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HomeNewsCrawford NewsFlashback: 'Mullein – Part of Natures Pharmacy'

Flashback: ‘Mullein – Part of Natures Pharmacy’

By Jim Smith

NOTE: This story ran in the September 2017 issue of Up North Voice.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN – Found in virtually every state in North America, Mullein has always played an important part in folk-medicine. Mullein is a member of the Snap Dragon family of plants. Common mullein is easily recognized by the tall, tough stalk topped with a spike of tight yellow flowers and alternating soft fussy leaves running up the stalk to just below the flower pods. The leaves are arranged to capture rain water and funnel it down the stem toward the roots.

Mullein has its origin in the Mediterranean region and has spread throughout Europe and Asia developing into over three hundred species. While considered an alien plant, mullein has become normalized in both North America and Australia. Common mullein is known by many names, Candlewick, Hag’ Taper, Aarons Rod, Velvet Plant and Hare’ Beard just to name a few. Mullein will grow in most any soil as long it has enough sun light. Many gardeners, realizing its multiple benefits, include it in their herb gardens.

So what is it that makes the plant so special? Chemically mullein is made up of flavonoids, saponins, tannin, terpenoids, glycosides, carbohydrates, proteins, fats and oils. It also contains a component called mucilage which is helpful in soothing irritation of the bodies mucus membranes. This variety of compounds have proven to be helpful in the treatment of numerous conditions ranging from rashes, eczema, psoriasis, wounds and other external sores. It is also effective for the relief of chest and lung congestion, especially when dried and smoked. This was a favorite remedy in the Appalachian Mountains for chest and head colds, bronchitis and asthma. The flowers and the leaves contain saponins which loosen chest congestion and work as an expectorant making coughs more productive. Various Native American peoples used mullein leaves as policies to treat underarm rashes and to treat bruises, tumors, joint , bursitis and hemorrhoids.

At various times and places, mullein has been used as a hair dye, in cosmetics and, when soaked in beeswax, it makes a bright and long lasting torch. Mullein has properties which make it particularly effective as an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial agent when the leaves or flowers are boiled or steeped in olive oil or jojoba oil. It is reported that fresh mullein flowers, when steeped in olive oil for three weeks, makes an extremely effective treatment for ear ache one drop in the inflamed ear being sufficient to cure the problem.

< >For those inclined towards the ‘Black Arts’, mullein was supposedly used by witches to support their incantations and enhance their ability to see visions, thus the name ‘Hags Taper’.

Mullein roots, leaves and flowers are all useful and have been prepared in many ways over the centuries. Sometimes they are mixed with wine, other times mixed with milk, prepared as a syrup, salve or compress. The parts can be dried and ground into powder and prepared in dozens of ways to treat a variety of complaints. The mullein plant has been a long time favorite of practitioners of Homeopathic Medicine.

While this author cannot recommend casual usage of the mullein plant for home treatment of ills, we can suggest that knowledge of what nature has to offer in its pharmacopeia may be both enlightening and entertaining and, who knows, some day it could be very valuable.

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