Common Mullein, Verbascum thapsus, is a medicinal plant asthma suffers may want to know. Though it sounds strange the leaves were dried, ground, and smoked to relieve asthma attacks. Beyond that this plant has been used for a variety of ailments from colds and coughs to rashes and wounds. The plant has such a long history that the Romans used to dip the flower spikes in grease and use them as torches. The leaves are still used to this day as wicks.
Keep your eyes and ears open and your powder dry!
Common Mullein Sources:
Audubon Guides Box Set – Birds, Tree, Wildflowers & Mammals. Computer Software.Green Mountain Digital. Version: 2.3. Web. Jul 10, 2014.
Culpeper, M.D., Nicholas. Culpeper Color Herbal. Ed. David Potterton. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1983. Print. pg. 130
Felter, Harvey Wickes, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D. King’s American Dispensatory, Vol. 2. Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Company, 1905. pg. 2054-2055
Foster, Steven and James A. Duke. The Peterson Field Guide Series; A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America. 2nd. ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000. Print. pg. 130-131
Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey. Cherokee Plants and Their Uses- A 400 Year History. North Carolina: Herald Publishing. 1975. Print. pg. 45
Herrick, James William. Iroquois Medical Botany. Ph.D. Thesis, New York: State University of New York, Albany 1977. Print. pg. 215-216
Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 590-591
Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 188-189
Peterson, Lee Allen. The Peterson Field Guide Series; A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants; Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977. Print. pg. 72-73
United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.
I found a mullein plant growing that we didn’t plant, I read up on it and was surprised to see all the different ways this plant could be used. Nice article btw
Hi Rita, Thank you.
thank you for this great info. I am wondering why we would use this plant medicinally if it contains Rotenone and Coumarin. My husband is on blood thinning meds now due to a tumour in his lung that has not grown. Using Mullein tea, his cough has almost disappeared. In your opinion, how potent is the Rotenone and Coumarin? I was surprised to read this as most info I read did not mention it
Hi Carrol,
I know coumarin is the active ingredient in blood thinners, other than that I am not a medical professional. Sorry but this project about the historical uses of plants only. I would suggest talking to a doctor before using any plant with a prescribed medicine. For example, Spinach is high in Vitamin K and can effect an INR reading.
-Mike
Great article. We have a Mullien plant growing and didn’t know what it was. Thanks for the info.
Thank you and you are welcome.
-Mike