Herbal Portraits: Mouse-ear Hawkweed
by Samantha Almond
We are considering making ‘Herbal Portraits’ into an ongoing series here on The Polypody Review, if you enjoy Samantha’s deep-dive into Mouse-ear Hawkweed, please do let us know if there are any other herbs or plants that you would like to us spotlight!
This year I have been working more with this lovely little plant, as I happened to find it very close to my house. It could easily be mistaken for its cousin the Dandelion, but Pilosella officinarum (Mouse-ear hawkweed)—though similar in some ways—is rarely included in modern formulas. I would love to see that change, as it still holds a strength worthy of its long history in folk medicine.
Hawkweed flowers later than the early spring Dandelion, generally from May to September, with one yellow flower head on a hairy stem. It is a slightly fussier plant than its cousin when it comes to location, preferring well-drained ground such as grasslands. That said, I have found Hawkweed growing happily along old wall edges.
Like its cousin, Mouse-ear Hawkweed belongs to the large Asteraceae family, and both plants take their common names from the appearance of their leaves: the Dandelion from its dent-de-lion (“lion’s tooth”) edges, and the Mouse-ear Hawkweed from its small, softly hairy leaves that resemble a mouse’s ears.
The word ‘Hawkweed’ is said to come from Pliny the Elder, who wrote in his Natural History during the first century that hawks were thought to feed on these plants to improve their eyesight. There are many varieties of Hawkweed, including the adorably named “Fox and Cubs” (Pilosella aurantiaca), but the fact that Mouse-Ear Hawkweed has the epithet “officinarum” sets it apart from the others in terms of its medicinal use, as the word literally means “of or belonging to an officīna”, a monastic storeroom where medicines were kept.1
The medicinal use of Mouse-ear Hawkweed stretches back to early European folk traditions, where it was known as Auricula muris, or “little mouse ear.” It appears under this name in Latin herbals from the late fifteenth century, such as the Herbarius Latinus (1485) and the Ortus Sanitatis (1501). While these works do not have any English translations that I could find, it is likely that John Gerard, the Elizabethan herbalist, used these sources (among others, such as Dioscorides) when he described the Hawkweeds as “cold and dry, and somewhat binding”.
Writing during the seventeenth century, Nicholas Culpeper agrees with Gerard that the “Hawk-weed is cooling, somewhat drying and binding, and good for the heat of the stomach, and gnawing therein; for inflammations, and the hot fits of agues”. He goes on to say that the plant may be used with success for “healing spreading ulcers, and the green leaves, bruised with a little salt, greatly help burns and scalds, St Anthony’s fire, and all pushes and eruptions” (i.e. inflammations, hot rashes, swellings, and lesions). Culpeper prescribes the dried root, given in wine and vinegar for dropsy, and a decoction of the herb in honey for phlegm and coughs.
Modern analysis has confirmed several of these historical uses, such as the astringency of Mouse-ear Hawkweed, as well as its diuretic properties. In fact, it was introduced to the European Union market of medicinal herbs in 1986 due to these properties as it was noted to increase chlorides and nitrogenous substances in the urine and reduce oedema (i.e. dropsy, as indicated by Culpeper). Again, this is similar to one of the medicinal uses of Dandelion, but where Dandelion has a stronger and broader effect, Hawkweed has a gentle tonic effect, which is good for water retention, cystitis, and kidney cleansing.
A 2007 study also found that Hawkweed has antimicrobial activity, particularly against the bacteria that cause urinary and wound infections.2 This is consistent with its use in treating UTIs, and with its recommendation for healing wounds by Culpeper.
My recent interest in Mouse-ear Hawkweed has focused on Culpeper’s recommendation for its use in coughs and other congestive issues. While it remains under-researched in modern terms, it has been found to contain triterpenoid saponins, which are known to help loosen and thin mucus, making it easier to expel through coughing. It also contains umbelliferone, which has been shown in various studies to reduce inflammation in the lungs.
There are, of course other more well-known antitussive plants, such as Mullein and Coltsfoot, though Coltsfoot is used less in modern practice due to concerns over pyrrolizidine alkaloids – but it still works beautifully in a steam inhalation! Mullein is rich in mucilage and acts primarily in a soothing manner for dry, irritating coughs, while Hawkweed is more expectorant and therefore better suited to chesty coughs.
Using Hawkweed for coughs is very easy and effective. You can simply pour 250 ml of boiling water over one to two teaspoons of the aerial parts of the plant (flowers and leaves), steep for ten minutes, then drink three times per day to ease coughs and bronchitis. You will find that it works best cumulatively, so regular doses are beneficial.
However, as the plant is an astringent, it can be a little bitter, so another great way to use it is in a syrup. You can make this easily by steeping your tea for fifteen minutes, then straining it and placing it in a saucepan with one to two teaspoons of honey, heating gently until it dissolves. The syrup will last in the fridge for a week, and you can take one to two teaspoons three or four times a day.
Just a note of caution: because this plant is diuretic it is not suitable for use in cases of kidney disease or hypotension. Also, while the plant has antimicrobial properties, it is not a substitute for antibiotics, so if you think you may have a chest infection, please see your GP or doctor.
As I have spent more time getting to know this little plant this year, I have come to understand why it held a place in so many herbals of the past, and wonder why it has been overlooked in modern usage. Like Betony, I suspect that this is because it is a gently cumulative healer, and while Mouse-ear Hawkweed may not have the renown of Dandelion or Mullein, its usefulness deserves renewed attention. It reminds us that the most valuable healers are still often those that grow quietly at our feet.
William T. Stearn, Botanical Latin (Timber Press, 2004), 472.
Stanojević L.P., Stanković M.Z., Nikolić V.D., Nikolić L.B., ‘Anti-oxidative and antimicrobial activities of Hieracium pilosella L. extracts’, Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society, vol 73, (2008) 531-540.
Samantha Almond is a self-taught herbalist and nature enthusiast. Her debut book, Old Remedies for Modern Living, is the culmination of years of dedicated research into the wildflowers of the Forest of Dean, a project she began in 2019. She provides readers with a unique perspective on the history of the medicinal uses of the plants of this enchanting region and how those historical uses stand up to modern research. Samantha enjoys sharing her discoveries with others and exploring the countryside with her partner Adrian and their dogs Holly and Pippa.
That was really interesting, thankyou. I will take more notice of Mouse-ear Hawkweed from now on. A plant that has taken my interest this year is Spear or Bull Thistle, would be interested to know more. Warm wishes, Helen