Lion’s Tail (Kuang Ye De Da Jia)

Botanical Name: Leonotis leonurus

Lion’s tail is known for its medicinal and mild psychoactive properties. It has traditionally been used by South Africans, the Chinese, and the Vietnamese for its euphoric effects. Medicinally, it has been used to treat tuberculosis, jaundice, high blood pressure, diabetes, and snake bites. South Africans, where the plant is native, also use the fresh juice of the stem as an infusion to purify the blood. The dried leaves and flowers have a mild calming effect when smoked. It is considered far less potent than Cannabis, and is not classified as a hallucinogenic. Do not confuse lion’s tail with motherwort, another plant that is sometimes commonly called lion’s tail.

Watch a short video, from Ann Christensen, Founder and Creator of White Rabbit Institute of Healing™ – Don’t confuse Lion’s Tail with…

Remember to check with your doctor before trying new medicines or herbal remedies, especially if you are taking other medication where drug interactions are possible.

Below is an overview of lion’s tail, combining the best of Western Science, Oriental Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Shamanism, Folklore, and a wide range of healing modalities. Gain a balanced and thorough understanding of the healing properties of lion’s tail.

Parts Most Frequently Used: Leaf, Root, Bark, Flower

Flavors/Temps: Acrid, Pungent, Slightly Bitter, Warming and Cooling

Caution: Considered safe, it can cause nausea, headaches, or dizziness in some people. Not recommended if you are pregnant.

Key Constituents: Flavonoids, Alkaloids, Marrubiin

History/Folklore: The leaves and flowers brewed as a tea are used to treat respiratory infections, fevers, headaches, high blood pressure, hepatitis, and liver stagnation. Externally the tea can be used to relieve pain and itching and as a compress for acne, eczema, snake bites, and scorpion stings.

The main psychoactive compound is said to be leonurine, however there are reports that this compound has yet to be found in this plant using chemical analysis. The name wild dagga, relates to an indigenous South African tribal name for cannabis dagga, however, no part of the plant is used as a hallucinogen. Similar to other members of the mint family, it does contain marrublin, a compound known for its antioxidant and cardioprotective properties. The compound significantly improves myocardial function.

In one study conducted to explore the plant’s anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties it was found that lion’s tail contains properties that helped manage pain, arthritis, and other inflammatory conditions, including type-2 diabetes.

Other traditional African remedies using lion’s tail include using the herb to treat asthma, and depending on the dose to stimulate or suppress menstruation. The leaves and roots are used to make an extract or tea used for treating high blood pressure, colds, snake bites, bronchitis, and externally to treat eczema. In South Africa, the fresh stem juice is used as an infusion you drink to help purify the blood.

The dried leaves and flowers have a mild calming effect when smoked or chewed. It is considered far less potent than Cannabis, and is not classified as a hallucinogenic. The plant has traditionally been used by tribal peoples of South Africa at ceremonial occasions to induce trance-like states along with drumming and dancing. Recreational users have reported that smoking the herb can cause nausea, dizziness, sweating, lightheadedness, mild euphoria, visual changes, and sedation. It has been used as an alternative to tobacco and illegal psychoactive plants such as Cannabis. It provides a short-lasting positive feeling. The resin from the flowers and leaves can also be rubbed off and smoked alone or with other herbs.

It was known in Africa, that the Hottentot tribe and the Bushmen smoked the buds and dried leaves, giving rise to one of the plant’s common names, Hottentot Tobacco. A tea can be made from the dried flower petals, but it is not a pleasant tasting tea, rather it is purely medicinal!.

The family Leonurus contains several varieties of plants that while in the same family, have different properties and should not be confused with our plant Leonotis leonurus/Lion’s tail (aka Wild Dagga) which is a perennial plant used as a medicine especially noted for its calming and euphoric properties.

Here are three plants commonly confused with Lion’s Mane:

• Leonurus sibiricus: Siberian motherwort (aka Marihuanilla or Little Marijuana) this strain is often sold on “legal high” websites, even though it is low in leonurine compounds. It is commonly used in Oriental Medicine for treating infections and circulatory issues.
• Leonotis nepetifolia: Lion’s Ear (aka Klop Dagga) is a strain of wild dagga, an annual plant that is often confused with lion’s tail. This plant’s leaves are much wider and heart shaped. This strain is said to contain more of the compound leonurine than any of the other strains of wild dagga, but research has not as yet confirmed this.
• Leonurus artemisia: (aka Chinese motherwort) This plant is considered to be the true motherwort versus L. sibiricus, which is sometimes commonly called Siberian motherwort and is sometimes used similarly to Leonurus artemisia/Chinese motherwort.

The plant attracts sunbirds, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Sunbirds have evolved curved bills well-suited to feeding from the tubular flowers.