Comprehensive treatment of colds: Using mustard oils and bitter substances

In the course of colds, which are mostly of a viral origin, it is not uncommon for an additional bacterial infection to develop.

"For the treatment of acute, uncomplicated infections of the respiratory tract, such as bronchitis or sinusitis, multimodal plant anti-infectives such as the isothiocyanates from nasturtiums and horseradish should preferably be used," says Dr. Dr. Erwin Häringer, general practitioner and naturopath, Munich.

The mustard oil combination fights viruses [literature 1-3] and bacteria [literature 4-12] and can thus counteract the development of superinfections. The plant substances also have great anti-inflammatory potential [Literature 13-21].

In order to achieve additional secretolytic therapeutic effects in the case of the common cold cough, phytotherapeutic agents with horehound - the medicinal plant of the year 2018 - can also be used.

"In this way, colds can be treated comprehensively," continues Häringer.

The increasing popularity of phytotherapeutic agents continues unabated. Especially with colds, many sufferers rely on herbal preparations - preferably those whose effects have been extensively proven. Today, mustard oils are among the best-studied medicinally effective plant substances. Numerous research projects are available for the detection of the triple-acting isothiocyanate mixture of nasturtium and horseradish root.

If the common cold is accompanied by an annoying cough, the medicinal plant horehound can be used in addition to the isothiocyanates. Plant medicine has anti-inflammatory [Literature 22, 23], spasmolytic [Literature 24, 25] and, in the case of stuck mucus, secretolytic [Literature 26] properties.

"Nowadays the horehound is almost unknown outside of specialist circles," says Dr. Johannes Gottfried Mayer, spokesman for the monastery medicine research group from Würzburg.

"Marrubium vulgare - this is the Latin name of horehound - was used over 2,000 years ago for catarrh of the respiratory tract, especially bronchitis, and was one of the most important medicinal plants in Europe from ancient times until well into modern times", Mayer continues.

The horehound had been an integral part of the monastery herb gardens since the 8th century at the latest, but was subsequently forgotten. With the election of Medicinal Plant of the Year 2018 by the Study Group Development History of Medicinal Herbology at the University of Würzburg, the traditional medicinal plant has regained increasing popularity.

In addition to the bitter substance marrubiin, horehound contains numerous flavonoids and tannins. According to new findings, the bitter substances from the plant in particular seem to be of significant therapeutic relevance. They stimulate specific receptors in the bronchial tract, which triggers the release of antibacterial substances and bronchodilation [literature 27]. In addition, a study by scientists from the USA indicates that targeted stimulation of the bitter receptors can strengthen the immune system [literature 28]. Increased stimulation of the bitter receptors could offer greater protection against infection, while a lower function increases the susceptibility to infections, the researchers conclude.

The active ingredients from the plant are available in medicinally effective form as pressed juice or as a highly concentrated horehound extract, which is used for coughs and colds and is only available in pharmacies.