Plant profile – Mullein

In her generosity, Earth shares the gifts of mullein with us. Mullein’s health benefits for the respiratory system are known. But did you know that mullein root is healing for back pain?

“When we draw in a breath, we share that air with all other human beings and all other life on our planet. Through respiration, our oneness with trees becomes a manifest fact, and our communion with the oceans has immediate impact. The reality of the planetary whole reveals itself, with implications for all human life, through the circulation of the gases and energy of the atmosphere. This vision underlies holistic healing as much as it does ecology. The anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system is a complex and beautiful embodiment of integration and wholeness.” 

~David Hoffman

Name:

Mullein

Botanical name:

Verbascum Thapsus

Common names:

Great Mullein, Aharon’s Rod, Hag’s Taper, Velvet Plant, Torches, Our Lady’s Fennel, Big Taper, Velvet Dock. 

Botanical Family:

Scrophulariaceae

Part used:

Flowers leaves roots.

Description:

Mullein is a biennial plant. A rosette of large leaves (6-15 inches long) appears close to the ground in the first year. The leaves are light green and covered by soft, velvety silver hairs. 

In the 2nd year, one undivided stem rises from the center of the rosette (about 5ft tall). The leaves that emerge from the lower stem are oblong but gradually change shape to ovate leaves. 

Small yellow flowers bloom around the upper part of the stem. The flowers are half-inch in diameter, calyx five-parted; corolla open, wheel-shaped, and five-parted.

Growing and Habitat:

 Mullein likes rocky dry or well-drained disturbed soil and full sun.

Harvest mullein leaves from the first year of growth. 

History and lore:

Ulysses carried Mullein as a safeguard against Circe’s enchantment. The sorcerer’s spell held no power over him, thanks to this protective companion. During medieval times in Europe, the lengthy stems of Mullein were immersed in suet, serving as torches in religious processions. In India, it found purpose as a deterrent against malevolent spirits. Following its introduction from the ‘old country,’ Native Americans embraced Mullein, incorporating it into both smoke rituals and medicinal practices.

Psychological Profile:

Mullein is for people that are hardened. The plant grows on hard rocky soil but softens it with velvety leaves. It is for overly critical and judgmental of other people and themselves.

Prabhava (special potency): Mullein’s entire gesture is of shooting upward and outward. The short silvery hairs that cover the leaves are signatures to the villi of the lungs.  

Clinical Pattern:

Mullein Leaves for the Lungs

Herbalist Matthew Woods identifies Mullein as a remedy for weakened lungs and kidneys. In cases where the lungs fail to transfer water to the kidneys, leading to a loss of the kidneys’ draining capacity, Mullein intervenes to prevent edema and congestion.

The leaves of the Mullein plant prove effective in alleviating dry, persistent coughs. Functioning as a moistening expectorant, Mullein leaves facilitate the release of dry and thick mucus from the lung walls, enabling its expulsion.

While Mullein is commonly employed to address coughs and congestion symptoms, it’s noteworthy that its use may induce coughing as part of its role in supporting the body’s natural effort to expel mucus; Mullein will turn an ineffective cough into an effective cough. 

Mullein is especially beneficial for a hard, dry cough that is ineffective and that shakes the body’s frame and leaves the ribs sore. 

Herbalist Micheal Moore indicates Mullein for the initial stages of infection when the chest feels warm and tight with raspiness in the throat and low fever. 

Mullein leaves were used to reduce swelling in the lymph. William Cook called them “absorbent,” which I tend to understand as astringents. 

Mullein leaves were also used for diarrhea. The combination of demulcent and astringent is strengthening for the bowel. 

Mullein Flowers for Ear Infection

Mullein flowers are used for ear infections. They relieve pain and speed recovery. Mullein flowers are anti-inflammatory and analgesic; they move congested lymph when applied topically. 

Mullein flowers oil was commonly used with garlic-infused oil, which is strongly antimicrobial. 

Warning: never apply any kind of oil if the eardrum is perforated.

Preparation and dosage:

“The leaves should be used when the condition involves the lungs and kidneys; the flowers are better for the nerves. I like to use the tea made from the leaves, the tincture of the leaves or flowers, and the oil of the flowers.”

-Matthew Wood

Safety: For some people, especially those with very sensitive skin, the hairs of Mullein can be irritating to the throat and lungs. In these cases, strain the tea through a fine mesh.

To experience the benefits of mullein for cough pick up a Breatheas tea

Resource:

A modern herbal. (n.d.). Mullein, Great. Retrieved December 23, 2021, from https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mulgre63.html

Easley, T., & Horne, S. (2016). The modern herbal dispensatory: A medicine-making guide. North Atlantic Books.

Herb profile: Mullein. (2019, January 26). My WordPress. https://grassrootsremedies.co.uk/herb-profile-mullein/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=herb-profile-mullein

Home. (n.d.). HerbalRemediesAdvice.Org. Retrieved December 23, 2021, from https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/mullein-plant.html#Citations

Hughston, M. (2020, July 24). Mullein Monograph — Max The Herbalist. Max The Herbalist. https://www.maxtheherbalist.com/myplantallies/mullein-monograph

Moore, M. (2003). Medicinal plants of the Mountain West.

mullein… by herbalist jim mcdonald. (n.d.). Retrieved December 22, 2021, from https://www.herbcraft.org/mullein.html

Sajah, Popham. Materia Medica Monthly, Mullein.  Retrieved December 23, 2021, from https://members.evolutionaryherbalism.com/members/mmm/materia-medica/mullein/

Sinadinos, Christa. Medicinal uses of Mullein Rot.  Retrieved December 23, 2021, from http://medherb.com/eletter/Mullein-Sinadinos.pdf

Verbascum thapsus. Mullein. (n.d.). Henriette’s Herbal Homepage. Retrieved December 23, 2021, from https://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/cook/VERBASCUM_THAPSUS.htm

Wood, M. (2017). The Book of Herbal Wisdom: Using Plants as Medicines. North Atlantic Books.