Image by Annette Meyer from Pixabay
Mullein is in the snapdragon family of herbs, growing wild up to six and seven feet tall, with yellow flowers along its stalk.
Mullein has been used medicinally for hundreds of years, and is probably best known as a soothing herb to infuse into warm oil with other antimicrobial herbs for earaches. But it’s a stand-out treatment for a number of other conditions, too, most notably for respiratory and throat health.
Mullein for Lung Health
Mullein tincture or tea has a soothing effect upon lung inflammation. It has been used for asthma, spasmodic coughs, or lung irritation from pollutants and smoke.
It’s also a gentle expectorant, helping to thin mucus.
The tea tastes pretty good, too—I think it’s sort of similar to chamomile, with a bit of natural sweetness.
Mullein as an Anti-Microbial
Mullein’s anti-microbial properties mean that it does more than just soothe inflammation, but also can actively help fight against infections.
It has been shown to have antibacterial effects upon a number of different types of both pathogenic and opportunistic organisms.
Mullein also has been considered anti-fungal and antiviral, as well.
All of this makes mullein tea a good choice for tonsillitis, soothing a raw or raspy throat even as it helps it heal.
Mullein for Wound Healing
There aren’t many studies to support mullein’s role in wound healing, but this one shows that a cream infused with mullein speeds healing of episiotomy wounds.
Anecdotally, mullein can also be used topically to decrease swelling and aid in lymphatic flow.
Safety Concerns
Mullein is not a low dose herb, and there are no known side effects or issues with potential toxicity.
