Mullein

When I was a kid, my friends and I would occasionally find huge stands of common mullein (Verbascum thapsus) out in the sandy desert near our house.  The plants were so tall and full (for an herbaceous desert plant) and grew so fast, and their flowering stocks sometimes developed in such strange, gravity-defying shapes and sizes, that they seemed almost like an extraterrestrial life form.  We were fascinated by their shabby, furry leaves, and the sheer size they reached in the dry basins where they would thrive.  It wasn’t until later that I learned about the medicinal usefulness of those fuzzy, pale green plants.

     Mullein leaves and flowers can be used to make a tea that is good for colds, sore throats, and other respiratory infections.  It has been approved by Commission E for the relief of cough and bronchitis, and I find that even the steam from Mullein tea is soothing.  A tea made from leaves alone is rather tasteless, but the flowers taste slightly sweet and have a mild almond flavor. Historically, the stalks were sometimes dipped in wax or oil and used as torches!