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| Mullein verbascum extract. Kuttelvaserova Stuchelova/Shutterstock |
Verbascum thapsus, more commonly known as mullein, is one of those ancient plants that has quietly persisted through millennia, outliving civilisations, dodging botanists, and refusing to be packaged into influencer-ready tinctures.
It has no logo, no lifestyle range, and no TikTok sponsorships. Just a long history of saving chests, lighting fires, and possibly predicting your romantic doom.
From Homer to Hedge Witches
The Greeks claimed Hermes gave mullein to Ulysses to shield him from Circe’s dark arts.
Later, Roman soldiers used mullein stalks as torches, either a clever battlefield tactic or a sign that no one had invented lanterns yet.
In medieval Europe, the plant became wildly versatile.
Monks cultivated it for its medicinal value. Peasants stuffed it into cracks to ward off evil spirits, drafty winds, and inquisitive relatives.
Witches, meanwhile, called it Hag’s Taper and used it for nighttime rituals, because what else do you do when candle tax is high and you have work to do after sunset?
In colonial America, it was repurposed again. Folklore had it that placing a mullein leaf under your pillow would summon your future spouse in a dream.
The Botany
Technically, mullein is a biennial plant. In year one, it grows a furry rosette. In year two, it bolts skyward with yellow flowers and the sort of aggressive verticality that makes suburban councils nervous.
Native to Europe and Asia, it has since migrated globally, colonising roadside verges and neglected paddocks like a herbaceous squatters’ rights movement.
Medicinal Properties
Its medicinal properties are real and supported by more than folklore. The leaves, flowers, and roots all contain compounds that are:
Expectorant—dislodges phlegm with ruthless efficiency.
Demulcent—soothing irritated tissue (think of it as aloe vera for your windpipe).
Antimicrobial—effective against certain strains of bacteria and viruses (pdf).
Anti-inflammatory—containing flavonoids such as quercetin and luteolin, which sound like either Roman generals or overpriced wines but are in fact scientifically interesting.
Tea, Tinctures and Rational Caution
The easiest delivery method remains tea.
Steep a teaspoon or two of dried mullein leaves in boiling water for 10–15 minutes.
Strain thoroughly, its fine hairs can irritate the throat, and nothing undermines herbal credibility faster than spluttering into your own teacup.
It’s gentle, earthy, and tolerably pleasant. You can also take it as a tincture or in capsule form if you'd rather not engage in DIY brewing.
For ear infections, mullein flower oil is a traditional remedy, though inserting oil into your ears without medical advice is the kind of folk wisdom that gets you a late-night visit to the emergency room.
Safety, Because This Isn’t the 1600s
Now, mullein, lovely, fuzzy, and charmingly rustic, is generally considered as safe as that nice friend who always remembers your birthday.
Folks have been sipping and slathering mullein concoctions for ages, and so far, no one’s spontaneously combusted or reported any toxicity.
But (and there’s always a ‘but’, isn’t there?), mullein can have its quirks.
Skin Drama
Mullein has a habit of giving some people a rash that’s itchier than a wool jumper your granny knitted without the pattern.
It’s officially called contact dermatitis, a fancy way of saying your skin threw a tantrum because of those pesky little hairs on mullein leaves.
These tiny hairs might even annoy your throat and mouth if you drink mullein leaf tea without straining it properly, leaving you coughing in a decidedly unglamorous fashion.
Enema Shenanigans (Don’t Even Go There)
Some souls on the wilder fringes of wellness might suggest mullein tea enemas, a cousin to those coffee enemas Gwyneth Paltrow probably mentions at dinner parties.
But while mullein tea might soothe your belly when taken the usual way (that’s via your mouth), it has absolutely no business going up your back passage. It’s risky, unnecessary, and the very definition of a bad idea.
Herb-Drug Drama
Lastly, while mullein tea generally sits safely in the “harmless hippie herb” category, mixing herbs and medications can be like introducing your best friend to your weird cousin, they might get along, or they might cause a scene.
So, if you’re thinking about diving into mullein extracts, do yourself a favour and chat with your doctor first. Especially if you’re pregnant or nursing.
Stay safe, be sensible, and keep mullein tea firmly in your cup, where it belongs. And again, strain the tea. We cannot overstate the importance of not coughing up fluff.
And Now, the Folklore
Mullein was believed to banish evil spirits, act as a guiding light in the underworld, and somewhat alarmingly, reveal if your beloved was unfaithful.
How? Interpretations vary, but like all good folk magic, it involved symbolism, sleep, and the assumption that plants know your romantic future better than you do.
Mullein Deserves Better PR
It doesn’t photograph well, it won’t go viral, and it’s yet to be endorsed by a Kardashian. But if you’re after something that’s stood the test of time, supported by science, and entirely unimpressed by modern nonsense, mullein is a worthy addition to the shelf.
It won’t rescue your dating life, but it may just rescue your lungs. And in the age of microbe-anxiety and wellness-overload, that’s worth something.
Important Notice: This article was originally published at www.theepochtimes.com by Nicole James, where all credits are due.
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