Mullein royal scepter is a herbaceous biennial from the Norichnikov family. Unknowing people, meeting him on their way, sometimes confuse the plant with weeds. Today, breeders have managed to bring out many varieties of mullein, which differ in their color palette. Growing up to one and a half meters in height, the mullein blooms with bright spike-shaped inflorescences of yellow, pink, purple, white and red hues. On this page "Popular about health" you will learn how the royal scepter mullein is grown from seeds, how it is cared for, and you can also take a good look at its photo.
Pictured is a mullein royal scepter
Please look at the photo where the mullein is depicted - it looks impressive. A giant stem rises one and a half to two meters above the ground. It is all fleecy and strewn almost from top to bottom. bright flowers. Distinctive feature royal scepter from other types of mullein - the absence of branching of the stem. In rare cases, it occurs only in the upper part of the flower. The leaves are collected in a powerful rosette from below, they are oval in shape, green, as well as the trunk, are not devoid of edging. The villi on the leaves help the plant to maintain maximum amount moisture, so it successfully copes with a sudden onset of drought.
In its natural environment, mullein can be found in the Baltic States, on the Black Sea coast, in the Caucasus, as well as in Russia (its European part). This plant grows on roadsides, in ravines, and can also often be found in landfills. Readers will benefit from knowing what herbaceous plant has many medicinal properties. But how to grow it on your site?
Features of growing mullein royal scepter
Flower growers often use these flowers to decorate their plots. The impressive appearance, unpretentiousness and resistance of the plant to drought are some of its advantages. The mullein prefers to grow in sunny areas, it develops well even on depleted soils. Loamy viscous soil is detrimental to these flowers. The culture is frost-resistant. And now let's talk about how to grow the royal scepter mullein, we will focus on seed method, as it is most often used by flower growers.
Growing mullein from seeds
Find an area in your dacha that is well lit by the sun. Since the flowers are not demanding on the soil, no manipulations, except for loosening, are necessary in the flower bed. The only condition is not to plant the mullein on too heavy and viscous soil.
The optimal time for sowing mullein in the garden is the end of May. The seeds of the mullein royal scepter are rather small, so they are not deepened into the soil, but only slightly sprinkled with a layer of soil so that the wind does not blow planting material throughout the territory. Plantings are not irrigated too abundantly with a watering can with a shower head. If the weather is favorable, sunny, then the sprouts will appear on about 15 days. As soon as this happens, the beds need to be thinned out. About 20-30 cm are left between plants. When thinning, remove the weakest flowers so that strong specimens remain.
How to care for young and adult mullein?
Young plants need to be looked after, namely, remove weeds and water regularly, but not abundantly. This plant does not need fertilizing, because in nature it does without it. Although some gardeners alternate between organic and mineral fertilizers. However, you should not get carried away with this, as an excess of nutrients can be harmful. When the flowers grow a little and get stronger, then you should not worry too much about watering either. The plant has a long straight rhizome, which allows extracting moisture from the deep layers of the soil. Seedlings will bloom only in the second year after planting.
In the future, flower care involves the removal of dried inflorescences. The plant gratefully accepts the procedure of loosening the soil around the stem. For the winter, after cutting, the mullein is covered with a layer of leaves and dry branches, and the places of cuts themselves are treated with crushed coal or peat.
Reproduction by dividing the bush
If there is a need to propagate flowers, then the easiest way to do this is by dividing the rhizome in the fall. The plant is carefully dug up, cut into 2-3 parts, after which the divisions are planted in the ground. The flower is resistant to pests, but it can get sick due to severe stagnation of moisture in the soil, as this provokes the development of fungal infections. Snails, slugs and caterpillars can disturb the rest of the plant, but there are various drugs that are sold in stores to combat them. flower shops.
Gardeners saw a welcome guest in the mullein and are happy to use it to decorate plots. Such tall flowers look great against the background of undersized representatives of the flora and, of course, the attention of passers-by and guests is focused on them. Due to the fact that growing and caring for mullein is not at all difficult, it is increasingly in demand among gardeners. Try and you sow the seeds of this flower in your country house. Then next summer you will enjoy the wonderful abundant flowering one and a half meter giant.
Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
Photo of a medicinal plant Mullein ordinary
Mullein - medicinal properties
Common mullein- a remedy for coughs, whooping cough, colds, inflammation of the lungs and bronchi, rheumatic, arthritic and especially for nerve pain, diseases of the liver and spleen, chronic cystitis, gastrointestinal diseases, diarrhea, for sitz baths, for hemorrhoids and itching in the anus .
Latin name: Verbascum thapsus.
English title: Great or Common Mullein.
Family: Norichnikovye - Scrophulariaceae.
Folk names: bear ear, royal candle, fire-grass, grass-torch, golden flower, Mary's candle.
Pharmacy name: mullein flowers - Verbasci flos.
Common Mullein Parts Used: leaves and flowers.
Botanical description: common mullein - biennial plant in the first year it forms only a rosette of densely pubescent hard leaves. Then a large, thick, also densely pubescent stem develops, 1-3 m in height with sessile decurrent leaves. The leaves are entire-edged in the mullein-shaped and crenate in the dense-flowered. Bright yellow flowers sit on the peduncle in bunches (2-5 each) and form a dense spike-shaped inflorescence; they do not bloom at the same time, but gradually, several flowers a day, and fall off very quickly. Blooms from June (July) to August (September).
Habitat: The common mullein is distributed almost everywhere in the world. Natural range - Macaronesia, Eurasia. Introduced and naturalized in Australia and New Zealand, North and South America. On the territory of the former USSR, it is distributed in the European part, in the Caucasus and Altai, in Eastern Siberia, and also in Central Asia. grows on open places, mainly on sandy soil, on cliffs along river banks.
Collection and preparation: when collecting, drying and storing mullein flowers, you need to be extremely careful, because they easily lose their golden color (becoming dirty brown), and with it most its healing qualities. Best time for collection - late in the morning, immediately after the sun dries the morning dew. At this time, it is easiest to separate the corollas of newly blossomed flowers with stamens adhering to them. Try not to take cups of flowers if you want to get good raw materials. Drying should be carried out in a ventilated area, the temperature should not exceed 50°C. Immediately after drying, the flowers are placed in well-closing vessels so that they do not again pick up moisture from the air (they are very hygroscopic!).
Active ingredients: The first active substance of mullein was mucus. Shortly thereafter, saponins, flavonoids, iridoids and some essential oil were found. Other components were also found, which also cannot be considered ballast, but the above-mentioned substances are the most important.Mullein - useful properties and applications
Mullein leaves included in dietary supplements Bres Iz (Free Breath) , bon-si , Iron Chelate produced according to the international GMP quality standard for medicines.
Photo of mullein leaves
The flowers and leaves of the common mullein have expectorant, emollient, enveloping, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and wound healing properties. The flowers also have anticonvulsant properties. An infusion of flowers is used for coughing, hemoptysis, whooping cough, inflammation of the lungs and bronchi, severe runny nose with lacrimation, shortness of breath, asthma. Also in diseases of the liver, spleen and inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Mullein is included in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.
The German National Health Service recognizes its effectiveness in catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract. Mucus, which is part of its composition, softens irritation, and saponins dissolve thick sputum in the bronchi and facilitate expectoration.
But mullein is almost never used alone. He is always only one of constituent parts various medicinal teas for coughs, and in addition to the direct action, it must also be recognized for the effect of improving the taste of tea. Here is one of the recipes of the German Pharmacopoeia (6th edition).
Mullein ordinary in folk medicine
IN folk medicine mullein is used as a cough remedy (mixed with psyllium in equal parts), especially for the common cold. In addition, mullein is used for sitz baths prescribed for hemorrhoids and itching in the anus, as well as for diarrhea and bedwetting. I would like to mention the so-called royal oil, which is an extract from mullein flowers in olive oil. It renders good action with ear pain, boils in the ear, eczema in the external auditory canal and with chronic inflammation of the middle ear.
