Plant Profile: Mullein

Mullein

(Verbascum thapsus)

Family: SCROPHULARIACEAE

Energetics: Root: Warming. Drying
                     Leaf: Cooling. Moistening. 
                     Flower: Cooling. Moistening.

Taste: Sweet & Salty.

Systems Affected: Respiratory. Musculoskeletal. Nervous system.

Parts Used: Leaf. Flower. Root.

Key Components: Mucilage. Flavonoids (Hesperidin & Verbascoside). Rutin. Saponins. Glycosides including aucubin. Choline. Magnesium. Tannins. Carotene. Iron. Potassium. Sulfur. Calcium Phosphate.Trace amounts of volatile oils. 

Preparations & dosage: Herbal oil. Infusion. 1-2 tsp of leaf per cup steeped for 10 minutes. Nourishing Infusion (Long steep). Decoction of the root. Tincture: Best extracted in 100 proof (50%) alcohol. 1:2 ratio fresh leaf or 1:5 ratio dried leaf. Root should be tinctured fresh in 90% alcohol or dried in 100 proof. Same ratios as leaf. 1-2 dropperfuls 3-6x per day. Formentation of the leaf. Smoke of leaves. Strain all liquid preparations through a coffee filter so as to be sure to get rid of all those tiny hairs that will just irritate otherwise. 

Actions: 
Foundational: Demulcent. Astringent. Relaxant.
Primary: Expectorant. Antitussive. Vulnerary. Sedative. Mild Diuretic.
Secondary: Anodyne. Antispasmodic. Anti-Viral. Anti-inflammatory. Vulnerary. 

Uses: 

Herbal oil made by infusing the flowers in olive oil is used for ear infections. 1-3 drops of an oil of garlic and mullein flower into each ear (Yes, treat both ears). Do not use if ear drum has ruptured or for swimmers ear. Best used in ear infections caused by congestion.

Leaf is excellent for the lungs as an expectorant as well as for spasmodic coughs. Coughs, dry, inflammation, irritation of the lungs. 

Brings moisture to the respiratory tract.

Strengthens the lungs. Eases hoarseness, coughs, bronchitis, whooping cough, asthma, hay fever. Used for colic, constipation, facial neuralgia &urinary tract infections. 

Soothing to the lungs. Excellent for someone who has spent time inhaling something they shouldn't. For example, the day my 14 year old son spent 3 days working with my husband and his (my husbands) friends tearing the walls and ceiling out of a friends bedroom, dust and drywall and insulation EVERYWHERE and not one adult thought it might be a good idea for the kid to wear a mask to protect his lungs. The morning after the very first day my son woke up and sounded like junk. He was convinced he was coming down with a cold and I immediately knew it was from breathing all the crap from working on the house in. A mullein leaf infusion or a tincture would be just the medicine in this situation. Think about All the forest fires we seem to be having every summer. The smoke can be felt for sometimes HUNDREDS of miles. Another great situation for mullein.

Brings water to hard, closed places but also helps to expectorate water that is trapped in the lungs.

Tones mucous membranes of the respiratory tract while not drying them out. 

Specific for bronchitis or asthma.

It sounds strange but many have had success in quitting smoking and healing the lungs by smoking the leaves of Mullein. 

Matthew Wood says it works well at improving lubrication in the connective tissues in joints and thus promoting healthy cartilage. 

Use for pinched or irritated nerves.

Jim McDonald says he has found that it helps to straighten the spine. 

Calms the nervous system. My first experience with a mullein leaf infusion was a strange one. I was doing an apprenticeship in Maine, sitting round in a circle on the floor of a wonderfully cozy yurt with the rest of my class. We all poured some freshly made infusion of dried leaf into our mugs. As a sipped and sat with my eyes closed, experiencing all the tastes and sensations that would come, I suddenly felt SO calm that I almost began to feel stoned. I was SO calm that I almost began to panic. I guess I'm normally so incredibly high strung that being so calm scared me! I admit I haven't tried it since, but I really need to. 

Externally can be used for hemorrhoids and varicose veins. Apply to chest to help move stagnant mucous. 

Tea made from the root is great for lymphatic congestions. 

Root has also been used for all kinds of incontinence. Adults and children, stress related, menopause and even pregnancy. 

Combines well with: Marshmallow.

Identifying: A biennial that grows a rosette of soft fuzzy leaves in its first year and a tall stalk with yellow flowers at the top in its second year. Looks kind of like a big yellow q-tip. 

Growing: A biennial that grows a rosette of soft fuzzy leaves in its first year and a tall stalk with yellow flowers at the top in its second year. Looks kind of like a big yellow q-tip. 

Often found growing on the banks of streams or rivers, on roadsides or in wastelands. It likes a slightly alkaline and dry, gravelly, sandy or rocky soil. Likes full sun to partial shade and grows in zones 3-9

You can plant seeds indoors in early spring before transplanting. I have had some luck planting seeds directly in the ground but it took a LONG time for them to sprout and I thought they had failed and I planted another plant where I had planted the mullein seeds and about a month or so later, mullein started sprouting up around it! 

Harvesting: Harvest leaves when they're green and vibrant. Best in the first year or spring of second tear before it sends up its stalk. Root is harvested in first year but then you wont get the amazing flowers to harvest in the second year. 

Be aware of the soil mullein that you want to use as medicine is growing in. It has been show to hyperaccumulate heavy metals and store them. Excellent for soil remediation and ridding the soil of heavy metals but if your soil has excessive amounts of heavy metals in it you shouldn't use the mullein grown there as medicine as you could then take the heavy metals into yourself. This will be restated in the contraindications & warnings. 

Contraindications/Warnings: It has been show to hyperaccumulate heavy metals and store them. Excellent for soil remediation and ridding the soil of heavy metals but if your soil has excessive amounts of heavy metals in it you shouldn't use the mullein grown there as medicine as you could then take the heavy metals into yourself. 

Leaves my look soft and fluffy but the hairs can become irritating to the skin. This can be used to your benefit to increase circulation to an area, but if that's not what you're going for it will just be annoying.

Do not use mullein oil inside the ear if the eardrum has been perforated/ruptured or if the irritation or infection is caused by water or fluid. In this instance a tincture of St. John's Wort is best. 

Sources: 

The Way of Herbs: Michael Tierra. Pg 162
The Complete Herbs Sourcebook: David Hoffman. 288-289
The Earthwise Herbal: Volume 1: Matthew Wood. Pg 507-510
The Herbal Apothecary: JJ Pursell. Pg 135-136
https://herbmentor.learningherbs.com/herb/mullein/