Mullein Tea

Read this story to find some more facts about this amazing weed.

Mullein is a weed which is very commonly found in almost all parts of the United States. It is native to Europe and Asia, and has around 250 species. The most common mullein is Verbascum thapsus. As it is a weed, it overtakes the shrubs and rest of the nearby plants in growth.

But in spite of this fact, they are very helpful in curing many diseases. In the early years, the mullein plant was used to prepare dyes, and some people even used it to feed fish to catch them. This was done easily as a result of the narcotic effect of this plant on the fish.

Nowadays, this plant is used in the form of mullein tea. Researches have shown many medicinal properties of mullein tea, and hence it is widely used to cure many digestive and respiratory problems.

The mullein herb is a weed and does not require extra care. Hence, it grows easily near the road sides or on barren fields etc. It is a biennial plant and lives for a period of two years. If we look at the plant structure, we will find the rosette of big green leaves which are approximately 12 inches in length.

From these leaves, a vertical stem comes out, which can be nearly 8 feet tall. In the second year, this stem bears yellow flowers which further take the form of capsuled fruits with brown seeds. The leaves of this plant have thick trichomes which makes the leaves look silvery.

Mullein tea is prepared out of the leaves and flowers. The usage of seeds is strictly prohibited as it contains some toxic components.

Mullein tea is very easy to prepare. You just require few dried leaves of mullein. The dried leaves are easily available in the market. Apart from this, you will require a small pot, cup, fine mesh strainer, water, sweetener (sugar or honey). Get all these materials and follow the steps given below.

• Take one cup of water in a pot and bring it to a boil. By the time the water gets boiled, take a few dried leaves in a cup.
• Once the water is boiling, pour the boiled water in the cup which has dried leaves. You can also put the dried leaves inside the pot directly.

• After that put the mixture in a different cup using the fine mesh strainer. Discard the residue left in the strainer.
• Now leave the pot or the cup as it is for 5 minutes so that the juice of the mullein leaves gets mixed with the water.

• Now add the sweetener like sugar or honey in the liquid to enjoy hot and rejuvenating taste of mullein tea.

Mullein tea is very famous for its uses. The medicinal properties of mullein show its importance of being more than just a beverage. Following are some of the mullein uses and benefits.

• Mullein tea is very helpful in curing respiratory conditions. It is quite effective in asthma, cough, pneumonia, inflammation of the trachea, etc.

• It is also used in curing some mental conditions like stress and insomnia. It can be refreshing and energizing.
• Digestive health can also be improved by the intake of this tea. It can improve the conditions of hemorrhoids, constipation, diarrhea and bladder infections.

• You can also apply the mixture of mullein leaf extract and olive oil on external inflammations and swelling.
• Its narcotic and sedative properties help in curing severe pains and helps in getting good sleep.
• They can also help in expelling intestinal worms.

Though the mullein plant is very helpful in curing various health conditions, it has some side effects too. These side effects can be seen in very few people and are not very serious. Following are some of them

• Tightness in the chest and throat is a very common side effect. This may also include some breathing problems and slight chest pain.
• You may also experience some allergic reactions like skin irritation and inflammation.
• Mullein seeds contain some narcotic content.

The side effects of mullein tea can be overcome in a short time. This herbal tea does affect some people, but it is considered safe by the American Food and Drug Administration. So, try out this tea and take the advantages of its nutrient contents.