Royal scepter mullein is a herbaceous biennial from the Norichnikov family. Unknowing people, meeting it on their way, sometimes confuse the plant with a weed. Today, breeders have managed to develop many varieties of mullein, which differ in their color palette. Growing up to one and a half meters in height, mullein blooms with bright spike-shaped inflorescences of yellow, pink, purple, white and red. On this page “Popular about health” you will learn how royal scepter mullein is grown from seeds, how it is cared for, and you will also be able to take a good look at its photo.
In the photo there is a royal scepter mullein
Please look at the photo showing a mullein - it looks impressive. The giant stem rises one and a half to two meters above the ground. It is all fleecy and practically covered from top to bottom bright flowers. Distinctive feature royal scepter from other types of mullein - lack 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, just like the trunk, and not without edges. Villi on the leaves help the plant maintain maximum amount moisture, so it successfully copes with sudden 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 often be found in landfills. It will be useful for readers to know what this is herbaceous plant has many medicinal properties. But how to grow it on your own plot?
Features of growing mullein royal scepter
Flower growers often use these flowers to decorate their gardens. The impressive appearance, unpretentiousness and resistance of the plant to drought are some of its advantages. Mullein prefers to grow in sunny areas and develops well even in depleted soils. Loamy, viscous soil is destructive for these flowers. The culture is frost-resistant. Now let’s talk about ways to grow royal scepter mullein, focusing on seed method, since 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 flowers are not picky about the soil, there is no need to carry out any manipulations other than loosening in the flowerbed. The only condition is not to plant 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 royal scepter mullein are quite small, so they are not deepened into the soil, but only sprinkled with a light layer of soil so that the wind does not blow them away planting material throughout the territory. The plantings are not irrigated too abundantly using a watering can with a shower attachment. If the weather is favorable and sunny, the sprouts will appear on the 15th day. As soon as this happens, the beds need to be thinned out. Leave about 20-30 cm 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 feeding, 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 excess nutrients can be harmful. When the flowers grow a little and get stronger, you shouldn’t worry too much about watering. The plant has a long, straight rhizome, which allows it to extract moisture from the deep layers of the soil. Seedlings will bloom only in the second year after planting.
IN further care removing flowers means removing 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 cutting sites themselves are treated with crushed coal or peat.
Reproduction by dividing the bush
If there is a need to propagate flowers, the easiest way to do this is by dividing the rhizomes in the fall. The plant is carefully dug up, cut into 2-3 parts, after which the sections are planted in the ground. The flower is resistant to pests, but 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 to combat them there are various drugs that are sold in flower shops.
Gardeners have recognized the mullein as a welcome guest and are happy to use it to decorate their plots. Such tall flowers look great against the backdrop of stunted representatives of the flora and, undoubtedly, 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 sowing the seeds of this flower in your dacha. Then next summer you will enjoy a wonderful abundant flowering one and a half meter giant.
Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
Photo of the medicinal plant Mullein
Mullein - medicinal properties
Common mullein- a remedy for cough, whooping cough, colds, inflammation of the lungs and bronchi, rheumatic, arthritic and especially for nerve pain, liver and spleen disease, chronic cystitis, gastrointestinal diseases, diarrhea, for sitz baths, hemorrhoids and itching in the anus .
Latin name: Verbascum thapsus.
English name: Great or Common Mullein.
Family: Norichinaceae - Scrophulariaceae.
Common 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 descending leaves. The leaves are entire-edged in the mullein-like variety and crenate - in the densely flowered one. Bright yellow flowers sit on the peduncle in bunches (2-5 each) and form a dense spike-shaped inflorescence; They do not bloom simultaneously, 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 habitat - Macaronesia, Eurasia. Introduced and naturalized in Australia and New Zealand, North and South America. In the territory of the former USSR, it is distributed in the European part, in the Caucasus and Altai, in Eastern Siberia, as well as in Central Asia. Grows on open places, mainly on sandy soil, on cliffs along river banks.
