Mullein, a very gentle herb, has been used traditionally as both a tea and smoked to treat the upper respiratory system, cough, whooping cough, tuberculosis, bronchitis, hoarseness, pneumonia, chills, colds, flu, earaches, swine flu, tonsillitis, fever, allergies, and sore throat. It is an important remedy for tuberculosis and it’s recommended.
Decoction of mullein with sage, marjoram, and chamomile is extremely effective for treating colds, stiff joints, and menstrual cramps. The mullein dried leaves contain 8% of crystalline wax, a trace of volatile oil, 78% resin soluble in ether, a small quantity of tannin, mucilage, sugar, etc. 5.9% moisture, and 12.6% ash. It also contains saponins, carbohydrates including dextrin, glucose, saccharose, moisture, ash, and 32.7% cellulose and lignin.
- Other names: Aaron’s rod, blanket herb, candlewick plant, Jupiter’s staff, etc.
- Properties: It’s classified as an emollient, demulcent, diuretic, narcotic, antiseptic, anodyne, bacteriocyte, alterative, vermicide, antiasthmatic, antispasmodic, anticatarrhal, and vulnerary.
- Uses: Often used as a febrifuge.
A decoction of the basis in either water or wine is beneficial for the treatment of fevers of all types. The same decoction gargled will relieve toothache. If red hot steel is quenched during a hot decoction of mullein that preparation is beneficial for treating bleeding dysentery also as increased urination.
While seldom used these days, it is a potent lymphatic drainer and a decoction of both the root and the leaves can be topically applied as a fomentation for tumors, swollen glands, including the enlarged thyroid gland and throat inflammation. The seeds have narcotic properties and can be used to poison fish. The seeds alongside the leaves boiled in wine are often applied topically to prolong splinters and thorns embedded within the flesh.
Since the narcotic properties are particularly concentrated in the seeds when crushed and boiled in the wine they are often topically applied as a fomentation to alleviate pains in any joint or painful area of the body. The leaves are used for upper respiratory conditions including asthma, emphysema, coughs, bronchitis, etc. They are often macerated in olive or sesame oil and therefore the oil is applied topically to allay inflammation. A handful of fresh leaves boiled down to a pint of milk is sweetened, strained, and can be taken at bedtime to relieve cough, remove pain and irritability.
And that is oil made by macerating the fresh flowers in olive oil is used as ear drops to relieve earache. Also, this oil can be used topically to relieve the pain and inflammation of hemorrhoids. A handful of the dried and powdered flowers will assuage intestinal pains and inflammations. The powder of the dried flowers is also beneficial for various intestinal pains and colic.
Three ounces of mullein flowers taken as tea 3 times daily is an extremely effective treatment for gout.
You can order the mullein dried leaves HERE
