Mullein is a tall, biennial plant used widely in traditional herbal medicine, primarily for its natural expectorant properties, which help soothe respiratory ailments, ease coughs, and loosen mucus among may other things.
While it is most often thought of as a herb to support lung or bronchial health, it is wonderful for many other things including asthma, constipation, pain, inflammation, headaches, and gout. Medicinally, mullein has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties.
What is a Tincture?
Tinctures have been around for millennia, and these simple-to-make concoctions are a key component of traditional herbal medicine. Tinctures are nothing more than concentrated herbal extracts made by soaking the medicinal parts of plants in a solvent like alcohol or vinegar. This process extracts a greater spectrum of the plant, concentrates them as a liquid, and preserves the medicinal qualities longer than an infusion or a decoction. It also makes them very shelf stable without the need for refrigeration.
Alcohol is the most commonly used solvent for tinctures because many plants have medicinal properties that are not water-soluble. Alcohol can also quickly enter the bloodstream, making your medicinals much faster-acting.
Mullein is:
- Antibacterial
- Antiviral
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-influenza
- Antioxidant
- Anti-carcinogenic
- Demulcent (relieves inflamed mucus membranes)
- Expectorant
- Anti-spasmodic
- Emollient
- Anti-microbial
- An astringent
- A disinfectant (for internal and external infections)
Mullein is an effective treatment for:
- Pneumonia
- Staph infections
- E. coli
- Asthma
- Gout
- Respiratory infections
- Coughs
- Urinary tract infections
- Herpes simplex virus
- Bird flu virus
- Sore throat
- Migraines
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Tuberculosis
- Burns
- Bruises
- Bursitis
- Flu
- Inflammatory illnesses
- Hemorrhoids
- Vaginal yeast infection
- COPD
- Tonsillitis
- Bronchitis