- Royal Oil Recipe: Pour a handful of fresh mullein flowers into a bottle and pour 100 g of pure olive oil. The bottle should be made of white glass, it is placed in the sun. Shake the container with the mixture thoroughly every day. After 3-4 weeks, the oil is filtered and it is ready for use.
side effects you can not be afraid if you do not give too large a dose.
Contraindications. In normal dosages, no contraindications were found.
Common mullein or verbascum is a medicinal biennial herbaceous plant that throws out a beautiful peduncle up to 2 m high during the flowering period, which is why the people called it the royal candle, golden flower and fire-grass.
Description
In the first year, verbascum forms a lush rosette of abundantly pubescent large leaves. Peduncle, with small or large yellow flowers, appears in the second year and blooms for 2-3 months.
In nature, 300 species of verbascum are distinguished, but not every species of this plant has medicinal properties.
Application in medicine found:
- royal scepter - grass up to 1.5 m high, with small flowers, 1.5 cm in diameter, grows mainly in the park area, on forest edges and roadsides. Orb, crown and scepter are the most important insignia of power, and verbascum, due to its long racemose inflorescences, is very reminiscent of these symbols, for which it received its second name in ancient times - the royal scepter.
- scepter-shaped mullein or densely flowered can reach a height of 1.8-2 m. It blooms in mid-summer with large flowers (up to 5 cm in diameter), consisting of 5 petals and resembling a diamond in its irregular shape.
- mullein bear's ear or ordinary is distinguished by smaller flowers that have two lower stamens. The bear plant got its name because its leaf resembles a bear's ear.
Medicinal properties
The chemical composition saturated with bioactive substances explains the medicinal properties and the use of the royal scepter for preventive and health-improving purposes in folk medicine.
The benefits of the plant are enormous: its widespread use is explained by a number of valuable properties and therapeutic actions on the body:
- anti-inflammatory
- antibacterial
- expectorant
- diaphoretic
- painkillers
- antispasmodic
- soothing
- cardiotonic
- anticonvulsant
- astringent
- wound healing
- enveloping
- emollient
- diuretic
Medicinal properties, of which the plant is abundant - main reason his effective application in the treatment of many diseases of the upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and skin. daily acceptable norm use of a bear's ear is 3-4 g (3 tablespoons).
Almost all parts of the plant have medicinal properties.:
- flowers - are part of the chest and choleretic fees;
- leaves - used as a diuretic and for the treatment of skin diseases;
- seeds - are part of wound healing ointments and powders.
Contraindications
In addition to the positive therapeutic effect, verbascum can also have a negative effect. The main contraindication to the use of funds based on it is associated with diseases caused by reduced blood clotting or allergies. The use of decoctions and infusions on its flowers is also contraindicated in the preoperative period. It is not recommended to use a natural remedy before tooth extraction, women during pregnancy or lactation, during menstruation and children under 12 years of age.
When preparing homemade infusions and decoctions, care should be taken, carefully filtering them to prevent the entry of small villi that are pubescent with leaves and stems. These villi, if they enter the mucous membrane of the pharynx and esophagus, can cause severe irritation. The content of toxic substances in verbascum seeds makes their ingestion extremely hazardous to health.
In case of an overdose of mullein, there is a general deterioration in well-being, constipation. In any case, the use of drugs based on it in medicinal purposes should be under medical supervision.
Application in traditional medicine
The bear's ear as a whole and its composition separately (grass, flowers, seeds) is a real storehouse useful substances. Its medicinal properties are used in the form of decoctions, alcohol and oil infusions, baths, lotions, rubbing, rinsing, ointments, candles.
As an external remedy, bear mullein is reliable folk method treatment:
- arthritis
- inflammation of the facial nerve;
- hemorrhoids;
- frostbite;
- burns;
- gout;
- psoriasis;
- bruises and abrasions;
- bruises;
- exudative diathesis;
Crushed dry flowers of the royal scepter plant are dried and used as a wound healing and regenerating agent for skin problems.
