Mullein (Verbascum Thapsus) is one of the best known wonder herbs. It's an incredibly effective, yet gentle medicinal that can be used on a large variety of health issues including earache, wounds, and colds.
Mullein grows readily throughout the United States and is considered a common weed, pulled and tossed to the side by many. You'll find it growing tall near roadsides, empty lots, and in fields. Easily spotted by it's tall flower spikes in summer.
The leaves of Mullein are a soft mint green and covered with a soft velvet. The plant grows in a small rosette on the ground it's first season and then the following spring, shoots up a strong thick stalk which can grow as tall as 10 feet and flowers at it's top. The flowers are yellow and only a few open at time, making it unattractive for decorating purposes.
The leaves are large at the bottom of the plant, growing 8 inches long and 2-3 inches wide, they gradually grow smaller up the stem and alternate sides. Since the plant grows in dry soils, this leaf arrangement helps to direct raindrops to the leaves below, ultimately guiding the water droplets to the roots of the plant. The velvet acts as a moisture barrier and also an irritant to grazing animals. Thus, when making a mullein tea, you need to strain it well.
Harvest the plant it's second season when the stalk is in flower. Dry the leaves and flower stalks separately. You can lay them out flat, hang them, or dry in a warm oven.
Medicinal Use: The leaves and flowers are used in medicine. The leaves carry a large amount of mucilage and can be bitter, the flowers are more sweet. The main constituent is a resinous gum, a bit of tannin and some volatile oil.
Mullein offers natural pain relieving properties, and offers demulcent (anti-inflammatory), emollient (softening of skin) and astringent (shrink or constrict skin tissue) properties.
Often used for coughs and colds, the leaves are brewed into tea and drank or smoked as a tobacco to open airways. It is used in the treatments of asthma. Teas offer bowel aid and are soothing for bouts of diarrhea and/or constipation and bleeding bowels are helped when decoctions are made in warm milk. Mullein also offers sedative properties and the teas can be sipped at night to help with insomnia.
Poultices are made for treating hemorrhoids, burns and scars, salves are made for skin irritations, bruises and pains.
Oil infusions are used for ear aches, inflammations, joint problems, frost bite, bruising, eczema, psoriasis, and more. Flowers steeped in oils are known to be a strong bactericide and tinctures are made to battle headaches, earaches, and migraines. The tinctures are made in a 1:5 ratio of 40-50% alcohol.
Root decoctions are used for tooth aches, cramps, and convulsions.
Seeds are the only parts not used and should be avoided.
As you can see, mullein is an incredible plant, offering so much. As an herbalist, I gather my information and value these natural medicines offered by the plants around us. It's hard for me to understand why we, as a culture, don't embrace these natural healing properties more than we do. We have a realm of healing herbs growing within our cities, forests, fields and towns. I encourage you to learn more, look around, and get to know what that weed is before you pull it out and toss it aside. It could very well hold the medicine you may long for to relieve tomorrow's headache, tension, or sleeplessness. :)
There are no recorded side effects or health warnings associated with the use of mullein and is considered safe to give to children. This article is not intended to cure any diseases and is not to be used as a substitute for medical care. Always ask your doctor before starting any herbal supplement. Herbs need more special care when pregnant or breast feeding. Always be aware of allergies when using or taking herbs.
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