Common Mullein - The Roadside Herb

Today’s featured plant is Common Mullein, Verbascum thapsus.

Common Mullein is also known as Great Mullein, Aaron’s Rod, candlewick plant, flannel plant, flannel leaf, lungwort, feltwort, cowboy toilet paper, shepherd’s staff, velvet dock, woolly mullein, torch plant, torches, miner’s candle, big taper, blanket mullein, “Hig candlewick”, “Bullicks lungwort”, “Hare’s-beard”, “Ice-leaf”.”Beggar’s blanket”, “Moses’ blanket”, “Poor Man’s blanket”, “Our Lady’s blanket” or “Old Man’s Blanket”.

(There are more names, but this list is getting pretty long already.  Do you get the impression this thing is pretty widespread?)

Range and Identification of Common Mullein

Common mullein is native to Europe, but it is now found on every continent except Antarctica.  (As I said, it gets around…)   The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides a range map, but it’s really found pretty much everywhere in the U.S..

The plant is known as a colonizer of open disturbed soils.  The Wisconsin DNR lists it as an invasive, but they have an awful lot of plants listed as invasive. Okay – non-native – still, it’s been around so long, does it really matter at this point?  They do say it can be invasive in the plant detail page, but I haven’t found that to be the case in my area.  It prefers dry, sandy soils, but can grow (really HUGE) in rich garden soil, and even grow in marginal soils such as chalk and limestone.  It can be found in neglected meadows, forest openings, pastures, fence rows, roadsides, and industrial areas. (WI DNR)

Plant height is 2-6′ (60-180 cm) (the happy monsters in my garden last year were pushing seven feet).  The leaves are large, oval and fuzzy.  As you can see in the photo below, a large happy specimen in my garden has leaves larger than my shoe, which is a size twelve.   Leaves are 12-15 inches long (or longer) and covered with velvety hairs.  When the flower stalk emerges, leaves cling directly to the stalk – there are no side branches.

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COMMONSENSE HOME

Plantain - Your Grandmothers Knew How to Use it!

From Alternative Nature Online Healer:

Plantain Medicinal Properties and Herbal Use

Plantain is edible and medicinal, the young leaves are edible raw in salad or cooked as a pot herb, they are very rich in vitamin B1 and riboflavin. The herb has a long history of use as an alternative medicine dating back to ancient times. Being used as a panacea (medicinal for everything) in some cultures, one American Indian name for the plant translates to “life medicine.” And recent research indicates that this name may not be far from true! The chemical analysis of Plantgo Major reveals the remarkable glycoside Aucubin. Acubin has been reported in the Journal Of Toxicology as a powerful anti-toxin. There are many more highly effective constituents in this plant including Ascorbic-acid, Apigenin, Baicalein, Benzoic-acid, Chlorogenic-acid, Citric-acid, Ferulic-acid, Oleanolic-acid, Salicylic-acid, and Ursolic-acid. The leaves and the seed are medicinal used as an antibacterial, antidote, astringent, antiinflammatory, antiseptic, antitussive, cardiac, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic, laxative, ophthalmic, poultice, refrigerant, and vermifuge.
Medical evidence exists to confirm uses as an alternative medicine for asthma, emphysema, bladder problems, bronchitis, fever, hypertension, rheumatism and blood sugar control. A decoction of the roots is used in the treatment of a wide range of complaints including diarrhoea, dysentery, gastritis, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, haemorrhage, haemorrhoids, cystitis, bronchitis, catarrh, sinusitis, coughs, asthma and hay fever. It also causes a natural aversion to tobacco and is currently being used in stop smoking preparations. Extracts of the plant have antibacterial activity, it is a safe and effective treatment for bleeding, it quickly stops blood flow and encourages the repair of damaged tissue. The heated leaves are used as a wet dressing for wounds, skin inflammations, malignant ulcers, cuts, stings and swellings and said to promote healing without scars. Poultice of hot leaves is bound onto cuts and wounds to draw out thorns, splinters and inflammation. The root is said to be used as an anti-venom for rattlesnakes bites. Plantain seeds contain up to 30% mucilage which swells in the gut, acting as a bulk laxative and soothing irritated membranes. The seeds are used in the treatment of parasitic worms. A distilled water made from the plant makes an excellent eye lotion.

For information on how to use and infuse some plaintain for medical purposes, make salves and more, Go to this link for great instruction:

Horehound

Horehound has been used as a medicinal herb for thousands of years. The most common application of horehound is as a cough suppressant or cold medicine; as such, it can be found in Ricola cough drops. If you have your own supply of horehound leaves, you can make a cold remedy at home. A tea made from horehounds leaves can treat coughs and colds and stimulate the appetite. Or the leaves can be used to make a salve to treat wounds and minor skin irritations.


