Additional notes (click to expand)
Medicinal
Culpeper (1649) says it stops diarrhoea, haemorrhoids, hoarseness, coughs and breathlessness. It induces the menarche if the leaves are worn inside shoes and helps epilepsy and 'fits of the mother' which may be uterine cramps.
Culpeper, N. (1649). A Physicall Directory, or, a translation of the London Dispensatory made by the Colledge of Physicians.... London, Peter Cole/EEBO Proquest facsimile.
Dioscorides (70AD) says that the root in wine is good for diarrhoea, hernias, spasms, bruises and old coughs. Leaves boiled in water are good for swollen and inflamed eyes, and with honey and wine are good for gangrenous ulcers; with vinegar for treating scorpion bites.
Beck, Lily. (2005). Pedanius Dioscorides of Anarzarbus de Materia Medica. New York, Hildesheim, Zurich: Olms-Weidmann..
The root drunk in water with rue is very bitter but effective against the poison of scorpions.
Pliny Secundus (1634) Natural Historie , trans by Philemon Holland, Book 2: p.230
It has a license as a traditional herbal tea to be used in some parts of Europe for easing coughs, but no traditional use in most countries. No proven medicinal use has been derived from it. Not mentioned in Quincy's 'Dispensatroy' (1718), Woodville's (1790) 'Materia Medica', or Bentley and Trimen's 'Medicinal Plants' (1880), but is in Rimington's 'Practice of Pharmacy' (1893) as a demulcent.
Apuleius in his 'De Medicaminibus' (7th Century) says that carrying it protects one from misadventure either from accidents or beasts; and a poultice of leaves cures gout [podagra] and active against nightmares [demonic phantasmas].
Apuleius - De Medicaminibus herbarum ed Hummelberger 1537
Parkinson(1640) gives a huge list of uses but is mostly elaborating on Dioscorides. He says that the flowers with camomile placed on hot coals in a chamberpot will relieve piles and rectal prolapse and tenesmus if one sits over it.
Parkinson, John (1640) 'Theatrum Botanicum' London, Thomas Cotes
Nomenclature
Verbascum, Lungwort (Longwort), Hightaper, Higtaper, in Greek Phlomos
Pliny Secundus (1634) Natural Historie , trans by Philemon Holland, Book 2: p.230
Other use
leaves soaked in suet make good tapers when lit. Yellow hair dye. Dried figs wrapped in the leaves do not rot.
Parkinson, John (1640) 'Theatrum Botanicum' London, Thomas Cotes
Toxicity
Seeds used by poachers to poison fish
Lindley, John. (1838). Flora Medica, Longman, Orme, Brown, Green & Longmans
Toxic to fish because of content of saponins and rotenone amongst other chemicals.
Professor Anthony Dayan, 2022
Verbascum thapsus L.
Family: SCROPHULARIACEAEGenus: Verbascum
Species: thapsus L.
Common names: Great Mullein
Distribution summary: Eurasia
Habit: Biennial
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Europe & Mediterranean (E), Plants of the World (B), Display bed (R), Plants of the World (C)
Reason for growing: Medicinal, other use, toxic