An effective folk method for getting rid of rheumatism or radiculitis is widespread. The best way: rubbing alcohol tincture based medicinal herb mullein scepter.
Mullein bear grass, infused with vegetable oil, is a reliable folk way to treat suppuration, boils and eczema. The infusion is also used as ear drops for otitis media.
When taken orally, mullein ordinary or bear has positively established itself in alternative medicine.
The use of decoctions and infusions based on it is recommended for the treatment of:
- arrhythmias;
- vitiligo;
- herpes;
- flu;
- urolithiasis;
- angina;
- cystitis;
- diseases of the upper respiratory tract, liver, gastrointestinal tract.
Royal scepter for hemorrhoids
Very effective herb royal scepter or mullein from hemorrhoids, as a decoction, candles or baths. Therefore, traditional medicine recommends using them as an addition to drug treatment.
1. A useful decoction that promotes the healing of cracks in hemorrhoids:
1 st. l. dried flowers steamed with boiling water - 300 ml and leave to infuse for 30 minutes. Strain thoroughly, then take 1/3 cup three times a day after meals, for a seven-day course.
2. A proven folk method for the treatment of hemorrhoids - treatment with candles. Method of preparation: Melt 100 g of butter in a water bath and add mullein scepter, chamomile and common flaxseed (1 tbsp each). Heat the mixture for 1 hour on a steam bath, stirring occasionally. Then remove from heat, cover and wrap, then cool. The cooled and hardened oil with herbs should be reheated, strained, and then adding beeswax - 10 g, heat again, stirring well. Once the oil-wax mixture has cooled slightly, form the candles and leave them to harden in the refrigerator. Candles should be used daily, putting them at night. Thanks to the use of herbal suppositories, external hemorrhoids disappear and cracks heal.
3. Recipe for a therapeutic sitting bath: 1 tbsp. l. dry flowers pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, strain twice to avoid getting small villi. Strained broth is added to a basin of water. The duration of the therapeutic sitting bath is up to 25 minutes, the course is 10-14 daily procedures.
Infusion
The healing enveloping properties of the water infusion of the royal scepter plant have shown themselves well in the treatment of such respiratory diseases as: SARS, influenza, as well as whooping cough, hoarseness. The mucus that is part of the plant perfectly removes sputum with bronchitis, laryngitis, dry cough. To do this, steamed with boiling water and aged for 1 hour, the infusion should be taken three times a day, 1 tbsp. l. after meal.
To prepare alcohol infusion: pour 50 g of well-dried flowers with alcohol or vodka (also 50 g) and leave for 2 weeks in a warm, dry place. The purpose of use is warming lotions or rubbing for diseases of the joints, neuralgia.
Oil infusion prepared on the basis of olive oil effectively heals bruises, abrasions and inflammation of the oral mucosa.
Cultivation and care
Simplify the annual harvesting of flowers of the plant mullein royal scepter growing it on personal plot. It will not only benefit as a medicinal plant, but also decorate the courtyard. Best of all, this tall flower will look in the background of a pharmacy garden, surrounded by calendula, oregano, chamomile, thyme, lavender bushes.
The royal scepter grass, planted along walls and fences, next to shrubs, along the edges of lawns, will look spectacular.
cultivation
The best way to breed mullein royal scepter on a personal plot is to grow it from seeds. To do this, they should be sown superficially, without embedding in the soil, in spring or autumn, keeping a distance between rows of at least 45-60 cm. This grass is not demanding on the quality of the soil, therefore it grows well on clay, sandy and even slightly stony calcareous soils. In early summer, it is recommended to carry out additional thinning of crops.
Care
Grass royal scepter is unpretentious in care. It is enough to carry out several weedings at the very beginning, until the young shoots grow up. They do not require additional irrigation, as they form a long powerful root. They do not tolerate transplants, so it is better to land immediately on permanent place.
