Monograph: Black Horehound

Date: 2018-08-28

NHPID name

Ballota nigra ( Germplasm Resources Information Network Taxonomy )

Proper name(s)

Ballota nigra ( USDA 2008 )

Common name(s)

• Ballotta ( Barnes et al. 2007 , McGuffin et al. 2000 , Grieve 1971[1931] )
• Black hempnettle ( Unavailable )
• Black horehound ( Barnes et al. 2007 , McGuffin et al. 2000 , Grieve 1971[1931] )
• Black stinking horehound ( Unavailable )
• Marrubium nigrum ( Unavailable )

Source material

Herb top ( BHP 1983 )

Route Of administration

Oral

Dosage form(s)

Those suited to the allowable route(s) of administration. This monograph is not intended to include food-like dosage forms such as bars, chewing gums or beverages.

Use(s) or purpose(s)

Statement(s) to the effect of:

• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve digestive spasms (anti-spasmodic) and/or nausea and vomiting (anti-emetic).
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve nausea and vomiting (anti-emetic).  (Bradley 2006, Hoffmann 2003, Williamson et al. 1988)
• Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve digestive spasms (anti-spasmodic).  (Bradley 2006, Williamson et al. 1988, Felter and Lloyd 1983[1898], Grieve 1971[1931])

Dose(s)

Adults:

See Appendix 1 for examples of appropriate dosage preparations and frequencies of use, according to cited references. The purpose of Appendix 1 is to provide guidance to industry.

Duration of use

No statement is required

Risk information

Statement(s) to the effect of:

Caution(s) and Warning(s):

• Consult a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/ physician if symptoms persist or worsen.
• Consult a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/ physician prior to use if you are breastfeeding.

Contraindication(s): Do not use if you are pregnant.  (Brinker 2001) Known Adverse Reaction(s): No statement is required

Non-medicinal ingredients

Must be chosen from the current Natural health products ingredients database and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.

Specifications

• The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the NHPD Quality of natural health products guide.
• The medicinal ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the Natural health products ingredient database (NHPID).
• The medicinal ingredient may comply with the specifications outlined in the Black Horehound Monographs published in the European or British Pharmacopoeias.

References cited

• Barnes J, Anderson LA, Philipson JD. 2007. Herbal Medicines, 3rd edition. London (GB): Pharmaceutical Press.
• BHP 1983: British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Cowling (GB): British Herbal Medical Association; 1983.
• Bradley PR, editor. British Herbal Compendium: A Handbook of Scientific Information on Widely Used Plant Drugs, Volume 2. Bournemouth (UK): British Herbal Medicine Association; 2006.
• Brinker F. 2001. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, 3rd edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications.
• Felter HW, Lloyd JU. King's American Dispensatory, Volume 1, 18th edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 1983 [Reprint of 1898 original].
• Grieve M. 1971. A Modern Herbal, Volume 1. New York (NY): Dover Publications [Reprint of 1931 Harcourt, Brace & Company publication].
• Hoffmann D. 2003. Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester (VT): Healing Arts Press.
• McGuffin M, Kartesz JT, Leung AY, Tucker AO, editors. 2000. Herbs of Commerce, 2nd edition. Austin(TX): American Herbal Products Association.
• USDA 2008: ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville (MD). [Accessed 2008-01-21]. Available at http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl
• Williamson EM, Evans FJ, Wren RC. Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations. Saffron Walden (GB): C.W. Daniel Company Limited; 1988.

References reviewed

Appendix 1: Examples of appropriate dosage preparations, frequencies of use and directions for use

Dried leaf:

0.5-4 g, 1-3 times per day (Bradley 2006)

Infusion:

2-4 g dried aerial parts, 3 times per day (BHP 1983)

Directions for use:

Pour 250 ml (1 cup) of boiling water over dried aerial parts and infuse for 10 to 15 minutes (Hoffmann 2003).
2 g = 1 tsp (Hoffman 2003)

Fluidextract:

1-3 g dried equivalent, 3 times per day
(1:1, 25% ethanol, 1-3 ml) (Bradley 2006)

Tincture:

• 0.2-0.4 g dried equivalent, 3 times per day
  (1:5, 25% ethanol, 1-2 ml) (Hoffmann 2003)
• 0.1-0.2 g dried equivalent, 3 times per day
  (1:10, 45% ethanol, 1-2 ml) (BHP 1983)