Origin: USA/South America
Kosher: KSA CertifiedOrganic: YES Organic!Botanical Name: Verbascum thapsus L.
Mullein is an old and respected treatment for respiratory problems including dry, hacking and unproductive coughs. It's a good herb to have handy for flu and chest colds. Mullein is also a mild sedative, herbal pain reliever and demulcent that is soothing to inflamed tissues. Also for toning the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, reducing inflammation whilst stimulating fluid production and thus facilitating expectoration. It is considered a specific in bronchitis where there is a hard cough with soreness. Its anti-inflammatory and demulcent properties indicate its use in inflammation of the trachea and associated conditions.
Mullein Leaf makes a sweet, non-biting, mildly sedative smoke, and is recommended by Grieve in that form, as well as a tea or strong decoction.
Externally an extract made in olive oil is excellent in soothing and healing any inflamed surface or easing ear problems. Mullein contains about 3% mucilage and small amounts of saponins and tannins. The mucilaginous constituents are primarily responsible for the soothing actions on mucous membranes. The saponins may be responsible for the expectorant actions of mullein.
Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'The Mullein has very markedly demulcent, emollient and astringent properties, which render it useful in pectoral complaints. The whole plant seems to possess slightly sedative and narcotic properties.' The dried Mullein leaves are sometimes smoked in an ordinary tobacco pipe to relieve the irritation of the respiratory mucus membranes, and will completely control, it is said, the hacking cough of consumption.
Mullein is said to be of much value in diarrhoea, from its combination of demulcent with astringent properties, by this combination strengthening the bowels at the same time. In diarrhoea the ordinary infusion is generally given, but when any bleeding of the bowels is present, the decoction prepared with milk is recommended. On the Continent, a sweetened infusion of the flowers strained in order to separate the rough hairs, is considerably used as a domestic remedy in mild catarrhs, colic, etc.
Dosage: 1 tsp. 2 to 3 times a day depending on condition.