Drying flowers
The most sought after raw materials with valuable medicinal properties are bear's ear flowers. Flowers should be picked daily in the morning, after the dew has dried. It is necessary to cut off for harvesting only fully opened corollas without flower cups. Dry the collected flowers should be laid out in a thin layer on paper in the shade or in the oven on a baking sheet at t ° - 40 ° C, stirring occasionally.
From 8 kg of freshly picked flowers, after drying, 1 kg of dry raw materials comes out. Dried sweet-smelling bright yellow flowers should be stored in tightly closed jars in a dry place away from light for up to 2 years.
As the reviews and photos show, it is easy to grow verbascum on your own, thereby providing yourself with universal healing raw materials on an ongoing basis. Traditional medicine, appreciating its medicinal properties, offers a huge number of options for using the common mullein herb for the treatment of various diseases.
Mullein refers to biennial (although there are also annuals) or perennials family Norichnikovye. This plant has a second name - verbascum, but it is less common. Mullein grows almost everywhere, and Asia, the Mediterranean and the USA are considered its homeland. According to the botanical description, the mullein has:
- erect stem, practically not branched;
- core rhizome;
- arranged spirally or opposite leaves;
- basal rosette of foliage;
- felt pile over the entire surface of flowers, sheets, shoots.
The foliage, stem and shoots of the plant are grayish green or deep dark green. Above the basal rosette of a two-year-old grass, a stem sprouts, crowned with an ear of buds arranged in several tiers. Mullein blooms throughout the warm season with pink, purple, yellow or white flowers.
This plant is distinguished not only by its beauty, but also by its benefits. Mullein is used in folk medicine as an expectorant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and bleeding agent. A wide range of uses of the plant is due to the presence in its chemical composition a large number vitamins, mucus and essential oils.
plant species
In total, more than 250 species of mullein are known, but on the territory Russian Federation only a few of them grow, those that are adapted to Russian climatic conditions. The most common types of plants are:
- Ordinary. The second name of the plant is "bear's ear". Outwardly, it resembles a cone, since the leaves become smaller towards the top of the plant. The entire stem of the common mullein is covered with dark green leaves, and the top of the stem is crowned with a short inflorescence consisting of flowers up to 2 mm in diameter.
- Scepter-like. The plant got its name for its similarity with a scepter - it can reach a height of 1.2 meters, it is distinguished by a straight, strong stem covered with oval leaves from 4 to 40 cm in length. The inflorescence of the scepter-shaped mullein is long, consisting of bunches of bright yellow flowers, which have a light aroma when fresh, and a bright honey smell when dried.
- Medicinal. The plant reaches one and a half meters in height, its stem is covered with foliage up to 25 cm in length. Mullein officinalis flowers are located along the entire stem, their anthers are red, and the diameter of the inflorescences reaches 5.5 cm.
Also known are species such as purple mullein - this plant blooms in the first summer months, and its main distinguishing feature is painted in bright purple flowers, and the hybrid is a frost- and drought-resistant biennial plant with yellow inflorescences. Almost all known types of mullein are used for the manufacture of medicines used to treat various diseases.
The composition and useful properties of the plant
In the composition of the plant:
- mucus - contribute to sputum discharge due to expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties;
- saponins - promote the removal of mucus from the bronchi and lungs, stop the reproduction of cancer cells;
- glucose - normalizes metabolism, gives energy;
- flavonoids - strengthen and restore elasticity to blood vessels and capillaries, neutralize free radicals;
- essential oils - soften cough and increase sputum separation, have stimulating, antibacterial, sedative properties;
- gum - normalizes cholesterol in the blood and the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract, removes toxins and reduces appetite;
- coumarins - reduce blood clotting, are useful in the propensity to form blood clots, the occurrence of heart attacks and strokes, act as a diuretic and astringent.
It also contains: carotene - an immunostimulant, organic acids with antiseptic and antifungal properties, necessary for the central nervous system and activating the hematopoietic process. Tannin and ash contained in the composition contribute to the rapid healing of wounds and ulcers. Alkaloids help reduce pressure, tannins and macronutrients have a beneficial effect on the entire body.
