Mullein leaf has been used for thousands of years in herbal medicine.
It is said to be a great expectorant, soothing coughs and loosening phlegm. An infusion of the flower is said to be helpful with colic, and a poultice of the leaves can ease the pain of hemorrhoids. An infusion of the leaves in olive oil has been used for centuries to treat ear infections.
According to folklore, it is associated with the element of fire and was introduced to the United States in the 1700s when it was used to poison fish in Virginia.
We won’t ask questions about that, but you may want to use discretion with whom you serve the below recipe.
Wild history, myth, and medicine aside, mullein adds a nourishing, soothing quality to your repertoire of winter time beverages. The leaves are long, fuzzy, and silvery-green, and look like they can imbue whoever consumes them with a bit of their rugged hardiness.
Here’s to beating the winter-time blues!