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The
herb makes a beautiful backdrop to a home herb garden, but
a backdrop it must be and planted on the north side or it
will shade your other plants. Mullein is especially striking
in combination with lavenders and purples.
This herb has umpteen nicknames including: Aaron's Rod, Candlewick
Plant, Cow Lungwort, Velvet Dock, Flannel Plant, Shepherd's
Staff, torches, Our Lady's Flannel, Jacob's Staff, Beggar's
Blanket, Hare's Beard and Old Man's Flannel.
When in flower Mullein looks like a large candle and in ancient
times it was dipped in tallow and used as a torch, which was
carried during ceremonies particularly in funerals. In fact,
the Latin names for the herb are Candelaria and Candela
Regia. In Greek the herb is known as Flego and
Fluma, or "to set on fire."
The Popular Names of British Plants claims that the word Mullein
originates with the Latin malandrium or "malady,"
but it may be rooted in the Latin mollis or "soft."
Mullein has no culinary use, but enjoys a solid reputation
as a medicinal herb particularly for lung problems. In his
excellent book, The Green Pharmacy, James A. Duke,
Ph.D., botanist and herbalist, recommends Mullein for bronchitis,
colds and flu, cough, earache, emphysema and laryngitis.
To make a Mullein infusion, or tea, place one to two teaspoons
of dried flowers and/or leaves (two to three times as much
if using the fresh herb) for each cup in a pot and cover with
boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes and strain well to avoid
ingestion of the hairs and pollen, which can cause an irritating
itch in the mouth. The taste is bitter so it's recommended
to add some lemon and honey to improve the flavor.
The tea will reduce mucus formation and stimulate the coughing
up of phlegm. It combines well with other expectorants such
as thyme and coltsfoot.
First Nations people in North America adopted the dried leaves
of Mullein to add to regular tobacco as a smoking mix. It
was supposed to relieve coughing spasms. The Amish also smoked
Mullein leaves for relief of asthma attacks.
Mullein has also been used as a diuretic to relieve urinary
tract inflammation, diarrhea and colitis. The seeds of Mullein
should never be ingested as they are toxic and may cause poisoning.
Applied externally Mullein is an emollient and an effective
wound healer. In Germany, the flowers are steeped in olive
oil and then used for ear infections and hemorrhoids.
Mullein has been used throughout history as an herb of protection.
The herb may be worn or hung up as an amulet to exorcise evil
spirits and to counter hexes. Mullein leaves were worn as
charms to ensure conception and used for love divination.
A young girl would seek out a Mullein plant and name it for
her lover. She would then bend the stalk in the direction
of her home. Revisiting the plant, she would check to see
if it continued to grow in the direction of her home. If it
did, her lover was faithful. If not, he was untrue.
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