2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Mullein medicinal (lat. Verbascum phlomoides) - treatment plant; a representative of the genus Mullein of the Norichnikov family. Another name is the shepherd. Typical habitats in nature are elephants, sandy hills, steppes, bushes, valleys and river banks, weedy areas. It is found in most European countries, the Caucasus and the Russian Federation (in large numbers in Western Siberia).
Characteristics of culture
Mullein is represented by biennial herbaceous plants from half a meter to 1.5 m in height. They have an erect, densely leafy, cylindrical stem, pubescent over the entire surface with felt hairs of yellow or gray color. The foliage, in turn, is also densely pubescent. Basal leaves sit on short petioles, they are characterized by an oblong-elliptical shape and a blunt tip. Stem foliage sessile or on short petioles, oblong, obovate. The upper foliage is wide, ovoid, pointed at the tips.
Flowers are small, numerous, collected in 3-8 pieces in bunches, which form dense spike-shaped brushes. The bracts are endowed with a heart-shaped base, triangular or lanceolate. The peduncle is thickened, no more than 1 cm long. The calyx has lanceolate or ovoid, pointed lobes. Corolla is yellow. Fruits are broadly elliptical or ovoid capsules, not exceeding 8 mm in length, often equipped with a small thorn. Flowering is observed in mid-summer, the exact timing depends on the climatic conditions of the growing region.
Collection and storage
Collecting inflorescences, which are actively used in alternative medicine, I carry out during the day, when the sun is shining outside the window. It is highly undesirable to collect material in rainy weather and early in the morning, when dew is on the flowers. The inflorescences are dried in a shady, well-ventilated room, suspended by the "legs" or spread out on a flat surface in a thin layer, otherwise the medicinal raw materials will not dry out and simply rot. After drying, the inflorescences are transferred to glass or plastic containers with a tight-fitting lid. Shelf life is no more than 2 years, after which the raw material loses its medicinal properties and becomes useless.
Application in the medical field
It should be noted that the medicinal mullein is very versatile. This aspect is due to the rich composition of the plant. It contains a large amount of vitamins, minerals, saponins, essential oils, flavonoids, tannins, organic acids and other substances required to maintain the health of all organs and systems of the human body. So, infusions and teas from flowers are effective in the fight against diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract, including severe cough, bronchitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia. They envelop the lungs, have an anti-inflammatory effect, and remove phlegm.
In addition to flowers, foliage is used in folk medicine. It is harvested, dried and stored similarly to inflorescences. Foliage broths are advised by traditional healers to use for edema of various etiologies, kidney and bladder diseases. Lotions are effective in the fight against open wounds, ulcers, poorly healing open cuts, including purulent ones. Lotions quickly deal with bruises. They not only relieve pain, but also prevent bruising.
Teas made from flowers and leaves are recommended as a prophylaxis for diseases of the cardiovascular system. Flavonoids, which appear in their composition, help to strengthen the capillaries, increase the elasticity of blood vessels, prevent their clogging, respectively, prevent malfunctioning of the heart muscle. In addition, flavonoids reduce the negative effects of free radicals, which are not only the culprits of cancer, but also accelerators of aging.
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Mealy Mullein
Mealy mullein is one of the plants of the family called norichnikovye, in Latin the name of this plant will sound as follows: Verbascum lychnitis L. As for the name of the mealy mullein family itself, in Latin it will be like this: Scrophulariaceae Juss.
Common Mullein
Common mullein is included in the number of plants of the family called norichnikovye, in Latin the name of this plant will sound as follows: Verbascum thapsus L. As for the name of the common mullein family itself, in Latin it will be like this:
Mullein Purple
Mullein purple is one of the plants of the family called norichnikovye, in Latin the name of this plant will sound as follows: Vebroscum phoeniceum L. As for the name of the purple mullein family itself, in Latin it will be like this: Scrophulariaceae Juss.
Mullein
Mullein (lat.Verbascum) - a large genus of biennial and perennial plants belonging to the Norichnikov family. In nature, representatives of the genus are ubiquitous. They can be found both in Russia and European countries, as well as in New Zealand, the United States of America, the Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan) and the Ciscaucasia, as well as South America and Australia.
Dense-flowered Mullein
An unpretentious biennial plant, the mullein dense-flowered in Germany, bears a more worthy and sonorous name - "royal candle". Its single tall stem really resembles a burning candle with its many flowers, which gradually bloom on the stem, quickly falling off. But its English name sounds like "grass torch". In the old days, its dried stem was impregnated with resin or wax and used as a torch to illuminate the premises
