Since I was little, I was fascinated how mom was able to heal me with common herbs and home remedies. All her knowledge has been passed on from her mother. Our own backyard lawn probably has tens of different herbs that would be able to help with bug bites, inflammation, pain, arthritis, fever, immune system and more. Through out the years , I was always using commonly known herbs that are available in the store such as chamomile, mint, basil , oregano and so on. Some of them have helped me with stress , cold or stomach issues, but when I was using some other blend herbs I was not aware how medicinal they were.
My true adventure and lifelong love to herbs started when my immune system started depleting due to stress. Conventional medication and their side effects can make long lasting damage to our health.
One day, during our famous pandemic, I decided that I must straight my immune system to not to get sick and before the fall and winter flues. I started gaining more knowledge about herbs. Only around my house, in April and May I found a few different medicinal and very nutritional plants that I started using in teas, salads, and I come up with my own herbal hummus that it was the beginning of my deep healing (I will share the recipe below). It was a dandelion leaves, flowers, violet leaves, and flowers, garlic mustard, and ground elder, stinging nettle. My energy level was fantastic, my hair and skin looked younger, and I felt a lot stronger. I am using all of these herbs and many other and I continue to feel and look great.
Mullein
Mullein is a wonderful medicinal herb that after many years of being ignored is getting recognition. This is one of my favorite herbs because she is gentle when you taste her but very potent when you use her as a medicine.
According to Wikipedia: Verbascum is a genus of over 450 species of flowering plants, common name mullein, in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae. They are native to Europe and Asia, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean.
Which mullein is medicinal?
Common mullein (Verbascum Thapsus L.) is a medicinal plant readily found in roadsides, meadows and pasture lands and has been used to treat:
- pulmonary problems , (breathing problems, lunge issues)
- inflammatory diseases,
- Immune system
- asthma,
- spasmodic coughs,
- diarrhea and
- migraine headaches
- eliminating pain
- calming
- ear ache (especially for little children when nothing helps).
What part of mullein is medicinal?
Mostly we can use leaves for teas and tinctures. Flowers are used to male extractions in oil for earache.
After picking up leaves , they need to by dry and store in a paper bag.
Mullein tea:
The best was is to take 1 tablespoon of try leaves, pour a hot water and steep the leaves for 10-15 minutes. It can be serve with honey and lemon for a better taste.
Mullein oil two ways:
Mullein oil can be made from either fresh or dry parts of the plant by either hot (active) or cold (passive) processing:
- Hot oil infusion. This process involves using a double boiler technique to gently heat a carrier oil, such as olive oil, with mullein leaves or flowers for up to 3 hours. Then the product is strained and stored.
- Cold-steeped oil. The cold process usually involves steeping dry flowers or leaves in carrier oil for 7 to 10 days.
Mullein Tincture:
For the tincture the best way is to use fresh leaves. After picking them up, cleaning with a dry cloth, cut them in to the Mason glass jar ( any size , it depends of your needs). Cut the leaves into a small piece and put into the jar without packing them up. Then pour 100% prove alcohol up to the top of the jar and core it tight with a cap. Let is sit for 6-8 weeks in a dark place.
Occasionally shake the jar to move around all of the medicine. After that time, strain through the straining fabric. The liquid with the medicine such a mullein extract you can store for a couple of years in a dark place. The best way to use this tincture is as needed in case of cold, congestion, problem with breathing is 2-3 times a day 1 teaspoon in a half glass of water( not recommended for children and pregnant women).