Weeds of Wisdom

As our future changes and medicine becomes less accessible, less trustworthy and more expensive we begin to look at the importance of our natural environment. Using pesticides on our weeds may not be the way forward as our weeds can host an abundance of healing properties which may lead eventually to our salvation.

so when looking at planting out this year : Time for you practitioners look at what we are ignoring when we pull up our weeds or use weed killer on our dandelions, mares tail, horsetail, wild garlic, wild strawberry, chickweed, feverfew, yarrow, mullein, nettles, borage, comfrey, verbena, poppies, elderberries, clover, thistle, goldenrod, ground ivy, horse nettle, milk weed, wild mustard, burdock, motherwort , aster, dock, shepards purse, St Jowort, mallow, daisy to name a few!


what attracts the bees is always worth a look, we begin our journey with more about  Mullein

Mullein (Verbascum Thapsus) Also known as Great Mullein, White Mullein, Torches, Mullein Dock, Our Lady’s Flannel, Velvet Dock, Blanket Herb, Velvet Plant, Woollen, Rag Paper, Candlewick Plant, Wild Ice Leaf, Aaron’s rod, velvet dock, Clown’s Lungwort, Bullock’s Lungwort, Jupiter’s Staff, Jacob’s Staff, Peter’s Staff, Shepherd’s Staff, Shepherd’s Clubs, Beggar’s Stalk, donkey’s ears, bunny ears, Golden Rod, Adam’s Flannel, Beggar’s Blanket, Clot, Cudd’s Lungs, Duffle, Feltwort, Fluffweed, Hare’s Beard, Old Man’s Flannel, Hag's Taper

Habitat

Found all over UK and Ireland except for the far north of Scotland. Found on hedge banks, by roadsides and on waste ground, more especially on gravel, sand or chalk. Flowers during July and August.

Use root, leaves and flowers

Harvesting

Leaves are best picked before the plant sends up its flower spike. Dr the leaves whole and then crumble them for storage.

The flowers are quite soft, so pick them carefully to avoid bruising. Spread in a single layer on a sheet of paper or a mesh screen to dry.

Smoking Herb
No known risks As a smoking herb: Mullein is a respiratory medicine and so smoking the dried leaves is one way to bring that medicine directly into the lungs. You could for more recreational use, blend as a soft, cooling, airy base for herbal smoking mixtures. It is very mildly sedating. Combined with lemon balm and Russian sage, mullein is great in many combinations.

Mullein tea

Can just use the leaves or add flowers. Use a good rounded tbs of the dried herb (slightly more of the fresh) Pour a mugful of boiling water over it, cover and steep for 15 mins. Strain through muslin or a fine sieve to remove any loose hairs. Drink freely for dry coughs and wet coughs as it helps to expel mucus or an irritation of throat and chest.

Tea can also be used for bronchitis, laryngitis, pleurisy and swollen glands and herpes simplex.

Another recipe to make tea is 2 steeped tsp of dried flowers and leaves in ¼ litre of hot water for 10 mins

When treating pneumonia this plant tones the entire respiratory tract. Anti-inflammatory, soothes and heals irritated tissues and helps to ease coughs.

2 to 3 cups of tea per day (simmer 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried root in ¼ litre of water for 10 mins) or 1/8 to 1 teaspoon of tincture 3 times per day.

Shingles: Used in a compress, a tea made from mullein leaves calms inflammation and soothes irritated skin. Make the tea as above

 


Mullein flower oil

Pick the flowers on a dry sunny day and lay them on a sheet of paper to dry a little overnight. Put them in a small jar and cover the flowers with extra virgin olive oil. Close the jar with a piece of cloth held on with a rubber band rather than using a lid as this allows any moisture to escape.

Put the jar on a sunny windowsill for 2 weeks. Stir ever day to keep the flowers submerged in the oil. If left exposed the flowers will go mouldy.

When the flowers have faded and become quite transparent the oil is ready to be strained and bottled. Pour through a fine sieve into another jar. Do it slowly and leave the watery layer at the bottom behind. Store in a cool dark place for up to a year.

For earache, put 1 to 3 drops of oil in the affected ear as needed.

The oil can also be used for nerve pain, haemorrhoids and piles, chest rub and chilblains.

Mullein poultice

To make a poultice, lay a few mullein leaves in a dish (for a splinter you’ll only need part of a leaf) and pour a little boiling water on them to soften them. Leave until they are cool enough to handle, then place them on the affected part. The poultice can be held on with a bandage and you can keep it warm by holding a hot water bottle against it.

Good for removing splinters, to draw boils, to soothe an aching back and for any lymphatic swellings. Can also be used to help heal broken bones such as ribs or toes that cannot be set.

Other uses

The down on the leaves and stem makes excellent tinder when dry. Was used for lamp wicks before cotton used.

~Used to drive away evil spirits.

~Toilet paper, baby nappies, insoles for shoes and food wrap

~Helps relieve pain in general
~make a compress, dampen a clean cloth with the cooled tea and apply it to the cold sore as needed.

   Through the summer and early fall, the flowers fade, and the fruits appear. These fruits are hard, woody, capsules with five divisions, which open on one end when mature. After the fruits have matured, the plant dies, but the dry, brown, flower stalk persists through the winter, standing out against the snow. At this stage, if you soak the flower heads in tallow or something similar, it's supposed to make a good torch. The leaves, dried and rolled, have been used as lamp wicks. It's also helpful both as tinder for starting your campfire and as a quick burning fuel. If you're still not warm enough, the leaves also make pretty good insulation when placed inside shoes or clothing. From these uses, mullein is also called torches, candlewick plant, and beggar's blanket.

Seeds 

 Mullein seeds, which are tiny, are reported to be toxic and have been used as a narcotic to stun fish. Animals won't eat mullein, because all those little hairs irritate their mucous membranes, but insects don't mind them.

 

Mullein also attracts a wide variety of pollinators, including bees, flies, and butterflies.