The many uses of Mullein

Kingdom: Plantae

Family: Scrophulariaceae

Species: Verbascum thapsus

Mullein is a plant also known as velvet dock. This is due to its velvety texture, which is its main distinguishable feature and is due to its soft, downy hairs. These help the leaves retain moisture. The leaves are large, sometimes up to a foot long, and a silvery-grey colour. The seeds are poisonous and are not used in herbal medicine. It is easily grown in Europe, North America and in parts of Asia. There are about 360 species of mullein. It can adapt to various environments.

The use of mullein in herbal medicine goes back to the Greek times, when the physician Dioscorides mentioned the benefits of Mullein against coughs. Mullein contains coumarin and rotenone, a natural insecticide and fish poison, which is supposed to be non-toxic to mammals. Uses include:

-    - Both external (ointment, compresses) and internal (tea, smoking) uses.

-    - When combined with matter, mullein produces a substance called mucilage, which coats and soothes the throat. Mullein tea is used for coughs and other respiratory illnesses, such as tuberculosis.

-    - It can sooth the intestine and be used to treat diarrhoea.

-    - The soothing mucilage has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties which help relieve haemorrhoid symptoms.

-    - Yellow flowers in certain species of mullein were once used as a source of yellow hair dye.

-    - Leaves can be applied to soften and protect the skin.

-    - Oil from the flowers can soothe earaches.

-    - Compresses made from mullein infusions can treat inflamed cold sores and herpes. There is one study where mullein seemed to help eliminate the herpes virus.

-    - Leaves can be used as toilet paper due to their soft texture.

-    - Can also be used to treat burns, bruises and gout.

-    - Has been used since Roman times for torches to repel witches.

Mullein is a very diverse plant and has many uses. It is often confused with lamb’s ear. Lamb’s ear produces pinkish-purple flowers, is much smaller and has softer leaves. The weeds found on campus are mullein as they grow as a rosette from a central stalk and have less soft leaves.

Due to the hair on the leaves, grazing animals do not eat them because they irritate their mucous membranes in the gut. It is an invasive plant, and once it is established in an area it is difficult to eradicate which is why it is so abundant on campus. The plants on campus have only recently being established, as they only have the base and have not gained height. The early structure of wide but short makes it possible for the most sunlight to fall on them.

It has a honey-like scent and local insects become pollinators of common mullein which leads to its development. A single common mullein plant can produce between 100,000 and 180,000 seeds which can lay dormant yet viable in the soil for many years, which is why its so hard to eradicate.