Thus, the plant provides expectorant, analgesic, hypotensive, antibacterial, wound healing, sedative, diuretic, anti-inflammatory effects.
Contraindications
Despite the mass of medicinal properties, all parts of the plant - the stem, flowers, seeds, leaves, and have contraindications. These include:
- allergy;
- lactation and pregnancy.
Oral preparations prepared on the basis of mullein must be carefully filtered so as not to provoke irritation and upset of the gastrointestinal tract. And the use of seeds or products based on them inside is absolutely not allowed, since this part of the plant is toxic.
Scope of mullein
Prepared from a plant medicines contributing fast treatment a number of ailments and improvement general condition. So, a decoction is used for stomatitis, cystitis, dystrophy, respiratory diseases, hypertension, and gastrointestinal diseases.
An infusion from the plant is used for respiratory diseases, hoarseness, tuberculosis, jaundice, tonsillitis, convulsions and migraines. Due to its hemostatic property, the infusion is recommended to be added to sitz baths for the treatment of hemorrhoids.
Also prepared from mullein:
- ointment - treats putrefactive ulcers and wounds;
- oil - helps with ear ailments, eczema, promotes rapid healing of wounds;
- tincture - externally used to alleviate the condition with radiculitis, neuralgia, arthritis, rheumatism.
Healthy Recipes
How to prepare medicines from mullein at home? Quite simply, the main thing is to strictly observe the indicated proportions in the manufacture of medicines. A decoction of mullein is prepared according to this recipe:
- a tablespoon of dry leaves of the plant is boiled for 2-3 minutes in water (1 cup);
- after that, it is removed from the fire and infused for about half an hour;
- the cooled broth is filtered and consumed three times a day for a large spoon.
The infusion is prepared from a tablespoon of dry raw materials, filled with a glass of boiling water. This mixture should be insisted for 10-20 minutes, strained, and consumed in an amount of 150 ml. The procedure is repeated three times a day, after meals.
To prepare the ointment, you will need to grind the mullein seeds into powder.
To make oil from mullein, a glass is poured into a container and 5 tablespoons of the plant are poured into it. The mass is placed on the windowsill, left there for a month, during which it is required to shake the bottle daily. The finished oil is filtered and placed in the refrigerator for storage. The product is used both internally and externally.
Treatment of hemorrhoids
Mullein herb for hemorrhoids is the best medicine that has a hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, healing, softening effect.
A decoction of the plant will stop bleeding and reduce the symptoms of the disease in just a week, and prepare it like this:
- in a thermos, 1.5 tablespoons of flowers are brewed with one and a half glasses of only boiled water;
- the mixture is insisted for an hour and filtered;
- drink a decoction should be a third of a glass 3 times a day.
Homemade candles will save you from internal hemorrhoids:
- 100 g of butter is melted;
- add a mixture of mullein, flaxseed to it (each ingredient is taken in 1 spoon);
- the mass is heated for an hour in a water bath, then cooled;
- 10 g of wax is added to the cooled mixture;
- candles are formed from the mass and placed in the refrigerator for solidification and subsequent storage.
Synonym: bear's ear.
A biennial herbaceous plant with dense pubescence. In folk medicine, as a rule, mullein flowers are used, which have enveloping, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, emollient and expectorant properties. As ornamental plant, used for planting on lawns. It is a good honey plant.
Ask the experts
flower formula
The formula of the mullein flower is: Ch (5) L (5) T5P (2).In medicine
In scientific medicine, decoctions, solutions, liquid extracts and dry matter from common mullein plants are used. The mucous substances contained in the flowers (sugars, flavonoids, saponins, etc.) have pronounced antiviral, anti-inflammatory and softening properties. Preparations from mullein plants alleviate catarrhal phenomena on the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, are also used in the treatment of diarrhea, gout, abdominal pain, help reduce painful reflexes and tissue edema. Decoctions and infusions of the flowers of this plant are used in the treatment and prevention of colds, laryngitis, bronchitis, tracheitis, severe forms inflammation of the lungs. Mullein flowers are part of various medicinal cough teas. Mullein preparations are no less effective in the treatment of digestive disorders: colitis, diarrhea, gastritis, enterocolitis. The diuretic properties of this plant are used in the treatment chronic forms cystitis. Externally used to remove warts; boiled flowers and leaves are applied to burns and wounds, cuts and wounds are sprinkled with powder from dried flowers, an aqueous extract from mullein flowers is used for viral herpes. In the form of lotions for the treatment of diseases of the joints (arthritis, gout, rheumatism) and inflammation of the facial nerve.
