What all do you know about mullein? Let’s talk about it.
Mullein grows wild in many different areas. You probably have had it in your yard at some point. It is a biennial herb in the snapdragon family that seems to pop up when you least expect it. In its first year of life, it has green fuzzy leaves but in the second year, a yellow stalk of flowers shoots upwards out of those fuzzy leaves.
It is known for its microbial balancing and immune system boosting properties. It is also good medicinally for respiratory issues. Beyond this, it has many more medicinal purposes including skin and wound care, digestive comfort, and decreasing inflammation.
Dating back to Roman times, its dried stalks were used as torches, earning it the nickname candlewick plant.
Today I wanted to show you a dried Mullein plant. This was the second-year yellow flowering stalk. I allowed it to dry so that I could collect the seeds. I use the leaves in many applications including teas and tinctures.
As you can see the seeds are very tiny. Normally, the seeds dry on the plant and are swept away by wind or birds to other locations. This is why Mullein tends to just pop up out of nowhere.
This particular mullein plant popped up in a pot on my front porch. I allowed it to grow so that I could take advantage of its amazing benefits. I collected the leaves as they grew. The best time to collect the leaves is in the beginning of the second year or at the end of the first year. By the beginning of the second year, it is starting to put all its energy into shooting up the flower so those leaves aren’t getting the needed attention. It is best to harvest them early.
What do you think of mullein? Have you tried mullein tea or used it medicinally for a health issue? Let me know!
If you want to purchase herbs, please consider using this affiliate link to purchase them. I highly recommend this link because of how they process and store herbs. You can’t always trust who you purchase from online, but with this company, I truly do feel it is top of the line and high quality. Just go to this link and type in the herb you desire in the search box.
If you would like to find out more about the author or learn about other herbs, please consider visiting this link.
Stay natural!
~Dr. Amanda P. Cartwright