LYCOPUS - BUGLEWEED

Family: (Mint family) ^[E-flora]

John M. Miller & Dieter H. Wilken

"Perennial herb from rhizome, glabrous or hairy. Stem: erect, branched or not. Leaf: short-petioled to sessile; blade generally ovate to lanceolate, margin toothed to deeply lobed or cut. Inflorescence: head-like in leaf axils. Flower: calyx generally 5-lobed, lobes ± equal, obtuse to short-awned; corolla ± bilateral, not 2-lipped, generally 4-lobed, lobes ± unequal; stamens 2, exserted, staminodes 2, minute, club-shaped; style exserted. Fruit: nutlets ± compressed, truncate to rounded, edges corky-thickened.
14 species: temperate North America, Eurasia, Australia. (Greek: wolf foot, from French common name) [Moon et al. 2006 J Plant Res 119:633–644]" ^[Jepson]

Local Species;

1. Lycopus americanus - Cut-leaved water horehound ^[E-flora]
2. Lycopus asper - Rough water horehound ^[E-flora]
3. Lycopus europaeus - European horhound ^[E-flora]
4. Lycopus uniflorus - Northern water horehound ^{[E-flora][PCBC]}

Cut-leaved Water Horehound - Lycopus americanus

Identification

"Lycopus americanus is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in). It is hardy to zone (UK) 4. It is in flower from Jul to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil." ^[PFAF]

Synonyms

• Lycopus americanus var. longii Benner Lycopus americanus var. scabrifolius Fern. Lycopus sinuatus Ell.^[E-flora]
  

"General: Perennial herb from rhizome, without tubers; stems erect, 20-80 cm tall, slender, simple or branched, 4-angled, generally glabrous but nodes short-hairy." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}
"Leaves: Opposite, oblong to lanceolate, 3-8 cm long, 1-3.5 cm wide, tips pointed, bases tapering to a short stalk, margins coarsely, irregularly and deeply toothed or cleft, lower teeth larger; uppermost leaves shallowly toothed to entire." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}
"Flowers: Inflorescence of many head-like, axillary flower clusters; corollas tubular, 4-lobed, white, 2-3 mm long, about the length of calyces; calyx teeth 5, awl-like, short-awned." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}
"Fruits: Nutlets, 4 clustered together, 1-1.5 mm long, 0.8-1.2 mm wide, 3-angled, corky-thickened on edges, smooth and broadly rounded at the top." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}

USDA Flower Colour: White
USDA Blooming Period: Early Summer
USDA Fruit/Seed characteristics:

Colour: Brown

Present from Summer to Fall ^{[USDA-E-flora]}

Edible Uses

• "Root - raw or cooked[207]. This contradicts with the report in [200] that the plant does not form tubers on its rhizomes." ^[PFAF]

Other Uses

• Dye: "The juice gives a permanent colour to linen and wool and does not wash out[207]. The colour is not mentioned[K].^"[PFAF]

Medicinal Uses

• Whole Plant: "The whole plant is used as an astringent, hypoglycaemic, mild narcotic and mild sedative[4, 102, 222, 238]. It also slows and strengthens heart contractions[238]. The plant has been shown to be of value in the treatment of hyperthyroidism[222, 238], it is also used in the treatment of coughs, bleeding from the lungs and consumption, excessive menstruation etc[4, 238]. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women or patients with hypothyroidism[238]. The plant is harvested as flowering begins and can be use fresh or dried, in an infusion or as a tincture[4, 238]."^[PFAF]

Rough Water Horehound - Lycopus asper

Other Names: Rough bugleweed.^[E-flora]

Identification
"Lycopus asper is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil."^[PFAF]

Origin Status: Native ^[E-flora]

Synonyms Lycopus lucidus auct. non Turcz. ex Benth. p.p. Lycopus lucidus subsp. americanus (A. Gray) Hultén Lycopus lucidus var. americanus A. Gray^{[E-flora][PFAF]}

Hazards 

• Plant considered poisonous. (as L. lucidus ssp. americanus 87:427) ^{[NAEth Moerman]}

