Witnessed by: Western · Unani
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), of the Scrophulariaceae family. Erect biennial to two metres, a thick woolly stalk rising from a broad felted rosette; native range: Europe, north Africa and Asia; naturalised across North America on dry disturbed ground. Globally recognized as great mullein, common mullein, Aaron's rod, hag's taper, flannel leaf in English, and gul-e-khair (as used for mullein) in Urdu. The part used is leaves and flowers. Large soft grey-woolly leaves and a long spike of pale yellow flowers, nearly tasteless and faintly bitter and slimy, the soft down needing to be strained away.
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 thapsus L.
- Family
- Scrophulariaceae
Form
- Part used
- leaves and flowers
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- mucilaginous · bland (faintly bitter)
- Unani
- bland · sweet (soft, demulcent)
Temperature
- Western
- cool (moist)
- Unani
- temperate (moist)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- lungs · mucous membranes · nerves · joints
- Unani
- lungs · nerves · joints
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- demulcent, expectorant, pectoral, emollient, astringent, anodyne, vulnerary
- Unani
- mulattif (demulcent), munzij (concoctive), musakkin (analgesic), muhallil (resolvent)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- few; always strain the fine hairs from any infusion
- Toxicity
- leaves and flowers safe; the seeds are toxic and narcotic and are not used internally
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