Mullein (Verbascum thapsis)is a plant that you will often see growing on dry waste ground or along the side of the road and railway lines. The leaves are large, covered in soft hairs and arranged in a rosette. Yellow flowers grow on spikes that rise from the centre of the plant. In dry climates the large up-turned leaves catch what little rain there is, then funnel it downwards towards the base. The hairs can be scraped off the leaves and used to make wicks, hence the common name candlewick.¹

In medicine the leaves are used for treating respiratory complaints as they are demulcent and antispasmodic in activity. A tea made from them is therefore soothing to dry coughs, a hoarse voice and asthma. These type of dry coughs often come on at night and interrupt sleep, but mullein can be used for coughs with excess catarrhal secretions as well. It also has antiviral activity against influenza A.^2,3

As a diuretic, mullein can be used for treating any irritation or inflammation of the urinary tract, especially in combination with other urinary system herbs. In cystitis, there is a sensation of burning and constant pressure in the bladder. It is also used for treating night-time enuresis where there is a constant dribbling of urine.²

The juice of the leaves can be used for external applications such as inflammations and ulcers when made into a lotion, or the tincture can be added to a cream. It has also been found active against Staphylococcus aureus, a common source of skin infections ^4,5

The cream can also be used to treat sore piles, but its most common use in the digestive system is to stop a loose bowel. It also has strong activity against worms, a class of herbs we call anthelmintic. One piece of research found it effective against roundworms and tapeworm, an effect ‘more potent’ than the drug albendazole.⁶

Earache is also relieved by the oil, which is made by steeping the yellow flowers in warm olive oil. The oil is also used to unblock patient’s ears where wax of long standing is causing constant irritation and a feeling that the ear is ‘stopped up’. You can combine mullein with garlic oil for this purpose, as you often find it in the healthfood shops.

Disclaimer:

This article is intended for the purpose of general education only, and is not a substitute for a diagnosis, treatment advice, or a prescription given in a consultation with a qualified physician.

References:

1.         De Bairacli Levy J. The Complete Herbal Handbook For Farm And Stable. London: Faber And Faber; 1973.

2.         Boericke W. Pocket Manual Of Homoeopathic Materia Medica, c. 1927. Delhi: Indian Books & Periodical Publishers; 2007.

3.         Rajbhandari M, Mentel R, Jha PK, et al. Antiviral activity of some plants used in Nepalese traditional medicine. Evid-Based Complement Altern Med ECAM 2009;6:517–22.

4.         Felter, Lloyd. King’s American Dispensatory. 18th ed. Cincinnatti: Ohio Valley Co.; 1898.

5.         Sepahi S, Ghorani-Azam A, Sepahi S, Asoodeh A, Rostami S. In Vitro Study to Evaluate Antibacterial and Non-haemolytic Activities of Four Iranian Medicinal Plants. West Indian Med J 2014;63:289–93.

6.         Ali N, Ali Shah SW, Shah I, et al. Anthelmintic and relaxant activities of Verbascum Thapsus Mullein. BMC Complement Altern Med 2012;12:29.