Contraindications and side effects
It should be borne in mind that mullein preparations are contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation. Talin, contained in mullein, has carcinogenic properties and therefore preparations of this plant are contraindicated in cancer patients. Mullein allergy is quite common.
In cosmetology
Mullein decoctions are used as a hair rinse to strengthen hair follicles, as well as in the form of compresses on the face, applied to places affected by purulent acne. Mullein flower tinctures are used to remove warts.
In dermatology
An infusion of mullein leaves is used in the treatment of baldness and seborrhea. Dry powder of mullein grass is used to treat vitiligo and psoriasis. For the treatment of eczema, psoriasis, diathesis, neurodermatitis, baths based on decoctions of this plant are used.
Classification
Common mullein (lat. Verbascum thapsus) is a species of the genus Mullein (lat. Verbascum) of the Norichnikov family (lat. Scrophulariaceae). The genus includes about 25 species. The scientific name - modified "barbascum" - comes from lat. Barba ("beard") and is associated with the pubescence of the plant. Among the people, this plant has several names, the most common is "bear's ear".
Botanical description
Common mullein is a herbaceous plant, biennial, 50-150 cm tall, with an erect stem, large, alternate, ellipsoid leaves forming a basal rosette. The leaf blade is about 30 cm long and 10 cm wide, the leaf apex is either obtuse or has a short point, the leaf margin is crenate or entire. The whole plant is covered with gray-white or yellow-tomentose pubescence. Glandular hairs on leaves and stem are absent. The root system is pivotal. Flowers bisexual, irregular shape, light yellow, form a dense inflorescence, in the form of an apical, spike-shaped brush, the lower part of which is formed by 4-7, and the upper 1-4 flowers in a bunch. Bracts lanceolate and pointed. Pedicels are shortened, often attached to the common axis of the inflorescence. Calyx separate, with lanceolate lobes. Corolla up to 20 mm in diameter, falling, tubular-funnel-shaped. Stamens 5, differing in structure. The two anterior stamens do not have pubescence, while the three posterior stamens, on the contrary, have densely pubescent filaments with white glandular hairs. The anthers are kidney-shaped. Pistil with upper ovary. The stigma of the pistil has a spatulate shape. Flower formula: Ch(5)L(5)T5P(2). The fruit is a densely pubescent elliptical capsule, 5-8 cm long. The seeds are small, brownish-black. Blooms in summer from June to late August.
Spreading
The common mullein is a widespread plant in many areas. Introduced and naturalized in Australia and New Zealand, North and South America. It is distributed in the Central and European parts of Russia, in the Caucasus, Altai, in Eastern Siberia, and also in Central Asia. It grows in open places, more often on sandy soils, on cliffs, along river banks and along roadsides. In addition, mullein is bred in parks.
Distribution regions on the map of Russia.
Procurement of raw materials
Medicinal properties, mainly, have mullein flowers. During the flowering period, the whole flowers are collected (corolla with stamens). When collecting flowers, you must be very careful, as the corolla easily changes its color (from golden to dirty brown), which can lead to a loss of healing qualities. Each mullein flower blooms in the morning and withers or falls off in the evening. Blooming flowers are harvested before lunch. collected flowers dried on paper, with good ventilation, it is also possible in drying ovens at a temperature not exceeding 50 ° C. In the dried material, the whisks become brittle and are well ground into powder. It should be noted that the dried material is very hygroscopic, so airtight containers are used to store the dried flowers. The shelf life of dried raw materials is 2 years. Seeds are harvested in autumn, in September-October.
