Verbascum thapsus

Verbascum thapsus [Image]. [1990-2014]. Retrieved from: www.flowerspictures.org/types-of-flowers/verbascum-thapsus.html

Common name:
Mullein 
(Bone, 2003, p. 333)

Latin binomial:
Verbascum thapsus
(Bone, 2003, p. 333)

Family: 
Scrophulariaceae 
(Bone, 2003, p. 333)

Parts used:
Leaves
(Bone, 2003, p. 333)

Active contituents:

• Mucilage
• Gum
• Volatile oil
• Resin
• Saponins
• Flavonoids
• Glycosides
• Bitter principle
• Vitamin (A,B,D)
• Minerals (Fe, Mg, K)

(Hoffman, 1983, p.211)

Actions:

• Expectorant, 
• Demulcent, 
• Anticatarrhal, 
• Vulnerary 

(Bone, 2003, p. 333)

Indications:

• Bronchitis
• LRT catarrh, 
• Painful and hard coughs, 
• Specific for Bronchitis with hard cough and soreness
• Dry cough, 
• Tuberculosis, 
• Pleurisy, 
• Asthma, 
• Topical treatment for earache in olive oil 

(Hoffman, 1983, p.211) 

Contraindications: 
None known  
(Bone, 2003, p. 333)

Cautions:
None known  
(Bone, 2003, p. 333)

Dosage:
3-6ml of 1:2/ LE day (Bone, 2003, p. 333)
20-40ml of 1:2 LE / week (Bone, 2003, p. 333)
Dried Herb Equivalent 12-24g / day dried leaf (infusion) (Hoffman, 1983, p.211)

Combinations: 
White horse hound, clotsfoot and lobelia in acute or chronic bronchitis 
(Hoffman, 1983, p.211). 

References:

Bone, K. (2003) A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs; herbal formulations for the individual patient. Churchill, Livingstone: Missouri.

Hoffman, D. (1983) The holistic herbal. Element books: Dorset.