Collection and preparation: When collecting, drying and storing common 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 morning, immediately after the sun dries the morning dew. At this time, it is easiest to separate the corollas of newly bloomed flowers with the stamens attached to them. Try not to take flower calyxes if you want to get good raw materials. Carry out drying in a ventilated area, the temperature should not exceed 50°C. Immediately after drying, the flowers are placed in well-closed containers so that they do not again gain moisture from the air (they are very hygroscopic!).
Active ingredients: The first active ingredient in mullein was discovered to be mucilage. Soon after, saponins, flavonoids, iridoids and some essential oil were found. Other components have also been found that also cannot be considered ballast, but the above-mentioned substances are the most important.Mullein - beneficial properties and uses
Mullein leaves included in dietary supplement Bres Iz (Free Breathing) , BON-Sea , Iron Chelate , produced according to the international GMP quality standard for medicines.
Photo of common mullein leaves
The flowers and leaves of 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 coughs, hemoptysis, whooping cough, inflammation of the lungs and bronchi, severe runny nose with lacrimation, shortness of breath, and asthma. Also for liver disease, spleen and inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Mullein is included in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.
The German National Health Service recognizes its effectiveness for catarrh of the upper respiratory tract. The mucus included in its composition softens irritation, and saponins dissolve thick mucus in the bronchi and facilitate expectoration.
But mullein is almost never used separately. He is always only one of components various medicinal teas for coughs, and in addition to the direct effect, we must also recognize the effect of improving the taste of the tea. We present here one of the recipes from the German Pharmacopoeia (6th edition).
Common mullein in folk medicine
IN folk medicine Common mullein is used as a cough remedy (mixed with plantain in equal parts), especially for common colds. 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 also like to mention the so-called royal oil, which is an extract from mullein flowers in olive oil. It has good action for ear pain, boils in the ear, eczema in the external auditory canal and chronic inflammation of the middle ear.
- Royal Butter Recipe: Pour a handful of fresh mullein flowers into a bottle and pour in 100 g of pure olive oil. The bottle should be made of white glass and 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 There is no need to worry as long as you do not give too much of a dose.
Contraindications. No contraindications were found in normal dosages.
Common mullein or verbascum is a medicinal biennial herbaceous plant that produces a beautiful peduncle up to 2 m high during the flowering period, which is why it is popularly called the royal candle, golden flower and fire-herb.
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.
There are 300 types of verbascum in nature, but not every type of this plant has medicinal properties.
Applications in medicine have been found:
- royal scepter - a herb up to 1.5 m high, with small flowers, 1.5 cm in diameter, grows mainly in park areas, on forest edges and roadsides. The orb, crown and scepter are the most important insignia of power, and verbascum, thanks 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 with their irregular shape resembling a diamond.
- Bear's ear or common mullein 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 use of the royal scepter for preventive and health 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
- sweatshop
- painkillers
- antispasmodic
- calming
- cardiotonic
- anticonvulsant
- astringent
- wound healing
- enveloping
- softening
- diuretic
Medicinal properties, which are abundant in the plant - main reason his effective application in the treatment of many diseases of the upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and skin. Daily acceptable norm The use of bear ear is 3-4 g (3 tbsp.).
Almost all parts of the plant have medicinal properties.:
- flowers - included in chest and choleretic preparations;
- leaves – used as a diuretic and for healing skin diseases;
- seeds - included in 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 products based on it is associated with diseases caused by reduced blood clotting or allergies. The use of decoctions and infusions of its flowers is also contraindicated in the preoperative period. The use of a natural remedy is not recommended before tooth extraction, for women during pregnancy or breastfeeding, during menstruation and for children under 12 years of age.
When preparing homemade infusions and decoctions, care should be taken to carefully strain them to prevent the entry of small fibers that cover the leaves and stems. These villi, if they come into contact with the mucous membrane of the pharynx and esophagus, can cause severe irritation. The content of toxic substances in verbascum seeds makes their ingestion extremely dangerous to health.
