Horehound is thought to be native to the Mediterranean region, but the plant was naturalized in northern and central Europe long ago. The drug material comes from imports from southeastern Europe and Morocco. Medicinally, the fresh or dried aerial parts of the horehound (Marrubii herba) are used.
Horehound: characteristics of plant and medicine.
Horehound is a perennial shrub 0.3-0.6 m tall with square stems. The ovate leaves with serrated margins are densely hairy and show a conspicuous leaf vein pattern. Numerous small, white flowers sit in mock whorls in the leaf axils. Horehound is one of the oldest medicinal plants known by tradition. The German name “Andorn” is derived from “without thorns”.
The medicinally used material consists of wrinkled and often cohesive leaf pieces, which are hairy on the underside. In addition, there are also square, softly hairy stem pieces and parts of the white flowers.
What does horehound smell and taste like?
No particular odor emanates from horehound herb. The taste of the herb can be most accurately described as bitter and slightly pungent.