Mullein - Verbascum
2nd year plant pre-flower
Well it has been a few weeks since I added to my herb lore pages and figured I needed to come back to it as really we are in full season for gathering wild flora and fauna to use for the winter ahead. Mullein has always been one of my favorite road side plants that I never knew held such secrets. You will recognize the flowering plant more than the first year rosette or pre-flower stage as pictured to the left. The tall spike like plant towers over most sand pits or dry roadsides in all areas of the US, Europe and Asia. I have three flowering in my garden at the moment - two are about 4 feet high and the other is topping out at over 6 feet! In the last 10 years or so here in the states, Mullein has been gaining popularity as a biennial garden plant liked because of its velvet leaves similar to Lamb's Ear but on a much larger scale. To me when I see the plant in its pre-flower stage as above it reminds me of a Tobacco plant like the ones that were grown back in my hometown in Connecticut. Gardener's love them as their long flowering spike blooms beautiful small yellow flowers that attracts butterflies and bees alike. They are the guardians of any garden!
Medicinally...
First year Rosette
Here is where Mullein takes on a new face besides a road side sentinel or garden back drop. Mullein like I mentioned above is biennial which means it grows for two years... the first year as a compact rosette as pictured on the left. In this stage the plants leaves are used by picking and drying them to be used as a smoking herb or an infusion. What is an infusion? Well really it is a tea made from the dry leaves (usually an ounce of dry leaves is steeped in a quart sized mason jar of hot water is what I use for all my infusions) this is allowed to sit for at least 4 hours or overnight and is then strained and drunk cold or just heated until tea temp. Add honey to taste if you like! What it is good for is coughs, chest congestion and it was long used as a smoking herb by Native American Indians in the treatment of asthma! It also aides with sore throats and inflammation of the throat and lungs. It is actually one of the ingredients in many of the alternative smoking blends you find on the market today. You can use the leaves from the second year plant too if picked prior to the flower spike forming.
The second year is when the flower spike forms (see below picture) and the life cycle of the plant is completed. As mentioned above, leaves are harvested prior to the flower spike forming as a smoking herb or infusion ingredient. Once the flower spike forms and starts to flower, the flowers are gathered (this can take some time as the flowers open one at a time) and infused in oil (either olive or grape seed are my two favorites). This oil is then allowed to cold infuse for at least 6 weeks. What is cold infuse? It is allowed to sit in the oil for 6 weeks - for the first two weeks you shake the container daily at least once to mix things up a bit and after that just allow to sit. After that time the oil is ready for use as an ear ache cure! A drop or two in the ear after the oil has been strained well will relieve pain almost immediately. CAUTION: I am only passing on what this plants cures are and how to use them. As with all herbal home remedies you need to use at your own risk especially if there is a chance that an eardrum is perforated, using this oil could harm more than help. Seek the advice of your Doctor or a certified herbalist prior to use if you have questions. I dislike having to add this here but it is better to be safe then sorry.
The second year is when the flower spike forms (see below picture) and the life cycle of the plant is completed. As mentioned above, leaves are harvested prior to the flower spike forming as a smoking herb or infusion ingredient. Once the flower spike forms and starts to flower, the flowers are gathered (this can take some time as the flowers open one at a time) and infused in oil (either olive or grape seed are my two favorites). This oil is then allowed to cold infuse for at least 6 weeks. What is cold infuse? It is allowed to sit in the oil for 6 weeks - for the first two weeks you shake the container daily at least once to mix things up a bit and after that just allow to sit. After that time the oil is ready for use as an ear ache cure! A drop or two in the ear after the oil has been strained well will relieve pain almost immediately. CAUTION: I am only passing on what this plants cures are and how to use them. As with all herbal home remedies you need to use at your own risk especially if there is a chance that an eardrum is perforated, using this oil could harm more than help. Seek the advice of your Doctor or a certified herbalist prior to use if you have questions. I dislike having to add this here but it is better to be safe then sorry.
This plant above actually produced 5 flower spikes which amazes me to see how long it is lasting! Once it has finished flowering I will let it cast it seeds and next spring I will have new rosettes that will start the cycle over again. The rosette pictured above is to the left of this plant and will be one of my flowers for next summer. These plants were brought in on the wind... I never planted them but am very grateful that they have found my garden to grow in as it is said that to have one in the garden brings peace and protection to the inhabitants. We have 3 - I love the power of 3 don't you?