 sj |
||
|
||
BS: Mullein plant - anybody use it?
|
|
|
|||||||
|
BS: Mullein plant - anybody use it? |
Share Thread
|
||||||
|
Subject: BS: Mullein plant - anybody use it? From: Songwronger Date: 30 Sep 12 - 11:24 PM Been meaning for years to try mullein. Supposed to be good for respiratory ailments. So I harvested a big plant the other day (before the cold sets in), and I'm drying the leaves. We'll have it this winter if there are any respiratory problems. Interesting plant. European, then came to America and the American Indians quickly figured out it had beneficial properties. http://www.smokableherbs.com/mullein/ Benefits Asthma: Mullein is well known for its positive effect on the respiratory system and is often used as a remedy for asthma. When taken as a tincture or tea on a regular basis, it is believed to reduce the frequency and severity of asthma related problems. Cough: Mullein's benefits to the respiratory system make it a great choice for use as a cough remedy. Many herbal cough syrups contain Mullein. Sore Throat: One of the reasons Mullein is so popular is that it soothes the pain associated with irritation from coughs and infections. It does double duty when added to cough syrups or drank as a tea for respiratory ailments. Ear Infections: Mullein is a common herbal remedy for ear infections. Known for its astringent properties and soothing effect, Mullein is very popular for use as ear drops. As a Sedative or Legal High: Mullein leaves have a mild sedative and narcotic properties. When smoked or added to teas, they can produce a mild, legal high. etc. Tea or smoke. Got a teapot, need to get a pipe. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Mullein plant - anybody use it? From: John MacKenzie Date: 01 Oct 12 - 03:57 AM Well that's all news to me. Our garden is full of the damned things, they self seed |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Mullein plant - anybody use it? From: Beer Date: 01 Oct 12 - 07:27 AM Songwronger that is new to me as well. Very interesting. I think I just may try some. Adrien |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Mullein plant - anybody use it? From: GUEST Date: 01 Oct 12 - 08:11 AM In 2010, a study was published detailing the progression of Parkinson's-like symptoms in mice following chronic intragastric ingestion of low doses of rotenone. The concentrations in the central nervous system were below detectable limits, yet still induced PD pathology. http://precedings.nature.com/documents/3352/version/3 Although this plant is a recent arrival to North America, Native Americans used the ground seeds of this plant as a paralytic fish poison due to their high levels of rotenone. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Mullein plant - anybody use it? From: GUEST,Eliza Date: 01 Oct 12 - 02:00 PM I grow the cultivated version, Verbascum. But only for ornamental purposes! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Mullein plant - anybody use it? From: Crowhugger Date: 01 Oct 12 - 03:51 PM Not recently. Did use some ages ago--trying to recall, I think I found tea from its leaves to be icky-thick, mucilaginous. Palatable in a 25% mixture with something non-icky but roused my gag reflex on its own. Or am I confusing it with boneset? Darn, that's gonna bug me now until I remember which one and what it was for... As a guide for harvesting different parts of a plant for best concentration of active components: Leaves to be harvested before the plant has developed flower buds, flowers when fully open but before the plant's energy goes into any visible seedmaking. Harvest seeds when as ripe as possible before dispersal; take roots during plant dormancy. That's a general guide. I'm sure there are exceptions. I was at a pot luck in June where someone's food included basil. I noticed more of the licorice aspect of basil flavour than usual so I asked if it was from her garden: Yes. Had the plant begun to flower? Yes. Point being not which tastes better--in this case either way it's yummy--but that flowering and seed development do alter a plant's chemistry. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Mullein plant - anybody use it? From: bobad Date: 01 Oct 12 - 05:40 PM The basil with the licorice flavour may have been Thai basil, a variety with a pronounced licorice flavour. It is usually served as a side to the Vietnamese soup dish pho. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Mullein plant - anybody use it? From: pdq Date: 01 Oct 12 - 06:24 PM You have to respect a plant like Verbascum. It can grow as high as your eyeballs in a rocky vacant lot with no water. Good insect plant. Attracts hawk moths as well as humming birds. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Mullein plant - anybody use it? From: Songwronger Date: 01 Oct 12 - 09:07 PM Well, by next spring I plan to be educated on the plant. I want to know the best time to harvest its roots and leaves. In 2010, a study was published detailing the progression of Parkinson's-like symptoms in mice following chronic intragastric ingestion of low doses of rotenone. The concentrations in the central nervous system were below detectable limits, yet still induced PD pathology. Certainly something to be aware of, but isn't that paragraph a little contradictory? If the concentrations in the CNS were below detectable limits, then how do they know that the rotenone was the cause of the symptoms? I guess the thing to do will be to find out how much rotenone is contained in the leaves and root. Maybe it's limited to the seeds. There are LOTS of articles that speak highly of mullein on the web. The one in the original post was just one I pulled up at random. And I doubt that Monsanto has genetically modified the plant yet, so that's a plus. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Mullein plant - anybody use it? From: Crowhugger Date: 01 Oct 12 - 11:15 PM Along the lines of Songwrongers italicized paragraph above: I saw a TV documentary last spring about scientists beginning to question a basic premise of toxicology, that there is a safe limit for chemical consumption and below that one need not worry. It was related to studies of weight gain in spite of healthy eating and exercise. In this case certain chemicals were found to mock estrogen in the human body when present in very tiny, barely measurable amounts, even though neither weight gain nor traditional toxicity showed with much higher concentrations. Unfortunately scientists don't publish what the can't measure. It's only with the modern electronic measuring devices that such tiny quantities could be measured that the low-level toxicity could come to light. Not much room in science for common sense, which would say that just because it's good at x level doesn't mean it's good at levels below or above that. |
