Page 115 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Cap the jar tightly and store it in a cool, dark place.
Motherwort Tincture: Motherwort leaves, Shake the jar once a day for six weeks. Check the alco-
stems, and flowers, roughly chopped, 80 proof vodka hol levels regularly and add more alcohol as necessary
or similar drinking alcohol.
to keep the jar full. Strain out the herbs and store the
Glass jar, Sterilize a glass jar and tight-fitting lid. Fill tincture in a sterile jar in a cool, dark place.
the jar with chopped leaves, stems, and flowers to
about 1/2 full. Fill the jar to within 1/4 (0.6cm) inch of
the top, completely covering the herbs.

Mullein, Edible Use: The leaves and flowers are edible, alt-
hough most people prefer them as a tea.
Verbascum thapsus

Mullein belongs to the Scrophulariaceae (Fig-
wort/Snapdragon) family. It is most commonly known
as great mullein or common mullein. Its other names
include Flannel Plant, Aaron's rod, Hag Taper,
Torches, and Velvet Plant.
Mullein is a widely distributed plant in North America
and is exceedingly abundant as a naturalized weed in
the eastern States. It grows in meadows, by roadsides,
and on waste ground, especially on gravel, sand or
chalky soil. This plant grows in a vast range of habitats
but prefers disturbed ground.
Mullein is widely used for herbal remedies, with well-
established emollient and astringent properties. This
plant has also been used to make dyes and torches and
is a lovely bush toilet paper.

Identification: Mullein is a velvety, soft, biennial
plant. When in its second year, Mullein has an erect tall
flowering spike that can reach nearly 8 feet (2.4 me-
ters) in height. Its basal rosette, tall flowering stem,
and velvety leaves make it easily recognizable.

Each mullein flower is about 3/4 inch (1.875 cm) Medicinal Use: The leaves and the flowers of mul-
across and consists of five pale petals, 5 hairy-green lein are anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic,
sepals, five stamens, and one pistil. In its first growth astringent, demulcent, diuretic, emollient, expecto-
year, mullein leaves form a basal rosette. They have, rant, anodyne (pain-killing) and vulnerary (wound-
very large, long, oval velvety, gray-green leaves that healing). I make an effective bronchitis tincture using
can grow up to 20 inches (50 cm) in length. In their Mullein, Lungwort Lichen and Yerba Santa for both
second year, they send up a single tall flowering spike symptomatic treatment and as a curative.
with alternately arranged leaves. Bronchitis, Emphysema, Laryngitis, Tra-
This plant produces small, ovoid capsules approxi- cheitis, Asthma, and Tuberculosis: Mullein is
mately 1/4 inch (0.625 cm) in length that contain many a commonly used herbal remedy. I value it for its effi-
minute, brown seeds that are less than 0.04 inches (0.1 cacy in the treatment of chest complaints such as bron-
cm) in size. chitis, tuberculosis, and asthma. It reduces the

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