Content
- The leaves of the mullein
- Various names for a traditional garden plant
- The special function of the leaves in the mullein
- The use of the leaves in naturopathy
- Tips & Tricks
The leaves of the Mullein have healing powers
The leaves of the mullein
The Mullein (Verbascum) is not only wild on many railway embankments and gravel pits, it is nowadays often planted in gardens due to the impressive flowers. The very special leaves have brought the mullein some of their colloquial names.
Various names for a traditional garden plant
The mullein has been cultivated for centuries in monasteries and cottage gardens due to its potential applications in traditional naturopathy. Already Hildegard von Bingen described in her essays the positive effects of the ingredients contained in the flowers and leaves. Over the centuries, the various names have come to be popularized in the vernacular for this plant, which is also planted with magnificent flowers in its wild form:
The special function of the leaves in the mullein
The term "wool flower" or "wool herb" is due to the hairiness of the leaves in the mullein. This hairiness of leaf rosettes with greyish yellow star hairs acts equally as protection against strong sunlight and evaporation. In addition, the leaves are usually arranged around the stem so that rainwater striking the leaves is drained directly to the base of the plant. Overall, the wool-like looking leaves thus represent one of the preconditions that mullein can thrive even in extremely hot and dry locations without special care.
The use of the leaves in naturopathy
For use in natural medicine not only the petals are plucked, but also harvested the leaves from the leaf rosettes near the ground. To dry faster and not mold during drying, cut the leaves in the late morning of a dry summer's day. Extracts and inhalation blends of mullein are sometimes produced with high-quality oils, but it is more common to brew tea from well-dried leaves.
Tips & Tricks
The leaves of mullein are used in soft naturopathy for various purposes: they should have a beneficial effect on colds and asthma, but also in the treatment of stomach and intestinal complaints. If you are uncertain about the determination of plants, you can also get finished tea mixtures under the name "Verbasci flos" in the pharmacy.