Edible Uses

• Roots : "The roots of Lycopus asper were dried and boiled as a vegetable by Ojibwa people, who called them "crow potatoes"." [Turner&Kuhnlein] "Root - boiled or dried for later use[46, 61, 105, 161, 257]." ^[PFAF] Dried, boiled, and used for food. [NAEth Moerman]

Medicinal Uses

• Whole Plant: "A decoction of the plant has been given to children as a laxative[257]."^[PFAF]

Phytochemicals

• Seed and Pericarp: 1000 seeds = 0.7g. 25% Oil dry wt. [LLCEOPS]

European Horehound - Lycopus europaeus

"General: Perennial herb from a creeping rhizome; stems erect, unbranched or with ascending branches, 30-100 cm tall, 4-angled, somewhat hairy." [IFBC-E-flora]
"Leaves: Opposite, egg-shaped to lanceolate, to 10 cm long, tips pointed, pinnately-lobed, the lobes triangular and pointed, the lower often lobed to the midrib; short-stalked." [IFBC-E-flora]
"Flowers: Inflorescence of many-flowered, distant clusters, in axils of bracts similar to leaves; corollas tubular, 4-lobed, white with a few small purple dots on lower lip, about 3 mm long and wide; calyces egg-shaped to bell-shaped, the teeth 5, lanceolate, hairy, spine-tipped." [IFBC-E-flora]
"Fruits: Nutlets, 4 clustered together, 4-angled, flat at the top." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Habitat/Range: Wet lakeshores, pond margins and riverbanks in the lowland zone; rare in SE BC (Salmo), common in SW BC, known only from the lower Fraser Valley; introduced from Europe." [IFBC-E-flora]

Hazards

• Lycopus europaeus, L. virginicus; "Bugleweed should not be given to children. Persons with thyroid tumors, hypopituitarism, pituitary adenoma, hypogonadism, congestive heart failure, or hypothyroidism should avoid the use of this herb.... Bugleweed can interfere with procedures using radioactive isotopes (Jellin et al, 2008)." [Skidmore-Roth MHH] "Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Bugleweed) — Class 2b, 2c, 2d. Contraindicated in thyroid enlargement or hypothyroid, and in simultaneous administration of other thyroid treatments (AHP). Long-term use can cause thyroid enlargement. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). Avoid sudden withdrawal; may increase prolactin secretion (SHT)." ^{[HMH Duke]}

Food Use

• Root: Lycopus europaeus; "China: root eaten. Manchuria: starchy tubers eaten" [EMNMPV.11]

Medicinal Use

• Top Indications - Lycopus europaeus, L. virginicus; Diabetes (f; CEB; FAD; FEL); Diarrhea (f; CEB; FEL); Dysentery (f; CEB; FEL); Fever (f; APA; FEL); Gastrosis (f; CEB; FEL); Goiter (f; FEL; MAD); ; Hemoptysis (f; CEB; FEL; MAD); Hyperthyroidism (mild only) (2; APA; HHB; PHR; SHT); Insomnia (2; APA; CEB; FEL; MAD; PHR; PH2; PNC); Mastosis (2; KOM; PHR; SHT); Nervousness (2; APA; CEB; FEL; PHR; PH2; PNC); Phthisis (1; FEL); PMS (2; PHR; SHT); Pulmonosis (f; FAD; FEL);Tuberculosis (f; FEL; MAD); Tumor (f; APA). [HMH Duke]
• Hyperthyroidism:L. virginicus; L. europaeus; "Mild forms of hyperthyroidism can be successfully treated with bugleweed." [Skidmore-Roth MHH]
• Lycopus europaeus, L. virginicus; "Dosages (Bugleweed) — Take only under doctor’s supervision (APA); 1–2 drachms dried herb (FEL); 2 drachms to 4 fluid oz strong tincture (FEL); 1–2 g dry herb/tea (PH2); 0.7–2 ml liquid herb extract (PNC); 0.2–2 g/day crude drug (SHT)." ^{[HMH Duke]}
• "Lycopus europoeus L., a native of Europe, growing in waste places from Massachusetts to Virginia, is said to be frequently collected and sold for L. virginicus. The former may be distinguished by its acutely quadrangular stem, its Farrow lanceolate leaves, of which the lower are somewhat pinnatifid, its more crowded flowers, and the acute segments of its calyx, armed with short spines. It has been employed in Europe as a substitute for quinine." [Remington USD20]

