Grindeliae herba

Four of the Grindelia species are used as parent plants for the pharmaceutical drug Grindelia herba. In addition to Grindelia robusta, these are Grindelia camporum, Grindelia humilis and Grindelia squarrosa. In California, Grindelia robusta has been valued as a remedy since the 18th century. In American naturopathy, Grindelia robusta is used as the parent plant of Herba Grindeliae, which is official in the USA. Herba Grindeliae is official in France, England, Russia, Argentina, Venezuela and Mexico.

Quality is defined in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.): The herb of the Californian or Hairy Grindelia (G. hirsutula) and the Bulky Grindelia (G. squarrosa) may be used.

HMPC monograph: Traditional-use: cough due to cold
ESCOP monograph: productive cough, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract;
Commission E monograph: catarrh of the upper respiratory tract.

Empirical medicine: antiasthmatic, expectorant and sedative

Native American: wound healing agent, colds, bronchitis, skin, bladder and lung infections, diseases of the spleen.
Antidote to poison ivy (Rhus toxicodendron).

Pharmaceutical cigars: e.g. Neumeier's cigarillos (1913) for asthma. In addition to Grindelia robusta, these contained cannabis, eucalyptus, datura and tobacco leaves, leaves of another composite plant found in South America (Brachycladus stuckerti).

Efficacy determining ingredients of Herba Grindeliae are resins, the alkaloid grindelin, saponins, essential oil, numerous carboxylic acids such as formic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, also phenolic acids such as: caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, coumaric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid, vanillin acid, salicylic acid, ellagic acid (Nowak S et al. 2012)

Herba Grindeliae is used in the USA for bronchial asthma, as an antispasmodic and for bronchial catarrh.

Diluted tinctures of Herba Grindeliae are used externally for acute dermatitis (e.g. dermatitis caused by Rhus toxicodendron).

In homeopathy, Grindelia is used for asthmatic conditions, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and as a spleen remedy.

In industry, grindelia is used as a raw material supplier for turpentine production.

not indicated due to a lack of data.

Tea infusion: Pour 150 mL of boiling water over 2 to 3 g of finely chopped Grindelia herb, leave to infuse for 10 to 15 minutes, strain.

Drink 1 cup hot several times a day, maximum 4-6 g/day.

Pregnancy and lactation, children and adolescents under 18 years of age in the absence of data.

Allergy to one of the ingredients and allergy to composite plants.

The genus name Grindelia comes from the German botanist David Grindel (1766-1836), after whom the genus was named.

1. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/grindelia.php