A member of the same family as the foxglove (the Scrophulariaceae, for those who are interested) the verbascum has a towering flowerspike comprising many small five-petaled flowers. These are usually yellow, but there are some forms that are orange. Outside of our gardens it can also be found as a wild plant throughout Britain thriving on sunny banks and growing in chalky and sandy soils.
A biennial, it forms a rosette of down covered leaves from which, in its second year of growth, a flowering stalk emerges which can grow up to 2m. Its yellow spikes and grey leaves are eye-catching and slightly exotic looking and when seen growing wild, it gives the landscape a faintly Mediterranean aspect.
History and usage
According to the herbalist Julian Barker, it is one of the oldest plants we have for soothing troublesome and painful coughs and respiratory tract infections. Indeed its pedigree reaches far back in time. The ancient Greek botanist, physician and pharmacologist, Dioscorides prescribed its roots for pulmonary complaints and the Roman writer Pliny advised using the leaves for bronchial complaints in both humans and horses. Another renowned herbalist of antiquity, St Hildegard of Bingen considered the flowers to be useful for hoarseness
Containing volatile oils, resins and mucilage it is expectorant and anti-catarrhal and so can help to remove and minimise phlegm. It is also astringent and soothing making it very healing to the inflammed and irritated tissues that accompany respiratory tract infections. The seeds are slightly sedative and narcotic (fishermen have been known to use them by putting them in the water to drug fish so that they can catch them more easily).
Medicinally, the seeds can be blended with the leaves or flowers and applied externally as a hot compress to painful joints and to soothe chilblains and haemorrhoids. Additionally the leaf has been used as a drawing remedy for splinter and the infused oil has been used topically for earache for many years (although great care has to be exercised before putting anything into your ears in case of damaged ear drums - definitely check with your health professional first). Mullein oil may also help when used topically with chilblains and haemorrhoids.
Although it is an ancient remedy it is still quite commonly used by medical herbalists, especially for any condition where there is inflammation or even bleeding in the lungs or lower respiratory tract and is sometimes used to help with the symptoms of asthma (usually in a mixture with other pectoral herbs). It also may be used where there is where there is bleeding in the bowel- again its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties come into play.
A flowery cough remedy
The French writer on herbs Jean Palaiseul recommends an infusion of the dried flowers using 3g of flowers to 100 ml of boiling water taken up to three times a day (Pick the flowers in dry weather as soon as they open and dry in the shade to prevent them from turning brown) can be used for dry coughs and bronchitis. This mixture has a pleasant sweet taste as the flower petals contain as much as 10% glucose, it promotes expectoration is soothing, sedative and sudorific (i.e. causing sweating - helpful when fighting infections such as colds). Do observe the safety warning below, however.
Safety
The seeds, leaves and flowers are all used medicinally, but care must be taken to properly filter any preparation through a very fine cloth or absorbent cotton wool any remedies made for internal (or indeed external) use as the minute hairs on the leaves and flowers are very irritant.
Folklore and magical uses
Known as the 'hedge taper' it was used as a tinder plant, as the down on the leaves when quite dry can be used to help to kindle a fire. Apparently this material was also used in lamp wicks before cotton was available, although there may be confusion with the fact that the Romans purportedly dipped the leaves and flowers into wax making use of the resins present in the plant to make wicks and tapers.
As to its magical qualities (so many medicinal plants are unsurprisingly, associated with magic and folklore) it is thought by many cultures to protect against evil spirits - mentioned in Homer, it is said that Ulyssess used this plant to protect him from the wiles of the enchantress Circe.
It is also said to guard against evil spirits, in India it is hung over doors and windows and carried in sachets to banish demons and negativity and a small bag of it under your pillow will banish nightmares. It is also said that using the mullein as a taper was a method of illumination favoured by witches and magicians to light their spell-casting.....one of its common names is Hag's tapers - so who knows?
Sources
Barker, J. (2001), The medicinal flora of Britain and Northwestern Europe. Kent, Winter Press
Cunningham, S. (2002) Cunningham's encyclopedia of magical herbs, Llewellyn publications
Mrs Grieve (1931) A Modern Herbal (available on line at www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/mgmh.htm).
Palaiseul, J. (1977) The green guide to health from plants, Book club associates
This information is meant for educational purposes only and not intended as a guide to self-treatment. You should always seek professional advice. Remember that herbs can interact with other drugs and may be contra-indicated if you have certain medical conditions, are pregnant or lactating. Take care when using wild plants or herbs, that you have the correct species from a reliable and uncontaminated source.
Catherine Schofield BSc MNIMH Herbalist Cheshire Herbs and Herbal Medicine