Content
- The mullein in the garden: poisonous or not?
- Caution poisonous: the black mullein
- The poisonous effect of the yellow-flowered mullein on animals
- Use for healing teas and inhalations
- Tips & Tricks
Healthy tea can be made from the flowers and leaves of the mullein
The mullein in the garden: poisonous or not?
When it comes to mullein or woolflower, it usually means a verbascum species with golden yellow flowers. Regarding the toxicity or curative effect is to distinguish between different types of Mullein.
Caution poisonous: the black mullein
In contrast to the flower with yellow single flowers and a stature height of up to two meters, the black mullein (Verbascum nigrum) is usually smaller (up to about 120 centimeters in growth height) and is characterized by striking violet stamens on the delicate yellow flowers. The herbaceous herb, which is less hairy than the flower that grows in cottage gardens, contains the poisonous sperm alkaloid verbacin and the iridoid aucubin.
The poisonous effect of the yellow-flowered mullein on animals
Although valued for its healing effect and therefore planted for centuries in monastery and cottage gardens, the flower is non-toxic to humans and was probably partly fed as a natural remedy to the livestock, parts of the plant should be toxic to fish and other animals. Allegedly, Aristotle scattered seeds of the plant into waters to facilitate fishing by the fish-numbing effect of the contained saponins.
Use for healing teas and inhalations
Even Hippocrates and Hildegard von Bingen appreciated the properties of mullein as a natural medicine. Areas of application for today's use lie in the following areas:
Extracts are made from the dried leaves and flowers of the mullein either with high-quality oils or freshly brewed teas.
Tips & Tricks
Since the recognition of the correct plant species and the complete drying of the plant parts presuppose certain knowledge, mink teas can also be purchased under the name Verbasci flos in the pharmacy.