Chemical composition
Qualitative reactions and the method of chromatographic analysis of fractions of the water-alcohol extract of mullein found that the main group of biologically active substances in mullein is represented by iridoids (aucubin, harpagid, harpagid acetate, catalpol), phenolic compounds (flavonoids and phenolcarboxylic acids) were also found in the flowers. ), tannins and polysaccharides, about 3%, which are part of the mucus. Analysis of the mucous substances of mullein flowers showed the presence of carotene, saponins, coumarin, gum, flavonoids, essential oils, carbohydrates (3.5% glucose, 11% sugar, 4.5% ash). Mucous substances and carotene were also found in the leaves. The study of the composition of mullein seed oils showed the presence of 11 fatty acids, among which unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic and linolenic are predominant (up to 90% of the total fatty acids). Mullein flowers contain: macro- (K, Ca, Mn, Fe) and microelements (Mg, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cr, Se, Ni, Sr, Pb, B, Li). Accumulates Sr, Li.
Pharmacological properties
Mullein preparations are recognized as effective in catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract. The mucous substances that make up the flowers relieve irritation, and saponins thin thick phlegm in the bronchi and facilitate expectoration. Alcohol-water extracts of mullein lower blood pressure (by 20%), 1% solution of alcohol-water extract has antimicrobial activity. Ethanol extracts have a vasodilating effect that improves blood flow by 20-30%. The water extract has an antiviral effect against the herpes virus. An antiviral effect against influenza strains A and B has a decoction of mullein flowers. Mullein herb infusions are very effective in neuralgia of various etiologies, dystrophy, hypertension, atherosclerosis, nervous exhaustion, epileptic seizures. Mullein decoctions also have an effective effect in the treatment of hemorrhoids. Sitz baths are also recommended. The solution for such baths is prepared from a mixture of mullein flowers and roots. The effectiveness of mullein in the treatment of hemorrhoids is also recognized official medicine. Therefore, in pharmacies you can find ready-made products based on this plant (rectal suppositories and oil extracts).
Application in traditional medicine
In folk medicine, a decoction of the roots is used for diarrhea, for rinsing the mouth with toothaches, and the powder is taken as an anthelmintic. Rubbing the fresh juice of this plant into the skin helped to get rid of warts. The fresh juice from the mullein stem helps treat bronchitis and inflammation of the airways. A decoction of mullein flowers and leaves is recommended to wash the eyes with inflammation of the eyes. Mullein is popularly known as a diuretic, decoctions of its leaves and roots are used for chronic cystitis, bronchial asthma, tuberculosis of the lungs, catarrh of the stomach and intestines, diseases of the liver and spleen, with colds, rheumatism, headaches and other diseases. For the prevention of rickets and the treatment of scrofula, baths from this plant are used. Compresses for the treatment of abscesses, ulcers, purulent wounds, hemorrhoids and lichen are made from a decoction of the leaves. Post-burn wounds, as well as cracks in the skin and feet, are sprinkled with dried grass powder. From the extract of mullein flowers in olive oil, the so-called royal oil is prepared. It should be borne in mind that infusions and decoctions of mullein should be filtered through several layers of tissue before use to prevent the ingress of small hairs that cause severe irritation of the esophagus and stomach. In 3 t. ed. KMK, ITI, 2004. - V.3. Angiosperms (dicotyledonous: dicotyledonous). - S.204.
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4. Drums E.I. Botany: a textbook for students of higher educational institutions. M: Publishing Center "Academy", 2006. - P.448.
5. Sokolov S.Ya. Phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. M.: Medical information agency. 2000. - 541 p.
6. Nosal M.A., Nosal I.M. medicinal plants and how they are used by the people. K .: State Medical Publishing House of the Ukrainian SSR, 1960. - 300 p.
7. Akhmedov R.B. Plants are your friends and foes. Ufa, Kitap, 2006. - 127 p.
8. Ilyina T.A. Medicinal plants of Russia. Illustrated encyclopedia. M.: Eksmo, 2006. - 190 p.