In case of an overdose of mullein, a general deterioration in well-being and constipation are observed. In any case, the use of drugs based on it in medicinal purposes must be under medical supervision.
Use in folk medicine
Bear's ear as a whole and its individual composition (grass, flowers, seeds) is a real treasure trove useful substances. Its medicinal properties are used in the form of decoctions, alcohol and oil infusions, baths, lotions, rubbing, rinsing, ointments, and suppositories.
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 dried flowers of the royal scepter plant are dried and used as a wound-healing and restorative agent for skin problems.
An effective folk method for getting rid of rheumatism or radiculitis is widespread. The best way: rubbing with alcohol tincture based medicinal herb scepter-shaped mullein.
Bear's mullein herb infused with vegetable oil- reliable folk way treatment of suppurations, boils and eczema. The infusion is also used as ear drops for otitis media.
When taken orally, mullein or bear mullein has positively proven 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 pectoris;
- cystitis;
- diseases of the upper respiratory tract, liver, gastrointestinal tract.
Royal scepter for hemorrhoids
The herb royal scepter or mullein is very effective for hemorrhoids, as a decoction, suppositories or baths. Therefore, traditional medicine recommends using them as a supplement to drug treatment.
1. A useful decoction that promotes the healing of cracks in hemorrhoids:
1 tbsp. l. steam dried flowers with boiling water - 300 ml and leave to infuse for 30 minutes. Strain thoroughly, then take 1/3 glass three times a day after meals, for a seven-day course.
2. A proven folk method for treating hemorrhoids is treatment with suppositories. Method of preparation: melt 100 g of butter in a water bath and add scepter mullein, chamomile and toadflax (1 tablespoon each). Heat the mixture for 1 hour in 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 added beeswax - 10 g, heated again, stirring well. Once the oil-wax mixture has cooled slightly, form the candles and leave them in the refrigerator to harden. Candles should be used daily, placing them at night. Thanks to the use of suppositories based on medicinal herbs, external hemorrhoids disappear and cracks heal.
3. Recipe for therapeutic sitz bath: 1 tbsp. l. dry flowers, pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, strain twice to avoid getting small fluff. The strained broth is added to a bowl of water. The duration of the therapeutic sitz bath is up to 25 minutes, the course is 10-14 daily procedures.
Infusion
The healing enveloping properties of the aqueous infusion of the royal scepter plant have shown themselves to be effective in the treatment of respiratory diseases such as ARVI, influenza, as well as whooping cough and hoarseness. The mucus contained in the plant perfectly removes mucus from bronchitis, laryngitis, and dry cough. To do this, the infusion, steamed with boiling water and aged for 1 hour, should be taken three times a day, 1 tbsp. l. after meal.
To prepare an 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 joint diseases and neuralgia.
An oil infusion made from olive oil effectively heals bruises, abrasions and inflammation of the oral mucosa.
Growing and care
It will simplify the annual preparation of flowers of the royal scepter mullein plant by growing it on personal plot. It will not only be beneficial as a medicinal plant, but will also decorate the yard. This tall flower will look best in the background of an apothecary bed, surrounded by calendula, oregano, chamomile, thyme, and lavender bushes.
Royal scepter grass will look impressive if planted along walls and fences, next to bushes, and along the edges of lawns.
Growing
The best way to grow royal scepter mullein in your garden is to grow it from seeds. To do this, they should be sown superficially, without embedding into 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, so it grows well on clay, sandy and even slightly rocky calcareous soils. At the beginning of summer, it is recommended to carry out additional thinning of crops.
Care
Royal scepter grass is easy to care for. It is enough to carry out a few weedings at the very beginning until the young shoots grow up. Nor do they require additional watering, 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 popular raw material, which has valuable medicinal properties, is bear's ear flowers. Flowers should be collected daily in the morning, after the dew has dried. Only fully opened corollas without flower cups need to be plucked for harvesting. The collected flowers should be dried by spreading them out in a thin layer on paper in the shade or in the oven on a baking sheet at t° - 40° C, stirring occasionally.
