Mullein

verbascum thapus
verbascum thapsus

CONSTITUENTS
Mucilage and gum, saponins, volatile oil, flavonoids
including rutin hesperidin and VERBASCOSIDE
glycosides including aucubin.

They should yield no more than 6 per cent of ash.
Their odor is peculiar and agreeable: their taste mucilaginous.


Medicinal Action and Use
Mullein has very markedly demulcent, emollient and astringent properties,
which render it useful in pectoral complaints and bleeding
of the lungs and bowels.

The whole plant seems to possess
slightly sedative and narcotic properties.

It is considered of much value
in phthisis and other wasting diseases, palliating
the cough and staying expectoration, consumptives
appearing to benefit greatly by its use, being given in the form
of an infusion, 1 ounce of dried, or the corresponding quantity
of fresh leaves being boiled for 10 minutes
in a pint of milk, and when strained,
given warm, thrice daily, with or without sugar.

The taste of the decoction is bland,
mucilaginous and cordial, and forms
a pleasant emollient and nutritious medicine
for allaying a cough, or removing
the pain and irritation of hemorrhoids.

A plain infusion of 1 ounce to a pint of boiling water
can be employed, taken in wineglassful doses frequently.

Dried leaves are sometimes smoked in an ordinary tobacco pipe
to relieve the irritation of the respiratory mucus membranes, and will
completely control, it is said, the hacking cough of consumption.

They can be employed with equal benefit when made
into cigarettes, for asthma and spasmodic coughs in general.

Fomentations and poultices of the leaves have been
found serviceable in haemorrhoidal complaints.

Mullein is said to be of much value in diarrhea,
from its combination of demulcent with astringent properties,
by this combination strengthening the bowels at the same time.

In diarrhea the ordinary infusion is generally given,
but when any bleeding of the bowels is present,
the decoction prepared with milk is recommended.

On the Continent, a sweetened infusion of the flowers strained
in order to separate the rough hairs, is considerably used
as a domestic remedy in mild catarrhs, colic, etc.

A conserve of the flowers has been employed on the Continent
against ringworm, and a distilled water of the flowers
was long reputed a cure for burns and erysipelas.

Mullein oil

Gerarde tells us that 'Figs do not putrifie at all
that are wrapped in the leaves of Mullein.'

An alcoholic tincture is prepared by homoeopathic chemists,
from the fresh herb with spirits of wine, which has proved
beneficial for migraine or sick headache of long standing,
with oppression of the ear.
From 8 to 10 drops of the tincture are given as a dose,
with cold water, repeated frequently.

<<<< Home >>>>