2025 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-23 10:18
The mullein / Verbascum Thapsus / is a biennial fibrous-mossy plant with deep roots, which belongs to the family Zhivenichevi. In the first year the mulberry forms a rosette of leaves, and in the second year it forms a hairy straight stem, which has pointed and hairy leaves.
The colors of mullein are yellow and large. They are located at the top of the stem in a pyramid-shaped classroom. The calyx and corolla of the mulberry are five-part. Stamens are five in number, fused with the corolla. The fruit of the mulberry is a multi-seeded box. The mulberry is also known by the names of the Virgin's heron and sheep's tail.
Mulberry grows in sandy and grassy places, near fields, meadows and bushes. It occurs up to 2000 meters above sea level. It is distributed in Europe, the Caucasus and North Africa.
It is believed that the Latin name of mullein comes from the word "beard", probably because of its hairy leaves. The tall stems of the plant were once burned like candles in funeral processions.
Even the Indians made syrup from the leaves of mulberry to relieve cough. Mulberry tea has also been used to relieve pain, especially arthritis. The Cherokees treated swollen lymph nodes by applying scalded leaves mullein.
Mulberry composition
As part of mullein includes mucous substances, saponins, coumarin, carotenoids, inositol, yellow dye crocetin, mineral salts, essential oil, flavonoid glycoside hesperidin, vitamin C, organic acids, pectin, alkaloids such as verbasin and verbaskin, inositol and other substances.
Collection and storage of mullein
The usable parts of mullein are the corolla leaves without the calyx. They are harvested during the flowering of the plant - the months of June-September. The picking itself should be done in dry weather, before noon. The flowers in the inflorescence open gradually from the bottom up and therefore the picking is periodic, during the flowering of the herb.
Each flower blooms only during the day - it opens in the morning and withers in the evening. Only the corolla and the fused stamens are removed by hand. Overblown corollas are not collected. The already collected herb should not be crushed. It dries immediately in the shade, with a permissible humidity of 11%. The shelf life of whole flowers is 2 years, cut - 1 year, and ground - 6 months.
Benefits of mulberry
The plant has a high content of mucus, which covers and at the same time soothes inflamed and irritated mucous membranes. This makes it a particularly valuable remedy against sore throats and other inflammatory diseases.
The herb has emollient, expectorant, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory effect. The beneficial effects are due to cardiac glycosides, mucous substances and alkaloids. Some studies have also shown a strong blood pressure lowering effect.
The mullein It is used for diarrhea, diseases of the respiratory system, biliary and liver diseases. Clinical studies confirm the beneficial effects of mullein in bronchitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ear infections and cough.
In Germany, mulberry leaves are soaked in olive oil to make a non-volatile oil used to treat ear infections and hemorrhoids.
For ear infections, some doctors apply the oil extract directly to the ear. However, if the eardrum is torn, absolutely nothing should be placed directly in the ear.
Folk medicine with mullein
In Bulgarian folk medicine mullein It is used to treat bronchitis, liver problems, shortness of breath and cough, in diseases of the spleen, in hoarse voice, to regulate scanty menstruation, as a mild laxative.
External application of the herb is recommended for hemorrhoids, burns, purulent inflammation, for gargling for toothache, for baths for injuries, eczema and lichen. The crushed leaves and lard in a ratio of 2:10 are used to lubricate wounds and inflammations.
For internal use 2 tbsp. of the flower is poured with 500 ml of boiling water. Leave to soak for 1 hour, then drink a glass of wine 15 minutes before eating, 4 times a day. The decoction can be sweetened with honey.
Strong infusions of the leaves are used for chronic cough, sore throat and because they stimulate sweating, are also useful in feverish conditions.