View a Mullein PictureClearly Identify this Valuable Herb!
Mullein Picture: full flower stalk From June to August, you will begin to see these stately flower stalks glowing with golden yellow blooms! This mullein picture gives you an idea of how tall these flower spikes can grow. My son, Daniel, is a couple of feet in the foreground and is about 4 1/2 feet tall. This particular spike is unusually tall at almost 7 feet. Normally from 4 to 6 feet in height, they are easy to spot come mid to late summer. This is the time to scope out your source for future use!
Look for it in fields, along roadsides or in abandoned city lots. It thrives in poor soil, so is often seen along expressways. If you can't find it near your house, keep looking until you find it in an accessible area. When the flower stalk has formed its seeds, collect a bunch! You are going to want this herb in your yard or garden! If you don't want to wait to collect the seeds from the "wild" (mullein is biennial so only blooms and goes to seed the second year), you will need to learn to recognize it in all stages of its life cycle. Then you can dig up a first year plant and put it in your garden. Since it readily reseeds itself, next year (and for ever after), you will have this valuable herb right at your fingertips!
Once you have found your source for mullein or have transported it into your garden, you won't have to worry about keeping the animals from eating your share. This is one they stay away from! Its hairy leaves cause irritation to the skin, especially the tender mucous membranes of the mouth. Even the goats and deer won't bother it!
The leaves of this noble herb have many beneficial properties, but are best known as the definitive herb for the Respiratory System. The flowers infused in oil make a soothing remedy for the ears. But that's just the beginning! There are many other excellent qualities found in this herb!
Even its ability to cause irritation to the skin can be a good thing! Mullein's fine hairs cause increased circulation to any area they touch. Knowing this, the pioneers placed the leaves in their shoes. This increased the blood flow to the feet warming them for long winter hikes. They also roughly sewed the leaves together to make an improvised blanket.
But leave it to the girls to discover a cosmetic use for this property of mullein. Rubbing their cheeks with the hairy leaves gave them a pretty rosy glow (without any irritation). That is how it became known as Quaker's Blush. My daughter Julie tried it, and it worked! Just remember: Double strain through a cotton cloth any preparations you take internally such as tea or a tincture.
I know you will want to take the time to get to know this excellent herb! With all its important benefits its worth the time it takes to know it well.
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