Herb of the Week: Mullein — The Lung's Best Ally

If you've driven through Colorado and noticed tall, silvery-green stalks rising from roadsides and dry fields, you've seen mullein. It's everywhere here — and that's not an accident. Plants tend to grow where they're needed. In a high-altitude, dry-air state where respiratory issues are common, mullein shows up like a quiet gift.

What Is Mullein?

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a tall biennial plant with large, velvety leaves and a distinctive spike of yellow flowers. It's not native to North America — it came over with European settlers — but it has naturalized so completely that it feels like it belongs. Native American tribes quickly adopted it into their medicine, using the leaves for respiratory ailments and the roots for other conditions.

What Mullein Is Good For

• Lung support — one of the best herbs for the lungs; soothes inflamed bronchial tissue and helps expel mucus
• Coughs and bronchitis — effective for both dry, irritating coughs and wet, congested ones
• Asthma — traditionally smoked (yes, smoked) to open airways; also works as tea for ongoing support
• Ear infections — mullein flower oil is a classic remedy for ear pain and infection
• Lymphatic support — the root supports lymphatic drainage and can help with swollen glands

How to Use It

Tea: Steep 2 teaspoons of dried mullein leaf in hot water for 15 minutes. Strain carefully through a fine cloth — the tiny leaf hairs can irritate the throat if not filtered out. Add honey.

Tincture: Leaf tincture for respiratory support; root tincture for lymphatic and musculoskeletal issues.

Ear oil: Warm mullein flower-infused oil is dropped into the ear canal for infections and pain. Available at our apothecary.

Smoking blend: Dried mullein leaf can be smoked as part of a ceremonial or therapeutic blend — it is non-addictive and very gentle on the lungs.

A Spiritual Note

Mullein is sometimes called "hag's taper" — its tall flower spike was once dipped in tallow and used as a torch. There's something powerful about a plant that provides both light and healing. In the language of plants, mullein speaks of resilience — it grows in the harshest, most overlooked places and thrives anyway. If you're rebuilding after illness, grief, or exhaustion, mullein is a worthy companion.