Introduction

Verbascum thapsus (Linn.), the Great Mullein, is a widely distributed plant, being found all over Europe and in temperate Asia as far as the Himalayas, and in North America is exceedingly abundant as a naturalized weed in the eastern States. It is met with throughout Britain (except in the extreme north of Scotland) and also in Ireland and the Channel Islands, on hedge-banks, by roadsides and on waste ground, more especially on gravel, sand or chalk. It flowers during July and August. The natural order Scrophulariaceae is an important family of plants comprising 200 genera and about 2,500 species, occurring mostly in temperate and sub-tropical regions, many of them producing flowers of great beauty, on which account they are frequently cultivated among favourite garden and greenhouse flowers. Of this group are the Calceolaria, Mimulus, Penstemon, Antirrhinum and Collinsia. Among its British representatives it embraces members so diverse as the Foxglove and Speedwell, the Mullein and Figworts, the Toadflax and the semi-parasites, Eyebright, Bartsia, Cowwheat, and the Red and Yellow Rattles.

• Anodyne, antifungal. Flowers are antiseptic.
• Reduces respiratory inflammation. Used in expectorant mixtures for coughs and bronchitis.
• Tea of the flowers helps to relieve pain and induce sleep.
• Used for nasal congestion (a handful of flowers is added to hot water and the steam inhaled).
• Tea or fomentation used externally for skin conditions and wounds.
• The infused oil is used for earache. Leaves and flowers are used for respiratory and ear infections.
• Infusion of flowers used as cold compress for tired or inflamed eyes.
• The plant is also used by boiling leaves in milk when beneficial to the condition being treated.
• Dried leaves are smoked in a pipe for a hacking cough.
• Used to clear out lungs and used for bronchitis, asthma, dry coughs, bronchial catarrh, and tuberculosis. Combined with elderflowers to treat fevers of respiratory origin.
• Used to treat infections and inflammations.
• Infusion used as eyewash and gargle.