Verbascum thapsus
Botanical Nomenclature | Verbascum thapsus |
Common Name | Common Mullein, Great Mullein |
Taxonomy- Family | Scrophulariaceae |
Distinguishing Features of the Plant | Verbascum thapsus is a biennial plant growing from 50 to 120cm, with large, oblong, lanceolate, thick, soft, covered by gray hairs leaves and yellow flowers in tall inflorescences (bunches). The fruits are oval, pointed at both ends capsules. The flowering takes place from May to September and the fruiting happens from August to September. |
Region Found | Epirus (Gramos) |
Part of the Plant with Active Substances | Flowers, leaves, root |
Active Substances | Saponins, essential oil, mucus, gum, oleic acid, calcium phosphate, potassium acetate, carbohydrates, chlorophyll, yellow dye (crocetin, xanthophyll), resins, metals, flavonoids (hesperidin, verbascoside), glycosides, tannins. |
Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications | The whole plant has expectorant, emollient, diuretic, sedative, anti-inflammatory and healing properties. The flowers are used to improve pulmonary function, to reduce inflammation, to stimulate fluids production and to increase the expectoration. It is recommended for the treatment of bronchitis, cough and throat irritation. Also, it is administered against intestinal and urinary tract problems, diarrhea and dysentery. It is applied externally to the skin and the eyes against inflammation, irritation, burns, pruritus and lichen. In homeopathy it is used against children's nocturnal enuresis. |
Method of Administration | It is administered in the form of infusion (one or two spoons of dried herb in a cup of boiled water for 15min, 3 times a day) and in the form of tincture (1-4ml, three times a day). It is applied externally to the skin as anti-inflammatory, healing and soothing in the form of poultice made from the fresh leaves. Also, it can be used in the form of gargles against sore throat and cough. Warning: The use of herb preparations is not recommended without seeking advice from your physician or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with the subscribed drugs that the patient already takes, thus eliminating their therapeutic efficacy or inducing toxicity. They may also burden further weakened vital functions of the body thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life threatened conditions. |
Toxicity- Adverse Effects | The small hairs of the leaves may irritate the throat and cause coughing and that is why is recommend to wring out the infusion, before its consumption. |
References | 1) https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mulgre63.html#con 2) https://altnature.com/gallery/mullein.htm 3) http://medplant.nmsu.edu/Mullein3.shtml 4) http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Verbascum+thapsus 5) http://www.drugs.com/npc/mullein.html |