Packaging: 30g (or 500g & 1kg) containing the aerial parts of the Ballota hirsuta (Horehound).

(The price includes VAT.)

Other Names: Valoti, Lychnarakia, Greek horehound & Ballota acetabulosa

Ballota hirsuta (Horehound) is a perennial aromatic herb with a woody base, reaching heights of up to 60 cm.

Its leaves are heart-shaped, fluffy, soft, and have a light green color.

The calyces, resembling small cones, are used as wicks in lamps and burn all night without producing smoke.

For those nostalgic for the old days, who remember their grandmother lighting the lamp with plant-based wicks instead of synthetic ones. Known as a herb since ancient times, Dioscorides referred to it as "Gnothera." After the fall of the Byzantine Empire, it was used in empirical medicine. In the Middle Ages, it was considered one of the best remedies for wound healing.

The dried calyces of the plant, which resemble small cones, are placed in pairs after removing the seed from one of them, inverted into oil, and lit. The flame would burn all night without producing smoke.

THERAPEUTIC USES:

The plant has antispasmodic properties and is primarily administered in cases of whooping cough in children and for neuropsychotic disorders. Its main constituents include flavonoid glycosides, chlorogenic acid, traces of essential oil, and diterpene lactones. It acts as an anti-rabies, antibacterial, tonic, astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, antioxidant, and antispasmodic. It is used for depression, anxiety, and hysteria and is suitable for nausea and vomiting when the cause is found in the nervous system rather than in the stomach. It also alleviates pregnancy-related vomiting.

In homeopathy, it is used for cough, insomnia, and nervous system disorders. It reduces cholesterol levels and cleanses the blood while alleviating itching from mosquito bites. For therapeutic purposes, the leaves and flowering tops of the plant are commonly used, particularly for its antispasmodic properties in cases of whooping cough in children and neuropsychotic disorders.

The antimicrobial action of the plant was documented by Çanakkale University, Turkey.

Its antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, and cytotoxic properties were studied and documented by the Université du Droit et de la Santé Lille in France and the Catholic University of Louvain, Wallonia, Belgium.

The high flavonoid content of the plant was documented by Near East University in Cyprus. Flavonoids possess antispasmodic, anti-allergic, diuretic, and anti-helminthic actions. Their contribution to human health has been proven beneficial in many cases, as they activate enzymes that reduce the likelihood of certain types of cancer, heart disease, and age-related degenerative diseases.

Origin: Greece, Imathia region (Cultivable)

Storage: Keep in a cool, dark place (5°C – 15°C)

Preparation: 1 tablespoon of Ballota hirsuta (Horehound) (or a pinch of uncrushed) is boiled with 1 glass of boiling water in a covered container, left for 10-15 minutes, and strained before use.