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All About Mullein: The Herb of the Month for March 2016

by Kristen Smith

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When it comes to supporting the respiratory system, few herbs are as gentle and effective as mullein. Both the flowers and the leaves are a valuable part of the herbal home remedy cabinet!

All About Mullein, The Herb of the Month for March 2016

When I first learned about mullein, I was fascinated by the fact that it is a wonderfully gentle and effective remedy for respiratory complaints while also being a common and carefree plant that grows about anywhere.

Soon, I started spotting mullein along roadsides, in meadows, and joy of joys, springing up in my own yard! I planted it one year to be certain I had the right plant and have been delighted to find it returning. Once you know what mullein looks like, it becomes very easy to identify.

What really endeared this herb to me was witnessing how effective it truly is in easing coughs and other respiratory complaints. A cup of mullein tea (often combined with elder flower) has done wonders many times when someone in our family was dealing with a cough!

This gentle herb is one I never like to be without. Both its flowers and leaves are very useful! 

Basic Information

Botanical Name

Verbascum thapsus is the most commonly used species of mullein, though there are other varieties.

Description

Mullein is a biennial plant, meaning that it lives two years. In the first year, it grows into a large rosette of oblong, thick, and fuzzy green-gray leaves. Outer leaves can be quite large while inner leaves are half the size, growing close to the ground. During its second year, it sends up a very tall, slender stalk that will randomly be dotted with small yellow flowers as the plant blooms. This stalk may be branched and typically grows to be about 6 feet high.

Parts Used

Dried leaves and flowers

All About Mullein, The Herb of the Month for March 2016. Learn how to use mullein leaf and flower. It's so gentle and effective!

Uses

Actions in the Body

  • Mullein is an excellent expectorant, helping the body expel excess mucus from the respiratory system.
  • It is a demulcent, soothing irritated tissues, especially those of the throat and lungs.
  • With anti-inflammatory actions, it is able to further soothe tissues.
  • As an anti-spasmodic, it can help calm coughing spells during respiratory illness.

Suggested Uses

Dried mullein leaf is most frequently brewed as an herbal infusion to promote respiratory health. Two teaspoons of the herb can be infused in 1 cup of freshly boiled water, then steeped for about 15 minutes. Mullein leaf is covered in very fine hairs, so it is important to strain the infusion through cloth or an unbleached coffee filter to avoid further irritating the throat with the hairs.

Mullein flowers are a well-established remedy for earaches, easing the pain and inflammation in the inner ear. Dried flowers may be infused in warm olive oil for about 3 hours, then strained out of the oil. The oil can then be placed in the ears during an earache or ear infection, so long as the ear drum has not ruptured.

Mullein flowers may also be brewed into an herbal infusion in the same manner as mullein leaf, or the two may be used together for the infusion.

Safety Considerations

Mullein is safe for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and the elderly. It is a very gentle yet effective herb, making it an excellent remedy to consider.

All About Mullein

How would you use mullein in your own home?

References

Fritchey, Philip. Practical Herbalism. Whitman Publications, Warsaw, Indiana. 2004. (found here).

Hawkins, Jessie. Botanical Medicine in the Home. Vintage Remedies, Franklin, Tennessee. 2013. (found here).

Hoffman, David. Medicinal Herbalism. Healing Arts Press, Rochester, Vermont. 2003. (found here).

Vintage Remedies School of Natural Health

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Filed Under: Natural Remedies Tagged With: herbs

About Kristen Smith

I believe natural health is a blessing from God that you can start enjoying right now, one step at a time. As a trained herbalist and certified aromatherapist, I can give you trusted guidance and practical help, grounded in solid research and established tradition, so you can make progress in your journey toward thriving health. Learn more here.

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Herbal Ear Oil with Mullein and Garlic (Plus 4 More Mullein Recipes) »

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Comments

  1. Phoenix says

    June 14, 2017 at 1:52 pm

    We have fresh growing wild Mullein here on the land, I use it to off set the us air force chemtrails sprays. I never had sinus until about 8 years ago when they started spraying daily. Mullein takes care of it at deep levels and my lungs are basically cleared and cleaned. Thought I would pass that very important information along.

    Reply
    • Kristen Smith says

      June 15, 2017 at 12:45 pm

      Thanks for sharing about your experience with mullein! Such a useful herb.

      Reply
  2. Sue says

    March 13, 2016 at 9:44 am

    This is a very useful story I am happy to say that Mullein is very much a part of my life for it’s beauty alone..I have learned even more about it and it’s medicinal uses by reading this. Thank You

    Reply
    • Kristen Smith says

      March 14, 2016 at 12:50 pm

      I’m glad it was helpful, Sue! It is a wonderful plant.

      Reply
  3. Hillary says

    March 8, 2016 at 1:16 pm

    I have not used it — yet. This is one I am wanting to start using this year. I am so excited to see 5 different areas with rosettes around our property. Yay! I cannot wait until I can harvest some.

    Reply
    • Kristen Smith says

      March 8, 2016 at 1:34 pm

      That’s always exciting! I transplanted four or five small rosettes in the fall. They were growing in random places, so now they should be safe from being trampled or mowed. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  4. [email protected]es says

    March 7, 2016 at 7:33 pm

    This is a wonderful giveaway! I use mullein in my formula for coughs, congestion, and asthma!

    Reply
  5. Rosann says

    March 5, 2016 at 12:23 am

    I’ve never used it before but would love to try the ear oil

    Reply
  6. Esther Faith says

    March 4, 2016 at 11:39 am

    Thank you for sharing about these herbs and remedies! I love to use them, and to keep learning more.

    Reply
  7. Julie S. says

    March 4, 2016 at 9:38 am

    Mullein is a favorite in our house. I have made mullein flower oil, mullein tea and mullein glycerite and they all work well for various issues! I am prone to earaches due to abundant buildup of wax and also catch cold easily, so keeping mullein around is a top priority!

    Reply
  8. Darcy says

    March 4, 2016 at 7:16 am

    I have only used it in a tea to help fight congestion.

    Reply
  9. Sara Klepacz says

    March 2, 2016 at 11:32 pm

    I have never tried it but, I would like to try it in olive oil for an earache/infection. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  10. Denise White says

    March 2, 2016 at 8:57 pm

    I’ve always wanted to grow mullein as allergies and sinus troubles seem to afflict our family!

    Reply
  11. Tammy says

    March 2, 2016 at 12:06 pm

    I’m sure this was one of the many ‘weeds’ I’ve pull in my lifetime. Just think how healthy I could be had I eaten them rather than killed them! ๐Ÿ™

    Reply
  12. Kari says

    March 2, 2016 at 10:48 am

    I am excited to learn more about this herb and add it to my medicine cupboard. Thanks for the information!

    Reply
    • Kari says

      March 2, 2016 at 10:49 am

      I would like to use it for coughs in my family when we get sick.

      Reply
  13. Sarah says

    March 2, 2016 at 9:15 am

    Thanks for the info, looks like a great giveaway!

    Reply
  14. Linda S says

    March 2, 2016 at 9:01 am

    I believe this is growing wild all around me! Looking forward to trying it as a cough remedy.
    I love this monthly focus you do – thank you for the time and effort you’ve put into these posts for us!

    Reply
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