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Horehound has been known throughout most of history. The Egyptians called it the Seed of Horus and used it as an antidote for certain poisons. They believed it had antimagical properties and that if it was put in a bowl of milk near a place infested with flies, it would kill them all. Horehound was also a common remedy in ancient Rome, and may have been named after the ancient Italian town of Maria urbs. Other authorities say the Latin name stems from the Hebrew "marrob," meaning bitter juice; it was one of the bitter herbs eaten at the feast of Passover. The plant is native to the Mediterranean region, but can now be found world-wide. The entire flowering plant is considered medicinal when fresh; the flowering branches are medicinal when dried. Horehound stimulates digestive juices and production of bile by the liver. It also has an expectorant action, helping to loosen phlegm.In folk medicine, Horehound has also been used for whooping cough, asthma, tuberculosis, respiratory infections, lung inflammation, diarrhea, jaundice, painful menstruation, constipation, sores, and wounds. Its effectiveness for these conditions has not been confirmed.
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