The nasty cold that wants to become bronchitis was what I fought. I was taking echinacea tea, and elderberry juice. These were helping keep things at bay for a couple of days, but this was a nasty bug, and I could feel it wanting to go into my lungs. My lymph glands felt like I had the mumps. Bring out the mullein. I made tea.
Two handfuls of crushed dried mullein to two quarts of water. This time I also added a handful of dried horsetail, and a handful of dried dandelion leaf. Heat it to just before it boils. Then take it off the burner and let it steep until cool enough to drink. It will taste green. I let it get cool enough to drink down quickly. Within 2 cups of this tea, my lymph glands were normal size, no more of that menthol feeling in the lungs, and the mucous thinned right down -- just as if I had taken Sudafed. I am amazed all over again! Three days of taking three coffee mugs of mullein tea a day and I was well on the upside of over it. Three days instead of 6 weeks,.....hm-m-m-m, so glad I had some. (note to self -- pick still more mullein this summer for friends and family!)
Here's the action (what it does) of mullein:
1) Demulcent -- it thins mucous and makes it slippery
2) Diuretic -- gets rid of water (not as big a diuretic as dandelion)
3) Expectorant -- helps your cough (gets things up)
4) Anti-spasmatic -- helps with that harsh dry cough
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| More on gathering mullein here. |
.....jean
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21 comments:
Wonderful information- I have not heard of mullein. Glad you are feeling better.
I had not heard of this. Does it grow everywhere in the country? I take it this is wild and not cultivated?
that's awesome! definitely the season for colds and infections, so hope you can keep your household healthier! :)
I see that everywhere! I know a lot of herbal remedies and had never heard of this one. Do you think putting it in the dehydrator would effect the potentcy any different than hanging? It gets awfully humid around here in the summer.
Simply Scaife Family....I'm pretty sure it doesn't grow down your way....but, I'm sure a health food store that orders from Frontier Herbs could get it in!
labbie1....I looked it up. Sounds like it grows the northern half and eastern half of the US. It is wild, but if it doesn't grow by you, you should be able to get it at the health food store. (in bulk)
Tex....everyone is doing good right now!
rugosarosefarm....humidity would be a problem in hang drying it. I think the dehydrator is no problem -- put it on the lowest setting. Getting enough dried up might be the only problem. I used up my stash with this one cold (sharing some) -- I didn't store nearly enough.
We have mullein growing wild around here,and I will be picking and drying it this year ! I remember my grandmother years ago talking abt using this herb to make poultices when she was growing up. Thanks so much for this post,I am now following your blog,you are welcome to follow mine as well. I will be visiting and commenting too. Blessings Jane
We've still got some that hasn't been killed by the freezes....wonder if it's still good to pick so very late in the season. Can you use it fresh as a tea, or does it have to be dried?
Ha! I was given three mullein plants 4 or 5 years ago and I foolishly let one go to seed. The seed stalk was about 6 feet tall and beautiful and we now have mullein EVERYWHERE!! My hubby curses the stuff!! It grows pretty well here in the high desert of Arizona. LOL!! I have heard of it's use for ear infections too. I guess I should be harvesting it instead of trying to eradicate it! LOL!!
Hmmm...never heard of this. Going natural is truly the best way to heal. Happy to hear you are feeling better!
Jane....make sure you pick enough!
Carolyn Renee....I'm not sure if it would have lost some potency or not. I would try it though (it's not going to hurt you). Yes! use it fresh....
Candy C....a ya, it's pretty, but a bugger to get out once all those seeds hit! My advise to everyone...don't plant it in your garden :-) Well, I wouldn't consider Arizona the northern half of the US...but what does the plant know about that LOL...glad you have some to pick. My kids use mullein oil for earaches in the grands -- works great. I personally wouldn't hesitate to give kids the tea. I would disguise the taste somehow. (fruit juice)
Cindy....When an herb works this well for me, it's the only way to go!
I hope you feel better.
Hey my google reader is messed up - so give me time to fix it.
Sandie
Good to know and thanks for sharing. I am going to keep my eye open for this stuff. I wonder if I could grow it?
Isn't horsetail a diuretic also? If so, you did a bang up job of flushing the germies right out of your body . . . but that's a big important part of getting rid of the bad stuff. We have mullein up here, too.
Chatty Crone....I'm doing pretty well -- thanks. (I hate it when the google reader gets mixed up!)
Michaele....If it grows in your area in general, you could grow it. BUT, don't grow it in or near your garden! Too many seeds and you'll be sorry. Haha...but healthy :-)
Mama Pea....yes you're right, horsetail and mullein are light diuretics, and then the dandelion I put with it I consider a strong diuretic. I have been flushing germies like crazy :-)
I have heard of mullein but didn't know that it would help fights cold/flu. I will definately try to find some seeds and plant some next year. In fact, I wish I had some right now - I've been congested and coughing for four days.
Tony.....don't grow it in your garden, if it accidently goes to seed it is hard to eradicate. If you have some acerage away from the garden go ahead and plant it, otherwise forage for it. If it grows in your area,you really don't have to plant it -- you'll find it everywhere.
Thanks for the info on the benefits of mullein! I've studied herbs, grown and used them all my adult life but never knew about mullein! What a pity. My daughter visited over the weekend and was sick. Had I known before!!! Next summer I'll try gathering and drying my own!
Please let us know how you're feeling now! :)
Ronda....mullein works so fast I am still amazed! By day 3 of taking the mullein I was 90% better. I have taken maybe 1 glass a day since (about 5 days). I am feeling good! It never went to my lungs. Make sure you do gather some this summer :-)
Makes a wonderful oil for earaches also
I found your blog through Leigh's blog and I am SO glad I did. It looks like your blog is a wealth of information and encouragement. It's so exciting to see other folks living the dream that my husband and I are aspiring to live!
I am very much looking forward to following your blog!
Have a wonderful weekend!
RaShell
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