I was introduced to Mullein a few years ago while clearing out a garden spot in my yard. This cute little basal rosette of leaves coming from the ground, asking me to identify it. As he grew up there was this long stem with beautiful flowers that protruded and stood out from the other plants.
A little research found ancient uses and an exciting past full of lore and benefits. I'm getting to know this plant and look forward to working with him in the future. Here is what I have found so far:
Mullein is a member of the family Scrophulariaceae (related to snapdragons) also known as the Figwort family. The common one found wild is Verbascum thapsus; the one growing in my yard was V. nigrum sometimes called Dark Mullein.
A little research about this plant provided the following:
Verbascum species have numerous medicinal properties. For example, the leaves, flowers and roots have been used for treating fevers and bleeding from the lungs. The same parts have also been used as an astringent . Whilst the whole plant has been used to treat diarrhea and dysentery, and also as an analgesic and antiseptic, the paste obtained from leaves and flowers is used for coughs and pulmonary diseases; the seeds have narcotic properties. Powered leaves in the form of a poultice are used to relieve joints pain and to soften boils. Dried leaves of V. thapsus, however, are smoked for mental relaxation, whilst tea made from its leaves is used to treat colds and dysentery. It is believed that smoke from the plant can drive away ghosts from children. The product produced from decoction of its dried leaves and flowers is used to treat sore throats, bronchitis and abdominal pain, and can act as an expectorant and sedative [14]. The leaves and flowers have antispasmodic properties and are used as an expectorant for bronchitis, tuberculosis and other respiratory ailments. V. thapsus leaves are also smoked to ease chest complaints and asthma.
A recent study showed this plant to provide "intestinal relaxation and anthelmintic properties of V. thapsus, thus supporting its use for management of abdominal pain and parasitic worms..."
So far I have made an oil and tincture...