Medicinal use: Horehound is mainly considered to be useful as an expectorant and antitussive herb. It can also be employed as a mild laxative and gastric tonic. It has long been used as cough suppressant and as a very helpful remedy against common cold symptoms. It is also very famous as a herbal medicine used for acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma, chest, nasal and sinus congestion, coughs and chest complaints, respiratory infections and sore throat. It is also very useful in treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes, bowel, gallbladder and uterine disorders. Horehound is beneficial as a gastric tonic, useful in cases of loss of appetite and flatulence. Used externally, it can be an efficient wound cleanser, and can help in cases of both temporary and persistent skin disorders. 
Safety: Some herbs could interact with certain medication. Therefore, it is highly advisable to consult your doctor/herbalist before consumption of any herb.

Tips & Warnings
Horehound is not recommended for use in children or pregnant, nursing or menstruating women. As few as 5 cups of horehound tea daily can cause an irregular heartbeat.  Horehound is in the mint family. If you have mint allergies, you may also be allergic to horehound.
Horehound Side Effects: Horehound should not be used by pregnant women, nursing mothers, very young children or the elderly.

Homemade Horehound Cough Drops

To make horehound drops use 1 cup horehound infusion, made as directed above, to 2 cups white sugar. Put the sugar in a small but deep saucepan and stir in 1/8 teaspoon cream of tarter, then add the infusion. Stir until sugar has dissolved, then cook over low heat until it reaches just 290 degrees on a candy thermometer, or until a drop in cold water will become a hard glassy ball. Pour on a buttered plate and score into cough drop sizes when it has half hardened. When cool, break apart and keep in cool place until used.

Making Horehound Cough Syrup

1/4 cup of horehound (fresh) or 1/8 cup of dried horehound leaves.

2 cups of honey

1 cup of hot water

1 tablespoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar

Pour the water into a pot and bringing it to a boil. Next toss in the horehound leaves and remove your pot from stove, allowing everything to steep for approximately 15 minutes. Strain the leaves and then add the honey to the water, mixing it very well. You can then bottle the cough syrup for later use. Feel free to add more or less honey to adjust the thickness and sweetness of the syrup.

Horehound Tea

Ingredients

• 1 C. fresh leaves or 1/4 C. dried
• 1 quart water
• 2 Tbs. honey
• 1 fresh lemon
• 1 Tsp Anise Seed (opt but gives a great flavor)

Directions

Place the herbs into a pan, add water and simmer for about 20 minutes. Strain the tea, pressing the herbs as you strain. Add the honey and the juice of the lemon. You may add more honey if you wish. Sip it warm. 2-3 cups per day as needed. You can also add a little bit of fresh ginger in place of the anise seed. 

WE ARE GREEN! Our herbs are naturally grown from division or cuttings from our gardens. No chemical pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers are ever used.

The statements regarding the use and/or historical use of our naturally grown herbs have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Check with your physician, naturopath, homeopath or herbalist for answers to questions about your health & the use of herbs. 

Lemon Balm Information with RECIPES

Lemon Balm has SO many uses!  

Use fresh leaves in salads and as a garnish for fish and other dishes. When candied, the leaves make attractive cake decorations. Chopped leaves can be added to egg, fish and chicken dishes and sprinkled over fresh vegetables. Goes well with corn, broccoli, asparagus, lamb, shellfish, ground black pepper, olives and beans. Add the leaves to cooked dishes in the last few minutes. They can also be added to summer drinks and fruit salads, soups, sauces, and ice cream, and make a good substitute for lemon peel in recipes. An ingredient of Benedictine and Chartreuse. The flower tips and young leaves are floated in wine or fruit cups as a flavoring and garnish. Substitute for lemon rind in jam making, and add to marmalades. Makes a delicious tea, alone or added to ordinary tea.

It helps relieve anxiety attacks, palpitations with nausea, mild insomnia and phobias, and when used as a sedative it is good for children. It combines well with peppermint to stimulate circulation, and can also be used for colds and flu and is most effective in the early stages of a cold. The tea is used to treat headaches and tiredness, mild depression, laryngitis, colic and dizziness, and is reputed to enhance the memory. It calms a nervous stomach, controls high blood pressure, relieves menstrual cramps, promotes menstruation and treats insomnia. Fresh juice is used to treat goitre and Grave's Disease. It is especially suitable for children, and makes a good substitute for chamomile. A crushed fresh leaf applied to insect bites eases discomfort. As a poultice it treats sores and tumours. In ointment, it is good for cold sores.

Chives are Ready!

Chives are ready in Grandma Farmers garden here at Heritage Harvest Home(stead).  We love them in Fritattas, Omelets and on baked potatoes.  Available for $1.85 per ounce or $14 for 8 ounces here at the farm.  Contact Us to Order

We also love them in this great dip recipe:

Garlic Chive Dip

4 ounces Cream Cheese
1/2 cup
1 garlic clove, finely minced
1-2 tablespoons diced chives
1/8th teaspoon kosher or sea salt

Blend the Cream Cheese and yogurt.  Add the remaining ingredients.  Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.  Serve with chips or a vegetable tray.