Mullein Tea! By calming inflammation, mullein may help the muscles in your airway relax, potentially easing breathing difficulties. Mullein is also considered an expectorant, which works to clear congestion by thinning and loosening mucous in the airway.
Mullein oil is extracted from the flower or leaves of the plant. The oil is used as a remedy for earaches, eczema, and some other skin conditions.
Mullein oil can be made from either fresh or dry parts of the plant by either hot (active) or cold (passive) processing:
- Hot oil infusion. This process involves using a double boiler technique to gently heat a carrier oil, such as olive oil, with mullein leaves or flowers for up to 3 hours. Then the product is strained and stored.
- Cold-steeped oil. The cold process usually involves steeping dry flowers or leaves in carrier oil for 7 to 10 days.
In soap, mullein softens and soothes irritated skin. It also has astringent properties and is useful in healing wounds and shrinking hemorrhoids.