Phytochemicals

• L. europaeus; "According to Pulatova and Sharipov [1], the herb contains 0.2% essential oil, 2.9% resin, 2.3% flavonoids, 0.12% coumarin, 0.24% alkaloids, ascorbic acid, and carotene. Horhammer et al. [2] found amino acids, sugars, 0.15-0.17% essential oil, and a sapogenin. They identified apigenin-7-glucoside, luteolin-7-glucoside, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, ursolic acid, sinapinic acid, ellagic acid, and rosmarinic acid and also reported a fluorine content of 0.09%." [Smet, AEHD-2]

Pharmacology

• "Since it was shown in 1941 that the activity of Lycopus europaeus L., a plant indigenous to Europe, is nearly identical to that of Lycopus virginicus Michx., the latter has been more and more replaced by the former [9]." [Smet, AEHD-2]
• Activities: Lycopus europaeus, L. virginicus; "Antideiodinater (T4) (2; KOM); Antigonadotropic (2; KOM; PH2; SHT); Antihormonal (2; PNC); Antilactagogue (f; MAB); Antioxidant (1; APA); Antiprolactin (1; PH2); Antipyretic (f; APA); Antithyrotropic (2; KOM; PH2; SHT); Antitumor (f; APA); Arteriosedative (f; MAD); Astringent (f; MAD; PNC); Cardiotonic (f; APA; FEL; MAD); Depurative (f; FEL); Digitalic (f; MAD); Hemostat (f; MAD); Narcotic (f; CEB); Poison (f; DEM); Sedative (f; APA; CEB; FEL; PNC); Tonic (f; FEL; HHB)." ^{[HMH Duke]}

Northern Water Horehound - Lycopus uniflorus

Habitat / Range
"Marshes, fens, and stream and lake margins in the lowland and montane zones; frequent in SW BC, less frequent northward and eastward; N to AK, E to NF and S to NC, AR and CA." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}

Origin Status: Native ^[E-flora]

Identification
"Lycopus uniflorus is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). It is hardy to zone (UK) 5. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil." ^[PFAF]

"General: Perennial herb from a slender rhizome that is abruptly thick and tuber-like at tip; stems ascending to erect, 10-60 cm tall, simple or occasionally branched, finely to stiff-hairy, 4-angled." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}
"Leaves: Opposite, elliptic to lanceolate, 2-8 cm long, 0.6-3 cm wide, gradually narrowed at tip and base, glabrous or minutely rough-hairy, margins coarsely and irregularly toothed; usually short-stalked; uppermost leaves not much reduced." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}
"Flowers: Inflorescence of many head-like, axillary flower clusters; corollas tubular, 4-lobed, white or pinkish, 2.5-3.5 mm long, surpassing the calyces; calyx teeth 5, egg-shaped, soft, blunt to somewhat pointed at tips." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}
"Fruits: 'Nutlets, 4 clustered together, 1-2 mm long, 0.8-1.2 mm wide, 3-angled, corky-thickened at edges, somewhat flat and finely toothed at the top." [IFBC-E-flora]

Edible Uses

• Leaves: "The leaves are edible raw but are usually tough and bitter." [Vizgirdas WPSN]
• Roots: Fleshy, white, tuberous roots were usually dug from swampy places in spring, before they began to sprout and were eaten raw, boiled, or pit-cooked. Said to have a sweet, pleasant taste reminiscent of a mild radish. "They could be stored fresh for a few days in a wet sack, and some people dried them for long-term storage." [Turner&Kuhnlein] "Raw or cooked[55, 61, 62, 105, 161]. The roots were a staple food for some native North American Indian tribes[257]. The crisp white tubers can be eaten raw in salads or cooked in soups etc[183]. When boiled for a short time they are said to make an agreeable vegetable, somewhat like Chinese artichokes (Stachys affinis)[183]." ^[PFAF] Tuberous root steamed or baked and used for food. (187:232) [NAEth Moerman] "White tubers eaten raw in salads, boiled, pickled or added to soups and stews" [EMNMPV.11] "The tubers can be added to salads, pickled, or boiled and eaten." [Vizgirdas WPSN]

Medicinal Uses

• Whole Plant: "Antitussive and sedative[61]."^[PFAF]

Uses of non-local Lycopus Sp.

