Verbascum thapsus - Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

The medicinal plant known as common mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.) is commonly found along highways, in meadows, and in pasturelands. It has been used to treat migraine headaches, spasmodic coughs, asthma, and inflammatory disorders. Although common mullein has been used medicinally since antiquity, its popularity has been rising recently on the market.

Health benefits of Verbascum thapsus:

 1. Respiratory Health

Verbascum thapsus’ leaves and blossoms are abundant in saponins, which are regarded to be the reason for the herb's powerful respiratory effects. These compounds have demulcent, expectorant, and astringent characteristics. Additionally, they have mucilage, which coats and calms inflamed mucous membranes, and their expectorant properties aid in clearing up pulmonary congestion.

Verbascum thapsus has been shown to be beneficial in treating illnesses like bronchitis with a persistent cough, dry hacking coughs, whooping cough, colds, flu, and sinusitis because it is a hybrid of demulcents and saponin-bearing expectorants. Mullein's saponins also have antiviral characteristics, which increases its potency against the flu and other viral-related illnesses.

After stopping smoking, mullein can be utilised to assist the lungs cleanse. The tar that has built up in the lungs can be broken up and expelled by inhaling the steam from its leaves or drinking the tea. The bronchial tubes can be cleaned, soothed, and the lungs can be strengthened with its aid.

 2. Anti-Inflammatory

Verbascum thapsus includes a substance called verbascoside, which has been shown to have both analgesic and anti-inflammatory qualities. Verbascoside is especially effective in reducing joint and muscular pain.

It is well known that oxidative stress contributes to inflammation, and verbascoside has been demonstrated in clinical studies to lessen the generation of oxygen free radicals. The formation of superoxide radicals, which is significantly elevated during the inflammatory process brought on by oxidative stress, is specifically decreased by mullein by reducing the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and extracellular O2.

 3. Antibacterial

Studies have shown that Verbascum thapsus has strong antibacterial properties. This makes it useful for treating hemorrhoids, calming burns, and cleaning wounds. Using Mullein during respiratory flu can help to keep the lungs clear and may prevent pneumonia from building in, even though pneumonia is a dangerous condition that should always be treated by competent healthcare specialists.

 4. Ear infections and earaches

Verbascum thapsus blossoms, one of the most widely used herbal treatments for earaches and infections, are typically steeped with garlic and olive oil to soothe this painful condition. Garlic and Mullein's astringent, antibacterial, and antifungal properties can aid to treat middle and outer ear infections.

 5. Internal Health

Verbascum thapsus has mucus-busting properties that extend beyond just cleansing lungs of mucus; it can also be used to scrape the mucus layer off the small intestine. The body's ability to absorb nutrients and distribute them to the bloodstream can be compromised by an excess of mucus in the small intestine.

A healing mucilage that coats and calms the gut wall and offers lubrication to facilitate an easier and smoother bowel movement is substituted for the "bad" mucus by mullein.