Probably everyone has seen Mullein. It is a pretty plant, particularly conspicuous along highways in the city. Mullein is quite tall. It generally grows to about four feet high, but plants of six feet and more are not uncommon.
Mullein is an Old World plant. It was introduced from Europe, where it was for centuries an esteemed medicinal herb. The colonists planted it in their gardens; it has since escaped and become naturalized throughout the United States.
In the 19th century, people smoked mullein's roots or dried flowers to treat respiratory diseases and asthma symptoms - a practice borrowed from the Mohegan and Penobscot Indians. The unprocessed drug comes from the dried leaves and flowers of Verbascum thapsus, a tall biennial of the snapdragon family (Scrophulariaceae). Native to Europe and Asia, the plant grows in the United States.
It is used as a pain killer and to bring on sleep. It loosens mucous, making it useful for treating all lung ailments. It also strengthens the lymphatic system.
Specifically, mullein may help:
- As an expectorant
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Cough
- Painful urination
- Skin inflammation
- To stimulate earwax production
Other names for mullein include Aaron's rod, bunny's ears, candlewick, flannel-leaf, great mullein, and Jacob's-staff. Products containing mullein are sold under such names as Mullein Flower Oil, Mullein Leaves, and Verbascum Complex.
Call your doctor if you experience these possible side effects of mullein:
- sedation
- skin inflammation
Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Tell your health care practitioner about any prescription or non-prescription drugs you are taking.
Important points to remember
- Don't take this herb if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.
- Don't give mullein to children.
Therapeutic uses
- Internal use
- The saponins contained in the herb help to loosen and remove mucus from the lungs, while the mucilage soothes the mucus membranes and the iridoid glycosides help to fight inflammation.
- Internally, it is used for coughs, whooping cough, bronchitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, tracheitis, asthma, influenza, tuberculosis, urinary tract infections, nervous tension, and insomnia.
- Although it is particularly effective to loosen mucus in the lungs it also shows some success with reducing water retention.
- Historically it was also used for genito-urinary tract infections.
- External use
- Externally, mullein is used to treat earache, specifically chronic otitis media (the flowers are macerated in olive oil), sores, eczema (especially around the ear), wounds, boils, rheumatic pain, hemorrhoids and chilblains
Common doses of mullein
Mullein comes as:
- dried leaf
- capsules (290 or 330 milligrams of leaf) . Flower oil (1 or 2 ounces)
- liquid extract (2 ounces).
Some experts recommend the following doses:
- As capsules, two 290-milligram capsules taken orally with two meals daily or as needed.
- As flower oil, 5 to 10 drops taken orally.
- As leaves, mix 1 cup of boiling water with 1 to 2 tea spoons of dried leaf. Let steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink three times daily.
Update!
I started taking Mullein and it seems to be helping. Sinus' are clearing up and cough is subsiding - not so bad anymore. Could it be a coincidence? Not sure, but I feel better since taking it. :)
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