"Unlike most members of the Mint family, the Bugleweeds don't have strongly aromatic foliage. They are of interest because they bear small edible tubers. These can be used like those of their cousins the Woundworts (Stachys). They are propagated in the same ways as those plants, and like the same growing conditions (see Stachys)." [Tozer UWP]

Hazards

• "In rare cases, thyroid enlargement can occur with long-term use. Sudden withdrawal should be avoided, because it may lead to increased prolactin secretion." [Schulz RP]
• "Treatment with Lycopus can arrest the vaginal cycle of mice and rats and reduce the number of offspring [11,13]. As a consequence of the antiprolactin activity, a decreased milk supply was observed in suckling rats [14,50]." [Smet, AEHD-2]
• "Headache as an undesired side effect was mentioned for Thyreogutt and could be avoided by reduction of the dosage [45]." [Smet, AEHD-2]
• Contraindications
  
• Lycopus virginicus; "The drug is contraindicated in hypofunction of the thyroid and thyroid gland enlargement without function disturbance. There should not be any simultaneous administration of thyroid hormone preparations."[PDR]
• Overdosage
  
• Lycopus virginicus; "Enlargement of the diyroid gland is possible only through administration of the drug in very high dosage. Sudden discontinuation of Lycopus preparation can lead to a rebound phenomenon with increased TSH secretion and prolactin secretion, as well as an increase of the hyperthyroid symptom complex and mastodynia." [PDR]

Food Use

• Root: Lycopus lucidus; Rhizomes eaten [EMNMPV.11] L. americanus; L. sessilifolius; L. uniflorus; L. virginicus; All of these species are good. [Tozer UWP]
  

Medicinal Use

• Herb
• "The aerial parts of the bugle weed (Lycopus spp., family Lamiaceae) are harvested just before the plant blooms. Tinctures and infusions of it were used in nineteenth-century America as a remedy for bleeding, especially nosebleeds and menorrhagia." [Schulz RP]
• Lycopus virginicus "The medicinal part is the fresh or dried herb collected during the flowering season." [PDR]
  
• Cold Remedy and Pediatric Aid: Plant compounded with other plants and used for children's colds. (97:51)[NAEth Moerman] "Folk uses of Lycopus include its use as a cough remedy (Covey 1993). It is also believed to have been used as a diuretic, mild sedative, and astringent in a tea or tincture form." [Vizgirdas WPSN]
• Dosages: "HERB. Fresh Plant Tincture [1:2] 15-40 drops, to 3X a day. Standard Infusion of recent plant, 2-3 ounces, also to 3X a day." [Moore (1995)]
• Lycopus virginicus;
• "Daily Dosage: The average daily dose is 1 to 2 gm of the drug for teas, and water-ethanol extracts containing the equivalent of 20 mg of the drug. Each patient has his own individual optimal level qf thyroid hormone. Only rough estimations of dosage are possible for thyroid disorders, in which age and weight must be considered."[PDR]
  
• "Homeopathic Dosage: 5 drops, 1 tablet or 1 0 globules every 30 to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times daily (chronic); parenterally: 1 to 2 ml sc acute, 3 times daily; chronic: once a day (HAB1 )"[PDR]
• Effects.
• Lycopus virginicus; "Bugle weed has antigonadotropic and antithyrotropic effects. It inhibits the peripheral de-iodination of T4. The phenolic constituents of the drug have an atigonadotropic effect. They cause a lowering of the prolactin level and have a depressant effect on the thyroid as a result of an inhibition of iodine transport and the release of preformed thyroid hormone." [PDR]
  