After drying, 8 kg of freshly picked flowers yield 1 kg of dry raw materials. Dried pleasant-smelling bright yellow flowers should be stored in tightly sealed jars in a dry place away from light for up to 2 years.
As reviews and photos show, verbascum is easy to grow yourself, thereby providing yourself with universal healing raw materials on an ongoing basis. Traditional medicine, highly appreciating its medicinal properties, offers a huge number of options for using the common mullein herb for the treatment of various diseases.
Mullein is classified as biennial (although annuals are also found) or perennial plants family Norichnikov. 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, mullein has:
- erect stem, practically unbranched;
- taproot;
- spirally or oppositely arranged leaves;
- basal rosette of foliage;
- felt pile over the entire surface of flowers, leaves, shoots.
The foliage, stem and shoots of the plant are grayish-green or deep dark green. A stem topped with a spike of buds arranged in several tiers grows above the basal rosette of a two-year-old grass. 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-stopping agent. The wide range of uses of the plant is due to the presence in its chemical composition large quantity vitamins, mucus and essential oils.
Plant species
In total, more than 250 species of mullein are known, but in 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 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-shaped. The plant got its name for its resemblance to a scepter - it can reach a height of 1.2 meters, 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 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 its bright colors. purple flowers, and hybrid - a frost- and drought-resistant biennial plant with yellow inflorescences. Almost all known types of mullein are used to make medicines used to treat a variety of diseases.
Composition and beneficial properties of the plant
The plant contains:
- mucus - promotes the removal of sputum due to expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties;
- saponins - promote the removal of mucus from the bronchi and lungs, stop the proliferation of cancer cells;
- glucose - normalizes metabolism, provides energy;
- flavonoids - strengthen and restore elasticity of blood vessels and capillaries, neutralize free radicals;
- essential oils - soften cough and increase sputum production, have stimulating, antibacterial, sedative properties;
- gum - normalizes cholesterol in the blood and gastrointestinal microflora, removes toxins and reduces appetite;
- Coumarins - reduce blood clotting, are useful for a tendency to form blood clots, 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 functioning of the central nervous system and activating the hematopoietic process. Tannin and ash contained in the composition promote rapid healing of wounds and ulcers. Alkaloids help reduce blood pressure, tannins and macroelements have a beneficial effect on the entire body.
Thus, the plant provides expectorant, analgesic, hypotensive, antibacterial, wound-healing, sedative, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Contraindications
Despite the mass of medicinal properties, all parts of the plant - stem, flowers, seeds, leaves - also have contraindications. These include:
- allergy;
- lactation and pregnancy.
Oral preparations prepared from mullein must be carefully filtered so as not to provoke irritation and gastrointestinal upset. And it is absolutely not allowed to use seeds or products based on them internally, since this part of the plant is toxic.
Area of application of mullein
Prepared from the plant medicines, promoting quick treatment a number of ailments and improvement general condition. Thus, the decoction is used for stomatitis, cystitis, dystrophy, respiratory tract diseases, hypertension, and gastrointestinal diseases.
An infusion from the plant is used for respiratory diseases, hoarseness, tuberculosis, jaundice, sore throat, convulsions and migraines. Due to its hemostatic properties, the infusion is recommended to be added to sitz baths to treat hemorrhoids.
Also prepared from mullein:
- ointment - treats putrefactive ulcers and wounds;
- oil - helps with ear ailments, eczema, promotes rapid healing of wounds;
- tincture - used externally to relieve radiculitis, neuralgia, arthritis, rheumatism.
Healthy recipes
How to prepare medicines from mullein at home? It’s quite simple, the main thing is to strictly observe the specified proportions when making medicines. Mullein decoction is prepared according to the following recipe:
- a tablespoon of dry leaves of the plant is boiled for 2-3 minutes in water (1 cup);
- after this, remove from heat and infuse for about half an hour;
- The cooled broth is filtered and consumed three times a day, a large spoonful.
