Description
Growing tall with velvety leaves and bright yellow flowers, mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a biennial plant that can be seen along roadsides, in meadows, or other open areas. Its medicinal uses are often for respiratory health as an expectorant, helping to thin and clear out mucus from the lungs. Though not an indigenous plant to the region, it has existed in the landscape for so long that many tribal communities eventually included the plant as a traditional medicine. The fuzzy younger leaves of the mullein plant can be harvested and dried for later use such as in teas and tinctures. Its bright yellow flowers can also be used in tea, adding a little sweetness due to the nectars in the flowers. Mullein is most often used for congestion relief from ailments such as bronchitis, colds, and other respiratory congestion.
Audio Transcript
Another plant that I have a lot of respect for is mullein. Mullein is not an Indigenous plant, but it’s been in our landscape for so long that many tribal communities, particularly those out west, think of it as a traditional medicine. It’s been here since the colonists came. It spread to areas of America before white people got to those areas of America. And so, tribes were already engaging and utilizing it as a medicine plant before those teachings came with those the plant came with. Mullein works as a good expectorant of congestion, all of that mucus that builds up in our lungs impedes our breathing. Mullein helps to get all of that out so it’s fantastic with colds, bronchitis, in times like with COVID, this is a great supplemental medicine for your healing. I was introduced to mullein from my mother, and she actually learned it from my uncle, her brother. I have an aunt who was battling cancer for a very long time, and he used to supplement all of her treatment with traditional medicines. And mullein was one of those that he utilized for her. So, he shared that with my mom, and she is the one who taught me how to harvest, what parts to use.
Mullein also, some people call it lamb’s ear because it has that fuzzy feeling to it. And those younger leaves are even softer and fuzzier than the older ones. So you collect those younger leaves. You can use them fresh or you can dry them for later use. When that plant blooms, blossoms, it gets these really pretty yellow flowers. You can collect those flowers and use them in your tea too. And I always love a flower tea because you get a little bit of the nectars in there and it just has a little bit of natural sweetness to it. Mullein as a medicine tea is actually quite pleasant. Some teas not so much. Mullein actually tastes pretty good. So we tend to collect that mullein, dry it, store it in jars, and whenever you feel yourself getting sick, getting congested, pull that out and make yourself a cup of tea. Just heating some water, putting those leaves or petals in and letting them sit for a bit and steep before you consume the tea. And it’s one of those things that like, we’ll make a pot of hot water, throw a lot of it in there, have it steeped, and then just serve up a cup throughout the day. Just reheat and keep serving. And it’s effective. I think that’s why I have so much respect for it. It’s an effective medicine plant.
And I always credit mullein for saving my life when I had no health insurance and I was out of state. I was in Utah visiting my husband’s family and we were in Salt Lake City, and I was so sick and we were not near an Indian Health Service, and I had no insurance to go to the doctor. My younger child did and he was also sick. We took him to the hospital. They had him on an inhaler. I had all the same symptoms but no means of treating it. And we went to a trading post that’s run by Native people out in Salt Lake City, and they actually have a whole area where they sell traditional medicines, and they had dried mullein. And my mother-in-law brought me some. We brought it back to the house, made some tea with honey, and it was the first time I could breathe and breathe more clearly. It helped to subdue my cough. And it was so effective. I really think it saved my life until I got back home where I could get seen at the doctors. So really a lot of respect for a medicine that provides good congestion relief.
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