Witnessed by: Western · Unani
Mullein (Verbascum thapsiforme), of the Scrophulariaceae family. Tall biennial with a woolly rosette and a dense spike of broad yellow flowers; native range: Europe and western Asia, on dry banks, roadsides and waste ground. Globally recognized as denseflower mullein, large-flowered mullein, Aaron's rod in English, and gul-e-khatmi (as used) in Urdu. The part used is flowers and leaves. Soft velvety grey leaves and large honey-scented yellow flowers, the taste faintly sweet and mucilaginous with a trace of bitterness.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
MULLEIN
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Mullein
- Scientific name
- Verbascum thapsiforme Schrad.
- Family
- Scrophulariaceae
Form
- Part used
- flowers and leaves
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- mucilaginous · sweet (bland, faintly bitter)
- Unani
- sweet · bland (soft and demulcent)
Temperature
- Western
- cool (to neutral, moist)
- Unani
- temperate (moist)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- lungs · mucous membranes · nerves · bowels
- Unani
- lungs · nerves
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- demulcent, expectorant, pectoral, emollient, mildly sedative, vulnerary
- Unani
- mulattif (demulcent), munzij (concoctive), muhallil (resolvent), musakkin (soothing)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- few; strain infusions well, as the fine leaf hairs irritate the throat
- Toxicity
- very low; the seeds are narcotic to fish and are not taken
This is the card. Sign in for the full four-tradition entry — the aligned TCM · Ayurveda · Western · Unani reading, actions, dosing and cautions.