germany today, it’s rare in the wild and even endangered, which means collecting it from nature is prohibited. However, it’s easy to grow in your own herb garden. You can find it in stores as dried herb and in ready-made products.
Active Compounds in Horehound Herb
The most important active compounds in horehound are its diterpene bitter substances, especially marrubiin (minimum content according to EMA: 0.7% in the dried herb), as well as premarrubiin and marrubic acid. There are also up to 7% tannins, ursolic acid, choline, flavonoids, and about 0.05% essential oils with limonene and camphene. This combination makes horehound a classic aromatic bitter (amarum-aromaticum) – just like wormwood, which plays a similar role in Hildegard medicine.
Growing Horehound in the Monastery Garden
In your own garden, horehound is an easy-care, perennial addition. It prefers a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained, not too nutrient-rich soil. It doesn’t tolerate waterlogging. You can grow it from seed or by dividing older plants. In mild winters, it even keeps its leaves – so you can harvest fresh leaves all year round. Harvest the upper, flowering shoot tips, best from May to August.
Horehound Effects: Why It Earned the Name “Doctor of the Lungs”
Paracelsus called it the “doctor of the lungs” – and even today, that name fits. Horehound’s effects are broad and well documented. The focus is on the respiratory tract, but horehound can do much more.
Mucus-loosening and cough-soothing: Marrubiin is the key active compound. It activates bitter receptors not only in the mouth and throat, but also directly on the muscle cells of the bronchial system. When these receptors are triggered, the bronchi widen, stubborn mucus loosens, and it’s easier to cough it up. Horehound herb is therefore traditionally and, as confirmed by a positive EMA monograph, used for coughs from colds, catarrh of the respiratory t
Antispasmodic: The essential oils and marrubiin have a relaxing effect on the smooth muscles of the airways. This is especially important for dry, irritating coughs, where bronchial spasms—not mucus—are the main issue. Similar antispasmodic properties are also known from wormwood and hyssop, two other Hildegard herbs for the respiratory tract.
Supports digestion and stimulates appetite: Thanks to its high bitter compound content, horehound stimulates the production of gastric juice, bile, and saliva. It helps with loss of appetite, feeling of fullness, and bloating. The tannins also protect and help regenerate the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines. You can learn more about the role of bitter compounds in Hildegard medicine in our article on liver cleansing according to Hildegard von Bingen.
Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial: Laboratory studies have shown antibacterial properties of horehound extracts against various pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus. Extracts also show anti-inflammatory effects, which explains their use as a gargle for mouth and throat inflammations. This application has been passed down in folk medicine for centuries.
Warming according to Hildegard von Bingen: Hildegard described horehound as "warm and drying in the second degree." In her theory of temperaments, this means: It is especially suited for people with a phlegmatic-cold constitution—that is, those prone to mucus, susceptibility to colds, and sluggish digestion. For a deeper understanding of Hildegard’s healing system, take a look at our overview article on Hildegard medicine.
Hildegard’s recipe for ear ailments: Beyond the respiratory and digestive tracts, Hildegard von Bingen also described horehound for deaf ears: The herb should be boiled in water, the warm steam then directed into the ears, and the warm herb used as a compress around the ears and head. Whether this use stands up to scientific scrutiny is debatable—but it shows how broadly Hildegard valued the potential of this plant.
Note: Horehound should not be used in cases of stomach or intestinal ulcers. Caution is advised during pregnancy, as horehound has traditionally also been used for menstrual discomfort. If you are taking other medications, consult your doctor. Hildegard’s healing methods are based on tradition and experience; scientific evidence does not equally support all uses.
Horehound Tea: Preparation & Healing Properties According to Hildegard
With 800 monthly searches, "horehound tea" is the most common keyword related to the practical use of horehound. Tea is the classic and simplest way to use it—and the one Hildegard von Bingen relied on most often.
