Woolly Foxglove

Other names: Digitalis Lanata, Grecian Foxglove, Digitalis Orientalis, Digitalis, Witch’s Bells

Indigenous to Europe and central Asia, Woolly Foxglove can be found in the spontaneous flora or as a crop species mainly used in the pharmaceutical industry. Belonging to the Plantaginaceae (Scrophulariaceae) family, Woolly Foxglove has white or yellow flowers, favorite to honeybees , blooming June to July and is the main source of “digoxin”, a drug used in the treatment of heart complaints. The plant contains chemicals able to increase myocardial contraction and subsequently to lower heartbeat , being commonly used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. By improving circulation and stimulating tissue oxygenation, Woolly Foxglove removes edema and increases diuresis.

Yet, because the therapeutic dose is very close to the lethal dose , Woolly Foxglove is considered unsafe and toxic for self-medication and is administered only as a pharmaceutical product, under strict medical supervision. Poisoning symptoms occurring after accidental ingestion include disorientation, headache, slow heartbeat, blurred vision, low blood pressure, nausea and stomach pain.

Despite the toxicity, the infusion of Woolly Foxglove fresh leaves, harvested before flowering was used in traditional folk medicine for various ailments such as heart disease, hepatitis, jaundice, urinary tract infections, dropsy, headaches and sleep disorders. Externally, the infusion was applied on the skin to heal burns and wounds and to reduce fever an inflammation.

Studies performed in comparison with Purple Foxglove (Digitalis Purpurea) revealed that Woolly Foxglove (Digitalis Lanata) has a higher concentration of cardiotonic chemicals, works faster and can be more easily eliminated from the body.