The infusion is prepared from a tablespoon of dry raw materials poured with a glass of boiling water. This mixture should be left 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 mullein seeds into powder.
To make oil from mullein, pour a glass into a container and add 5 tablespoons of the plant into it. The mass is placed on the windowsill and left there for a month, during which you need 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 grass for hemorrhoids - best medicine, which has a hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, healing, softening effect.
A decoction from the plant will stop bleeding and reduce the symptoms of the disease in just a week, and it is prepared as follows:
- in a thermos, brew 1.5 tablespoons of flowers with one and a half glasses of just boiled water;
- the mixture is infused for an hour and filtered;
- You should drink the decoction, a third of a glass, 3 times a day.
Homemade suppositories will save you from internal hemorrhoids:
- Melt 100 grams of butter;
- add a mixture of mullein and flaxseed to it (take 1 spoon of each ingredient);
- the mass is heated in a water bath for an hour, then cooled;
- 10 grams of wax are added to the cooled mixture;
- Candles are formed from the mass and placed in the refrigerator for hardening and subsequent storage.
Syn: bear ear.
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 a question
Flower formula
Common mullein flower formula: Ch(5)L(5)T5P(2).In medicine
In scientific medicine, decoctions, solutions, liquid extracts and dry matter from 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; they are also used in the treatment of diarrhea, gout, abdominal pain, and help reduce painful reflexes and tissue swelling. Decoctions and infusions of the flowers of this plant are used in the treatment and prevention of colds, laryngitis, bronchitis, tracheitis, severe forms pneumonia. Mullein flowers are included in 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 treatment chronic forms cystitis. Externally used to remove warts; boiled flowers and leaves are applied to burns and wounds, powder from dried flowers is sprinkled on cuts and wounds, an aqueous extract from mullein flowers is used for viral herpes. In the form of lotions for the treatment of joint diseases (arthritis, gout, rheumatism) and inflammation of the facial nerve.
Contraindications and side effects
It should be taken into account that mullein preparations are contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation. Talin contained in mullein has carcinogenic properties and therefore preparations from this plant are contraindicated for cancer patients. Allergy to mullein 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 areas affected by purulent acne. Tinctures of mullein flowers are used to remove warts.
In dermatology
An infusion of mullein leaves is used in the treatment of baldness and seborrhea. Dry mullein herb powder is used to treat vitiligo and psoriasis. To treat eczema, psoriasis, diathesis, and 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 family Scrophulariaceae. The genus includes about 25 species. Scientific name- modified “barbascum” - comes from lat. Barba (“beard”) and is associated with the pubescence of the plant. Popularly, this plant has several names, the most common being “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 apex of the leaf is either obtuse or has a short point, the edge of the leaf is crenate or entire. The entire plant is covered with gray-white or yellow-felt pubescence. There are no glandular hairs on the leaves and stem. The root system is taproot. The flowers are bisexual, irregular shape, light yellow, form a dense inflorescence in the form of an apical, spike-shaped raceme, the lower part of which is formed by 4-7, and the upper by 1-4 flowers in a bunch. The bracts are lanceolate and pointed. Pedicels are shortened, often adherent to the common axis of the inflorescence. The calyx is separate, with lanceolate lobes. Corolla up to 20 mm in diameter, deciduous, tubular-funnel-shaped. There are 5 stamens, differing in structure. The two anterior stamens are not pubescent; the three posterior stamens, on the contrary, have filaments densely pubescent with white glandular hairs. The anthers are kidney-shaped. Pistil with upper ovary. The stigma of the pistil is spade-shaped. Flower formula: H(5)L(5)T5P(2). The fruit is a densely pubescent capsule of elliptical shape, 5-8 cm long. The seeds are small, brownish-black. Blooms in summer from June to late August.
