Pulmonaria Officinalis

Common Names: Jerusalem Cowslip, Lungmoss, Lungwort, Oak Lungs, Spotted Comfrey, Spotted Lungwort, Jerusalem Sage, Maple Lungwort

Scientific Name: Pulmonaria officinalis
Family: Boraginaceae
Parts Used: Herb, Leaves, Flowering Shoots

Description

Pulmonaria officinalis, commonly known as Lungwort, is a herbaceous, evergreen, perennial plant with rhizomes. It belongs to the Boraginaceae family. The basal leaves are green and heart-shaped (cordate) with rounded, sharply-defined white or pale green patches. The leaves are hairy, with a slightly rough texture.

In early spring, Lungwort produces clusters of small, five-petaled flowers. These flowers start out pink or red and later turn blue-violet during anthesis due to a natural pH shift in the petals — a property linked to the anthocyanin pigments within them.

The flowering season runs from March to May, with seeds ripening between May and June. This native European species is widely distributed, from the Ardennes and Netherlands to central Sweden, and eastward to Russia and the Caucasus. It thrives in moist, shady woodlands, especially in nutrient-rich, calcareous, or clay-loam soils, typically at elevations of 0–1,500 meters.

Habitat

Lungwort prefers deciduous and beech mixed forests, growing well in fresh, shady areas. It favors rich, calcareous or stony loamy soils but can also thrive in pure clay environments.

Active Components

• Allantoin

• Flavonoids: Kaempferol, Quercetin

• Vitamin C

• Mucilage

• Tannins

• Saponins

• Other Compounds: Though many plants in the Boraginaceae family contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, Pulmonaria officinalis is free from these potentially harmful substances.

Medicinal Uses

Pulmonaria officinalis has been highly valued for centuries, especially for its respiratory benefits — its name and traditional use inspired by the Doctrine of Signatures, as the spotted leaves were thought to resemble diseased lungs.

Primary Uses:

• Respiratory Support:
  Its high mucilage content makes it especially effective in treating chest complaints such as chronic bronchitis, whooping cough, and asthma.
  Often combined with herbs like Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) for enhanced effect.

• Sore Throat and Pulmonary Ailments:
  Acts as a mild expectorant and emollient, soothing irritated respiratory passages.

• Astringent and Healing Properties:
  The leaves and flowering shoots have astringent, diaphoretic, demulcent, diuretic, and resolvent actions, traditionally used to treat lung conditions and stop minor external bleeding.

• External Use:
  Fresh leaves applied externally can help arrest bleeding and soothe skin irritations.

Interesting Fact

Historically, the plant’s spotted leaves were believed to symbolize the appearance of diseased lungs, leading to its use in treating respiratory disorders — a classic example of the Doctrine of Signatures in herbal medicine.