Bugle - Treatment and Medical Benefits of Bugle Herb

Latin description: Lycopus virginicus

Common Name: Gipsywort, Sweet Bugle, Virginia Bugle, Virginia water-horehound, Water Bugle, Water-horehound, Western Bugleweed

Parts Used: Whole above ground plant

Medcinal Uses and Benefits of Bugle

• Has been used for mild hyperthyroidism, heart palpitations, coughs related to heart disease, nervous coughs, weak heart (especially when associated with edema), mastodynia (tension and pain in breast), tuberculosis, hemoptysis, hemorrhage in the stomach and bowel, diabetes, excessive urination, and excessive menstruation.
• Has also been used for heavy metal poisoning (combined with yellow dock for lead poisoning) and environmental pollutants.
• Bitter, aromatic, diuretic, peripheral vasoconstrictor, astringent, sedative, nervine, antitussive, antihemorrhagic; was used to control bleeding, suppress cough, lower blood sugar; inhibits thyroid-stimulating hormones; affect on heart is to slow and strengthen contractions. Affects spleen and liver. Inhibits action of thyroid hormones and reproductive hormones associated with the menstrual cycle.
• Has also been used for asthma, bleeding, bronchitis, colds, coughs, fevers, insomnia, premenstrual syndrome, pulmonary hemorrhage, nervous indigestion, Multiple Sclerosis, nerves, nosebleeds, pain, sores, and ulcers. NOTE: Although it was used in conditions of inflammation of the lungs, it was said not to cure, but merely to be helpful.
• Once used by early settlers in the New York and New Jersey areas of the United States for diarrhea and dysentary.
• Also reduces prolactin (hormone which triggers production of breast milk).