Spreading
Common mullein is a widespread plant in many areas. Introduced and naturalized in Australia and New Zealand, North and South America. Distributed in Central and European Russia, the Caucasus, Altai, Eastern Siberia, and also in Central Asia. It grows in open places, often on sandy soils, on cliffs, along river banks and along roadsides. In addition, mullein is bred in parks.
Regions of distribution on the map of Russia.
Procurement of raw materials
Mullein flowers mainly have medicinal properties. During the flowering period, the whole flowers (corolla with stamens) are collected. 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 fades or falls off in the evening. Blooming flowers are collected before lunch. Collected flowers dried on paper, with good ventilation, or in drying ovens at a temperature of no more than 50°C. The dried material's corollas become brittle and are easily ground into powder. It should be noted that the dried material is very hygroscopic, so sealed containers are used to store dried flowers. The shelf life of dried raw materials is 2 years. Seeds are collected in the fall, in September-October.
Chemical composition
By qualitative reactions and the method of chromatographic analysis of fractions of aqueous-alcoholic extract of common mullein, it was established that the main group of biologically active substances in mullein is represented by iridoids (aucubin, harpagide, harpagide acetate, catalpol); phenolic compounds (flavonoids and phenolcarboxylic acids) were also found in the flowers ), tannins and polysaccharides, about 3%, included in 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. A study of the composition of mullein seed oils showed the presence of 11 fatty acids, among which the predominant ones are unsaturated fatty acids, such as linoleic and linolenic (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
Preparations of common mullein are recognized as effective for catarrh of the upper respiratory tract. The mucous substances that make up the flowers relieve irritation, and saponins thin out thick mucus in the bronchi and facilitate expectoration. Alcohol-water extracts of mullein lower blood pressure (by 20%), and a 1% solution of alcohol-water extract has antimicrobial activity. Ethanol extracts have a vasodilating effect, improving blood flow by 20-30%. The water extract has an antiviral effect against the herpes virus. A decoction of mullein flowers has an antiviral effect against influenza strains A and B. Infusions of mullein herb are very effective for neuralgia of various etiologies, dystrophy, hypertension, atherosclerosis, nervous exhaustion, and epileptic attacks. Effective action Mullein decoctions are also useful in the treatment of hemorrhoids. It is also recommended to take sitz baths. 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).
Use in folk medicine
In folk medicine, a decoction of the roots is used for diarrhea, for rinsing the mouth for toothaches, and the powder is taken as an anthelmintic. Rubbing the fresh juice of this plant into the skin helped get rid of warts. Fresh juice from the mullein stem helps treat bronchitis and inflammation of the respiratory tract. It is recommended to wash the eyes with a decoction of mullein flowers and leaves for eye inflammation. Mullein is popularly known as a diuretic; decoctions of its leaves and roots are used for chronic cystitis, bronchial asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, catarrh of the stomach and intestines, diseases of the liver and spleen, colds, rheumatism, headaches and other diseases. To prevent rickets and treat scrofula, baths from this plant are used. Compresses for the treatment of abscesses, ulcers, purulent wounds, hemorrhoids and lichens are made from a decoction of the leaves. Post-burn wounds, as well as cracks on the skin and soles of the feet, are sprinkled with powder from dried grass. The so-called royal oil is prepared from the extract of mullein flowers in olive oil. It should be borne in mind that mullein infusions and decoctions should be filtered through several layers of fabric before use to prevent the ingress of small hairs that cause severe irritation of the esophagus and stomach. In 3 vols. M.: Scientific T. ed. KMK, ITI, 2004. - T.3. Angiosperms (dicots: dioecytes). - P.204.
3. Abrikosov Kh. N. Korovyak. M.: Selkhozgiz, 1955. - P.154.
4. Barabanov E.I. Botany: a textbook for students of higher educational institutions. M: Publishing center "Academy", 2006. - P.448.
5. Sokolov S.Ya. Herbal medicine and phytopharmacology. M.: Medical information agency. 2000. - 541 p.
6. Nosal M.A., Nosal I.M. Medicinal plants and ways of using them among 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.
