Mullein ~ Verbascum thapsus

Mullein

Latin name: Verbascum thapsus

Family: Scrophulariaceae

Part used: flowers, leaves

Habitat: native to Britain, naturalized widely, including North America, sandy scrub soils

World-wide, all temperate zones

Grows in wastelands, by roadsides, in meadows- gravelly or sandy soil

Biannual root, erect, non-branching, wooly stem ,3-6 ft. in height

Basal leaves are large, up to a foot long, oval rounded at the apex, wooly

Stem leaves are alternate, size decreasing as they grow up the stem

Leaves also wooly, grey-green in color

Bright yellow flowers bloom between July and August and are sessile in a raceme along the upper part of the stem

First year plant is basal rosette of leaves

Second year plant elongates with a tall stem with flowers

Main constituents: Mucilage (leaves), Flavonoids [acubin], Saponins (leaves), Volatile oil (flowers), Tannins, Resins (flowers), Bitters

Energetics: sweet, bitter, mucilaginous

Main herbal actions: Demulcent, emollient, expectorant, vulnerary, mildly antispasmodic, relaxing, anti-inflammatory

Minor herbal actions: alterative

Main medicinal uses: dry, harsh, hacking coughs, hoarseness, bronchitis, whooping cough, asthma, hay fever; weak lungs, kidneys, nervous system, bladder irritation (Khalsa)

Minor medicinal uses: colic, constipation, facial neuralgia, externally used for earaches (usually as infused oil)

Coughs in animals and humans

Native Americans learned of mullein from early European settlers- employed as cough remedy

Respiratory conditions- expectorant

Indicated in dry, hoarse coughs or wet, productive coughs- thick expectorate

Combines stimulating expectorant action of saponins with soothing and relaxing action of the mucilage and aucubin glycoside

Actions due primarily to saponins, which, like detergent, draw fluid from tissues, thinning mucus

Acubin flavonoid glycosides and mucilage (anti-inflammatory) reduce copious mucous production (asthma)

Anti-spasmodic when combined with lobelia

Useful in treatment of asthma for its expectorant, antiseptic (volatile oils), anti-spasmodic (volatile oils) and anti-inflammatory effects

URIs- antiseptic (volatile oils), anti-inflammatory effects- reduces inflammation and irritation of urinary system

Emotional component- seems to allay the anxiety associated with URIs/ asthma

Incense of mullein and Eriodictyon prophylactic for asthma

Topically, mullein leaves steamed and applied to areas of muscle spasms/ painful joints.

Root- cystitis, nocturnal eneuresis, incontinence, testicular inflammation, tonifies the trigone area of the pelvis

Flowers- sedative, antiseptic, anodyne, anti-spasmodic properties

Oil- earaches, ulcerations of the ear, deafness, serous otitis, otitis media- most effective if heated first

Essence- maximizes vulnerary properties of flower- made by cutting off stalk with flowers and hanging upside down in wine bottle- placed in the sunlight during the day for 2-3 days and stored in a cool place at night- essence drips to the bottom of the bottle- use with oil vehicle

Mullein essence with fresh plantain juice- excellent remedy for earaches

Preparations: infusion: 1 tsp/cup water (typical), 30-90 grams per day (Khalsa); 1:5 dry tincture: 10-40 gtt qd-qid

Smoke rolled leaves or boil with molasses to make a syrup (Native American)

Oil- internally, one drop several times daily for urinary incontinence

Tincture 1:5 25% EtOH; 4-6 ml TID

Fluid extract 1:1 25% EtOH; 2-4 ml TID

Poultice, external wash, incense, oil

Contraindications: unknown

Toxicity: unknown
 
Sources: Sharol Tilgner, N.D.: Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth; Wren, R.C. Potter’s New Encyclopedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations

Mullein Module 2 lecture

• Cooling, anti-inflammatory demulcent
• Above ground portion used, basically the leaves
• Flowers sometimes used in ear oils
• Parts used: leaf and flower
• Tastes: Sweet, Bitter, mucilaginous (slimy)
• Demulcent, emollient, expectorant, vulnerary, anti-
• Urinary, skin, respiratory
• Ear oil
• Expectorant in that it is a demulcent in repiratory tract and makes mucus moist.
• Mobilizes the mucus better
• Among the mildest of plants
• Tea is the way to go in very high doses 1 to 3 ounces
• So slimy – have to make it a little more dilute to get demulcent effect
• Poultice, tea

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Additional Herbal usage notes:

Mullein root strengthens and improve the tome of the tigone muscle (a trianglular area at the base of the bladder) and significantly enhances bladder function.  It has soothing diuretic properties; it increases the volume of urination, while decreasing the frequency of urination.  Mullein root also has mild astringent properties which reduce inflammation in the mucosa of the bladder.  It does not irritate or over stimulate bladder or kidney function.  Mullein root can be used as a long term tonic for individuals with urinary incontinence, recurring bladder infections, interstintial cystitis, and benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Mullein root is one often most effetive herbal treatments for mild physical stress incontinence, caused by coughing, heavy lifting, laughing, or running. Stress incontinence is associated with aging ora cystocele (a bladder hernia which protrudes into the vagina) which results from injuries related to childbirth. Mullein root reduces the frequency of urination, decreases leakages and dribbling. It also improves the integrity of the tissues in the bladder and appears to restore the tone of a prolapsed bladder. Although, the single extract of Mullein root works well, it is often combined with Stinging Nettle root.

Source:  Darcy