Horehound is not native to the Southwest, it is an Old World plant, but it has made the desert margins its home. It’s not invasive here in the Southwest* by any means, rather you can find a few rare scattered clumps of it here or there, often by old dwellings or settlements, perhaps along a water course.
Horehound Name
Horehound is Marrubium vulgare, is also called hoarhound, common horehound, or white horehound. It is in the mint family. There is a black horehound in a different genus. Black or stinking horehound, Ballota nigra, is a strong smelling, weedy species which can be toxic if ingested in large quantities. Do not confuse it with this common horehound, also called white horehound.
The genus name, Marrubium, comes to us from the Hebrew “marrob” or bitter, and that’s the Greek name for it too. This tells us just how extensively and for how long the plant has been used. The interweb says that the ancient Egyptians used the leaves as a cough medicine.
The term “vulgare” in the scientific name means horehound is common in fields, not forest. While we discussing naming conventions, “officinalis” means ‘of the officina,’ which was the place where herbs were stored for the hospitals. I find it interesting that rosemary was Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) but the equally useful horehound was not Marrubium officinalis.
Horehound is Hoary
Horehound was once commonly spelled hoarhound. The inch-long leaves have a densely crinkled surface and are covered in downy hairs, making the whole plant appear to be covered with hoarfrost, hence the name.
This mat of downy hairs means that the plant can withstand the low humidity of the Southwest fairly well. They help protect the leaves from sunlight and also help reduce evapotranspiration.
Word Nerd on Hoary
The word comes from the Old English har meaning hoary, gray, venerable, or old, the connecting notion being gray hair. Presumed to be from from Proto-Germanic haira. This is similar to the Old Norse harr, meaning gray-haired, or old. Then in Old Saxon, and Old High German hehr came to mean distinguished, noble, or glorious. German now uses the word as a title of respect, in Herr.
Horehound Use
Horehound has been used to treat colds and flu in the Old World since time out of mind. These uses found their way into our corner of the New World and were used in much the same way.
The Navaho (Dine) would soak the leaves in water (make an infusion) and drink this for sore throats, coughs, and influenza. The natives of Santa Ysabel used horehound as an infusion to treat colds and whooping cough. (These natives are the Iipay, a federally recognized tribe of Kumeyaay Indians, sometimes known as Mission Indians.) The Cahuilla used horehound infusion to help cleanse the kidneys.
Is Horehound Useful?
Here’s the information from a 2024 study. “Marrubium vulgare is a plant known for its antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, fungi, herpes simplex virus, and parasites, as well as its wound-healing properties. In this study, M. vulgare extract demonstrated significant antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity, which aligns closely with previously published data, confirming the plant’s potential in therapeutic applications against various microbial pathogens.”
Not Just for Medicine
The leaves of horehound are used in many ways. Horehound beer is somewhat similar to American root beer. Children in parts of Europe grew up drinking this beverage. I like a mild cup of horehound herbal tea every so often (recipe below). Horehound is used to make bitters, and is then used for the rock and rye cocktail.
Around the homestead, horehound is considered useful in the garden to as a natural grasshopper repellent. An old recipe to kill flies in the dairy barn is to infuse horehound into milk then set it out in a shallow dish.
Horehound Tea
The forager from yesteryear, Euell Gibbons, In Stalking the Healthful Herbs made 1 cup of fresh horehound leaves in 2 cups of water for medicinal purposes. Infuse for 10 minutes, sweeten and drink. Elsewhere, he uses one handful of horehound leaves in 2 cups of water to make a refreshing tea. I say “elsewhere” because I read it years ago and don’t recall which one of his books. I also recall that the idea behind a “handful” is that that people’s hands differ in size, so the hand of a small person indicates the amount that would be good for their size body. This is seen in virtually every folk medicine around the world. You size the amount of the herb to the individual being treated. Other plants to forage for tea.
Forage Horehound
Years ago, I found some horehound plants straggling along in the Santa Rita Mountains, near a long ago abandoned dwelling, as indicated by the vestiges of a chimney. I took several cuttings to root in water and they grew into lovely plants. They survived in my yard for over a decade but did not survive the move to a later home. I wonder now if perhaps they were the offspring of plants brought into the Pimería Alta by Father Kino or those that came after him.
Harvest & Storage
Horehound is most rich in it’s flavorful and medicinal compounds just as the plant goes into flower – which is about now in my garden. The leaves are dried and stored, or made into a candy or lozenge while fresh.
The charming seed pods can be used in dried arrangements, but a they are a tad prickly to handle.
Notes
* For some reason New Zealand and Australia do have issues with the horehound becoming and invasive weed. Not a problem for us.
Father Kino’s Herbs – More about Horehound
The last few copies of this out-of-print award winning Southwestern book are now for sale. Father Kino’s Herbs: Growing and Using Them Today The review says:
“Award-winning garden writer Dr. Jacqueline A. Soule has pulled together a fascinating book on the life of Father Eusebio Francisco Kino and some of the plants that he brought to Southern Arizona and northwestern Sonora, and area called the Pimeria Alta.”
This link is to our sales site. The profits from the sale go to the local Horticulture Therapy non-profit Tierra del Sol Institute. We hope you will help support this great Southwest non-profit!
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Disclaimer
The authors of this website have researched the edibility of the materials we discuss, however, humans vary in their ability to tolerate different foods, drinks, and herbs. Individuals consuming flowers, plants, animals or derivatives mentioned in this blog do so entirely at their own risk. The authors on this site cannot be held responsible for any adverse reaction. In case of doubt please consult your medical practitioner.
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