Honey Herb

Location

Honey herb (Lippia dulcis) is found in Central and South America, as well as Caribbean locations (Gornemann 2008).

Description

Honey herb blooms from November until March and grows best in rich, moist soil. A creeping shrub,Lippia dulcis has opposite, ovate leaves and white or pink flowers in heads. The plant has a distinctive sweet lemony taste and smell (Davis 1889). Arvigo and Balick note that, in Belize, honey herb may be found near ponds, pastures, and yards (Arvigo, et al 1993).

History

The medicinal use of Lippia dulcis dates back to the time of the Aztecs. Mesoamericans referred to the honey herb as Tzonpelic xihuitl, which literally means “sweet herb” (Compadre 1985). Honey herb was generally used by the Aztecs to treat coughs, colds, and urinary obstruction. Throughout the Caribbean, Central, and South American areas, the sweet herb was also used as a treatment for bronchitis, asthma, and colic (Gornemann 2008). Much later, Lippia dulcis was introduced to medical circles within the United States. North American healthcare providers of the latter 19th century prescribed tinctures and syrups of the honey herb in order to treat sinus congestion, asthma, bronchitis, and tuberculosis, as well as the common cough or cold (Davis 1889). According to Gornemann, “the combination of both anti-cholinergic and anti-histaminergic activities in the essential oil of Lippia dulcis might be the reason for the traditional use of the plant for many centuries in Middle America” (Gornemann 2008).

Current Medicinal Uses

Lippia dulcis is still used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. It has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory effects in rats and inhibitory effects on enterobacteria (Perez 2005). People in the Caribbean islands and Central and South American locations continue to utilize the sweet herb for bronchitis, asthma, colic, coughs, and colds (Gornemann 2008).

Comments

The sweet leaves and flowers of Lippia dulcis are utilized in the culinary arts. Additionally, Compadre et al investigated the use of honey herb as a possible alternative sweetener (Compadre, et al 1985). Generally, the medicinal components of honey herb are the leaves and stalks (Davis 1889).

References

Arvigo R. and Balick M. Rainforest Remedies: One Hundred Healing Herbs of Belize, 2nd Ed. Twin Lakes, WI: Lotus Press. 1993

Compadre CM, et al. Hernandulcin: An Intensely Sweet Compound Discovered by Review of Ancient Literature. Science. New York, NY. 1985; 227(4685): 417-9

Davis GS. The Pharmacology of the Newer Materia Medica. Detroit, Michigan. 1889

Görnemann, T . Antispasmodic Activity of Essential Oil from Lippia dulcis Trev. (2008) Journal of Ethnopharmacology, v. 117 no. 1, pp. 166-9

Pérez S, et al. Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Lippia dulcis. (2005) Journal of Ethnopharmacology, v. 102 no. 1, pp. 1-4

Disclaimer 

Information on this website is for educational purposes only. Many herbs historically used for medicine are considered too toxic to use today; some of these herbs have caused deaths. Do not ingest these herbs based on information on this website. We have not provided sufficient information for the safe medicinal use of any of these herbs, nor sufficient information for treatment of poisoning. All recreational use of these herbs is dangerous.