The Classic Hildegard Recipe: Horehound Wine
Hildegard von Bingen preferred horehound not as a water-based tea, but as a wine extract—a preparation that remains part of the Hildegard tradition today. Her traditional recipe for coughs is: Boil horehound herb together with fennel and dill in wine, strain, and drink warm.
| Ingredient | Amount | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Horehound herb (dried) | 3 tbsp (approx. 6–8 g) | Loosens mucus, calms cough, bitter compound effect |
| Fennel herb or seeds | 1 tbsp | Antispasmodic, soothes bronchi and stomach |
| Dill herb | 1 tbsp | Supports digestion, warming |
| White wine (dry) | 500 ml | Carrier for fat-soluble compounds, warming effect |
How to Prepare Horehound Wine
Bring the herbs and wine to a boil and let simmer gently for 3–4 minutes. Then strain through a fine sieve or cloth and keep warm in a thermos. Adults drink half a cup warm every 3 hours until symptoms improve. Our horehound herbal blend package already contains the finished combination of horehound, fennel, dill, and mullein blossoms—perfectly matched to this Hildegard recipe.
Horehound Tea with Water – The Alcohol-Free Option
If you want to avoid alcohol—such as children, pregnant women (after consulting a doctor), or those looking for wormwood tea as an alternative—you can also prepare horehound as a classic water-based tea:
Ingredients: 1–2 teaspoons dried horehound herb (approx. 1.5–3 g) per 150 ml boiling water.
Preparation: Place the horehound herb in a tea strainer or teapot, pour boiling water over it, and let steep for 5–10 minutes. Then strain.
Dosage and Use: For respiratory issues and coughs: 1 cup between meals, sweetened with a teaspoon of honey—the honey not only makes the intense bitter taste more pleasant but also soothes irritated mucous membranes. For digestive complaints and loss of appetite: 1 cup before meals, drink unsweetened so the bitter compounds can work fully. Daily dose: up to 4.5 g horehound herb according to EMA monograph.
Do not use for more than 4 weeks without a break. Children under 12 should only have the water-based tea (never the wine extract) and only after consulting a doctor or naturopath.
Horehound as a Gargle
In folk medicine, horehound tea was also used as a gargle for mouth and throat inflammations. Simply gargle the cooled (but still warm) tea several times a day without swallowing. The tannins have an astringent effect on inflamed mucous membranes. This external use is a great addition to strengthening the immune system during cold symptoms.
Horehound in Hildegard Healing: Combinations & Herbal Tradition
Hildegard von Bingen never used horehound as a single herb, but always in combination. Her most famous recipe combines it with fennel (antispasmodic, calming) and dill (supports digestion, warming)—a trio,
which is also preserved in our Andorn Herbal Blend product.In monastic medicine, horehound was often used in herbal wine elixirs—similar to the Hart's Tongue herbal drink, which connects liver and lungs. Hildegard saw the liver and lungs as closely linked organs: if you support the liver, you also support the airways. So, if you’re dealing with persistent cough, Hildegard recommends keeping both in mind.
Beyond horehound, Hildegard medicine also recommends hyssop, bertram, and masterwort for respiratory conditions. You’ll find a comprehensive overview of Hildegard’s herbs for strong airways in our collection for healthy airways.
Conclusion: Horehound—a monastic treasure worth rediscovering
Horehound is an extraordinary medicinal herb: used for thousands of years, its effects recognized by science, and yet almost forgotten. If you turn to Hildegard von Bingen’s monastic remedies for coughs, colds, or digestive troubles, you can’t overlook this plant.
Whether as a warm horehound wine with fennel and dill following an old monastery recipe, as a tea with honey, or as part of a comprehensive cold regimen—horehound fits many situations. No wonder Paracelsus called it the “doctor of the lungs” and Hildegard described it as a warming universal herb for throat, lungs, and intestines.
Browse our shop for healthy airways and discover our organic horehound herb as well as the ready-made horehound herbal blend combination based on Hildegard’s recipe—so you can easily bring this forgotten monastic herb into your daily life.
