A friend of mine recently took a combination of the above herbs for a cough and sore throat. She found that a short while after taking the infusion she experienced intestinal discomfort, a slight griping, and I said I would look into it. She does suffer intermittently with IBS. I wondered whether it was the combined astringency of the herbs that could be having this effect, or one herb in particular. (I do know there are cautions on the use of lungwort,due to the alkaloids, but she was only taking the herbs for a short period of time.) Any suggestions most welcome.

Hi Steph

I am hoping a qualified herbalist will comment on this.

Speaking personally, I'm really surprised she chose this combination and would love to know why she decided to use these particular herbs and how she thought they would be helpful together for a cough and a sore throat. Was she using ordinary daisy or ox-eye daisy or moon daisy?

If she has a cough and sore throat again, maybe she might like to try sage and thyme together. Other herbs would depend on the kind of cough (wet, dry, deep, spasmodic, cold, hot etc)she was experiencing.

Sarah

My thoughts would be that the saponins in the Daisy (Bellis perennis - common daisy - if this is what it was) have irritated an already sensitive stomach.

re alkaloids in Lungwort: if you mean pyrrolizidine alkaloids, I don't think there are any...
(but I'll start another chat on that)



(edited to change Guest to Claire)

Hello

I have seen several cases of lungwort infusions irritating and causing stomach upsets.

I use daisy in alot of preparations and have never noted a reaction before.

The mix isn't one I have used before either -why the ladies mantle?
K