Coltsfoot is a perennial member of the sunflower family that is native
to Eurasia and now naturalized in some parts of North America. Although
it closely resembles the dandelion,
the herb appears several weeks
earlier in the spring season. Coltsfoot also lacks the toothed leaves
that are characteristic of dandelion.
In fact, the plant doesn’t produce
leaves at all until the flowers set seed.
In Germany and Austria, coltsfoot, also known as coughwort, was once
used to produce teas, tonics and syrups to counter various respiratory
complaints. The herb also has a long history of use in China for similar
purposes.
Although coltsfoot contains quercetin, kaempferol and other
anti-inflammatory compounds, the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids
makes the internal use of the herb risky.
