Meet Your Herbal Allies: Mullein
Source: The New New Age
Nature is the OG pharmacy. Meet Your Allies is an ongoing Tierra series that illuminates our favorite smokable herbs. Each short yet deep dive will get into the herb’s history, physical and spiritual uses. Plus, its effects when smoked. Through our words and products, we aim to deepen the ties between humans & herbs, the natural wonders that heal and connect us.
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From Ancient Rome to the present day, mullein has long been a trusted herbal ally with remarkable healing powers. Used as a remedy for lung conditions in Europe, an eradicator of evil spirits for Native Americans, and even employed today to help soothe throat irritation or ease coughs—its uses are myriad, both practical and magical.
Mullein is also an essential element of both our OG and Dream Smoking Blends, lending a mild flavor, gentle aroma, and calming effect to your sipping or smoking experience. Read on to learn more about this soft, fluffy herb’s rich history, uses, and effects.
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The Etymology
Mullein, also known as Verbascum thapsus, is a fuzzy, silvery green-leafed herb. The short-lived biennial has been used in herbal traditions for over 2,000 years. Its name Verbascum is derived from the word ‘barbascum,’ the term ‘barba,’ meaning beard, and referencing the plant’s hairy leaves. We’d argue the leaves feel more like a newborn puppy’s ear. But, um, maybe that doesn’t translate quite as well.
The Habit
Mullein first emerges as a low-growing rosette of leaves. Bluish gray-green, the oblong leaves have a subtle glimmering sheen hidden under a dense layer of soft hair. Exposure to cold temperatures is needed for them to flower, which happens the following spring.
In their second year, Mullein plants will produce a tall flower stalk and cheery yellow flowers. The inflorescence blooms several times a summer, with flowers maturing from the spike’s base to tip, in spirals.
All of the plant is medicinal, but the leaves are particularly potent. Once plucked, they can be harvested and prepared as a tea, tincture, or smoking blend.
source: The New New Age
The Healing History
Mullein use by Ancient Greeks
Ancient Greek herbal physician Dioscorides first prescribed Mullein in the 1st century in Rome as a treatment for lung conditions.
Mullein use by Native Americans
Mullein was a cherished Navaho herb, as well. The Native American people referred to the herb as “big tobacco”—a reference to its great height—and often mixed it with regular tobacco in smoking blends. The leaves were used to stoke fires, as a smudge, or inhaled to relieve lung congestion and even relieve asthma. They would also be boiled down and made into a poultice for painful joints.
Mullein use in European folk medicine
Fresh Mullein leaves were traditionally boiled in milk and consumed daily as an Irish folk cure for tuberculosis. Mullein was also known to be an effective apotropaic—or a banisher of evil spirits. It carries a variety of magical qualities and is believed to bring about courage, provide protection, and increase fertility.
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Mullein‘s earthy flavor makes it an ideal base for herbal smoking blends, as it provides flavor without overwhelming the senses. It’s rich in naturally occurring compounds such as rosmarinic acid and saponins. It has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, and laxative properties, which can help soothe and heal the body, both internally and externally.
When it comes to the perceived mental effects, Mullein is mellow and relaxing, even meditatively calming. It’s perfect to blend with other, more Yang herbs, to balance the flavor and soften the edges of any psychoactive properties. We put it in both our OG Herbal Blend and Dream Herbal Blend, offering a gentle base to make aromatic and psychoactive herbs more palatable and easier on the mind and body.
Kindly note that this article has not been evaluated by a medical professional or the FDA. Indulge at your own discretion.