• Lycopus virginicus; "Unproven Uses: Bugleweed is used for mild thyroid hyperfunction associated with disturbances of the autonomic nervous system. It is also used for tension and pain in the breast (mastodynia). In folk medicine, it is used for functional and organic cardiac conditions, liver and kidney disease." [PDR]
  
• Lycopus virginicus; "Homeopathic Uses: Lycopus virginicus is used to treat hyperthyroidism in homeopathic preparations." [PDR]
  
• Precautions and Adverse Reactions
  
• Lycopus virginicus; "General: No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages."[PDR]
  
• Lycopus virginicus; "Drug Interactions: No simultaneous administration of thyroid preparations. Administration of Lycopus preparations disturbs the administration of diagnostic procedures with radioactive isotopes."[PDR]
  

• TCM: herb of Lycopus lucidus var. hirtus is part of a combination of herbs used to treat chronic hepatitis B. [Liu DCH] "If menstruation is irregular, add xiangfu (Cyperus), zelan (Lycopus lucidus) and yimucao (Leonurus) to regulate Qi, relieve depression, mobilize blood and regulate menstruation." [Liu ECM] "It is the whole herb of Lycopus lucidus Turcz. or Lycopus lucidus Turcz. var. hirtus Regel (Labiatae)." Promotes "... blood circulation to remove blood stasis, inducing diuresis and subduing edema."[Xinrong TCM]
• Hyperthyroidism: Lycopus virginicus; "It was discovered that a whole plant extract of Lycopus verginicus (bugle weed) at a dose of 1 to 2 g/day for 50 days could decrease serum TSH and T4 levels in hyperthyroid patients, suggesting that it can ameliorate secondary hyperthyroidism caused by increased TSH.28" [Mishra SBA]

Phytochemicals

• L.virginicus; "Only the occurrence of 0.08% essential oil, a bitter substance lycopin (chemically not defined), resin, gallic acid, and tannic acids has been described [6,7]. Horhammer et al. [2] state that its major constituents are similar to those of Lycopus europaeus. Lithospermic acid was identified by Wagner et al. [3]. Caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and rosmarinic acid have also been found [5]." [Smet, AEHD-2]
• "Caffeic acid derivatives: rosmaric acid, lithospermic acid and their oligomerics created through oxidation Flavonoids: including acacetine-, apigenein-, luteolin glycosides, among them cosmosiin, genkwanin, pilloin, apigenin-, acacetine- and luteolin-7-O-glucuronides." [PDR]
  
• "Diterpenes: tetrahydroxy-delta8(9)-pimaric acid methyl ester" [PDR]
  
• "Volatile oil (0.1%)" [PDR]

Cultivation

• L.americanus; Succeeds in damp meadows or in wet places by ponds or streams[200].[PFAF]
  
• L.asper, L.uniflorus: "We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. This species is often confused with L. lucidus[60]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Tolerates most soil types so long as they are wet. Succeeds in damp meadows or in wet places by ponds or streams[200]." [PFAF]
• "Austral horehound (L. australis) is a tall herb that usually grows on the drier fringes of wetlands, but will also tolerate prolonged flooding. It can form dense thickets and is useful as shelter for smaller animals. Propagation is by the abundantly produced seed sown onto moist to wet soil, and by division." [Romanowski]
  

Propagation

• L.americanus, L.asper, L.uniflorus; "Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame[238]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Division in spring or autumn[238]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring." [PFAF]

References

• [E-flora] Eflora B.C.
• http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Lycopus%20americanus&redblue=Both&lifeform=7 [Accessed: 3/26/2015]
• http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Lycopus%20asper&redblue=Both&lifeform=7 [Accessed: 3/26/2015]
• Lycopus europaeus, http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Lycopus%20europaeus, [Accessed: 04/10/2018 8:23:04 AM ]
• http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Lycopus%20uniflorus&redblue=Both&lifeform=7 [Accessed: 3/26/2015]