The mullein, also known as “badger barbasso”, is a very common plant that can reach 2 meters in height and is found at the edge of the roads, in uncultivated places. Originating from Europe and Asia, it spreads easily, in Italy it is found in the maritime and submontane areas and I also noticed it in the Milanese hinterland, beside the roadways.
Mullein: properties, benefits and uses of a medicinal plant useful for varicose veins, hemorrhoids and for respiratory disorders.
The mullein, also known as “badger barbasso”, is a very common plant that can reach 2 meters in height and is found at the edge of the roads, in uncultivated places. Originating from Europe and Asia, it spreads easily, in Italy it is found in the maritime and submontane areas and I also noticed it in the Milanese hinterland, beside the roadways.
Its scientific name is Verbascum thapsus and belongs to the Scrofulariaceae family. Its stem is similar to a rod, while the yellow flowers are grouped together.
The elongated oval leaves are velvety and pale green. The flowers are harvested in June-August, as soon as they open. The name of the botanical family to which the mullein belongs, Scrofulariaceae, derives from scrofula, an enlargement of the lymphatic glands which was later identified as a form of tuberculosis. Scientific studies have shown that the plant in a test tube inhibits the growth of bacteria responsible for TB, a disease that was believed to have almost disappeared and that today has returned to sowing anxiety and concern.
What it contains and when it can be useful.
The plant is rich in flavonoids, which is now known, play anticancer action as well as anti-inflammatory and potentiate the action of vitamin C . The mullein contains saponins, substances (glucosides) so called because of their characteristic form of foam in contact with water, which carry out a fluidizing action of the mucus and are present in almost all plants.
The mucilages that calm the cough, have an anti-inflammatory and emollient effect also towards the stomach and the intestine (with laxative action). Tannins have the main characteristic of being astringent. It also contains iridoids, substances with anti-inflammatory properties, phenolic acids and essential oil.
In the case of diseases of the upper respiratory tract, its components are useful and confirm the validity of its traditional use as an emollient, expectorant, calming and anti-inflammatory.
For hemorrhoids and skin irritations: the active ingredients of the plant perform an anti-inflammatory, calming and astringent action.
How to use and the most common use remedies.
The most common use is represented by the herbal tea that is obtained by pouring a cup of boiling water on 1 teaspoon of dried flowers (available in any herbal medicine). Let stand 10 minutes, strain and sweeten with honey. It has a sweetish taste, initially, but then, bitter and for this I sweeten it a little. The dry extract is also found in herbal medicine, in capsules and the mother tincture, obtained from the maceration of food in alcohol and water.
For cough, pharyngitis, phlegm, tracheitis, bronchitis, colds and sore throats: drink 2 cups of herbal tea a day or mother tincture.
For hemorrhoids: cook 3 tablespoons of dried flowers in a little milk until you get a mush. Apply it warm, but not too hot, to the affected area, three times a day for 20 minutes, until improvement.
In case of slight burns, boils, itching, small sores or wounds: soak a cloth in the herbal tea and apply it to the affected area several times a day, until improvement.
Edgar Cayce and Pierantonio Di Coste.
The writing of this brief research on the mullein arises from the reading of the book “Edgar Cayce’s health manual”. It is a book that is initially consulted for what you are suffering from and then captures by the amount of useful and usable information.
Edgar Cayce (1877-1945) was the “sleeping prophet”, well known in the USA. Famous people turned to him and, although his diagnostic method was decidedly paranormal, his treatment was not. His treatments included physical exercises, osteopathy, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, massages and food-grade remedies, sometimes strange but effective. Thirty-six books spread in millions of copies and countless articles in newspapers and magazines have been written on Cayce, in Italy it has been studied and translated byPierantonio Di Coste, spiritual founder of the Naturopataonline site, and a great researcher and connoisseur of the human spirit .
Cayce, in the case of the mullein, recommended wraps with green leaves directly on the varicose veins of the legs, once a week and tea once a day.
Verbascum thapsiform and homeopathy
Mullein is also known as a homeopathic remedy and uses fresh flowered ends. It is a remedy indicated for apathetic, lazy individuals who easily get distracted by their thoughts. The physical symptoms associated with the remedy are neuralgic pains especially facial and dental with a greater left laterality. Verbascum is also prescribed for colds with abundant phlegm, lacrimation, feeling of clogged ears, cough and cavernous voice. Symptoms improve with deep breathing and worsen with air currents, temperature changes, chewing hard, talking or reading aloud. It is a remedy prescribed above all in the acute ones but that however it needs the careful prescription of a homeopathic doctor.
