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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Mullein

Mullein Leaves

While out on a wildflower collecting expedition this afternoon I discovered some extraordinarily large mullein plants and brought home a few leaves to dry.

Mullein has been a popular medicinal plant for centuries and has been used to alleviate earaches, swollen glands, asthma, and chronic coughs. It's leaves can be made into an ointment, a tea, or a skin wash.

TO DRY-

1) Collect mullein leaves from either the rosette or the larger second-year plant.

2) Spread a single layer of paper towels on a flat surface in a well-ventilated area. This could be a screened porch or open garage.

3) Place the mullein leaves in a single layer on the paper towels.

4) Turn the leaves on the paper towels at least twice daily or until the leaves are brittle and can be broken easily with your fingers.

5) Store dried mullein leaves in an airtight container.

Note:

- You can also dry mullein leaves in the microwave. Heat one cup of water to simmering inside the microwave and remove the water. Place mullein leaves between paper towels and microwave on high for three minutes. Test the leaves for brittleness and, if necessary, microwave for another minute or two until brittle.

- Mullein leaves will take 5 to 8 hours to dry in a dehydrator. Place the leaves in a single layer on dehydrator trays and turn on the machine.

- You can also dry mullein leaves in the oven by baking on the lowest temperature setting until brittle to the touch (about three hours).







15 comments:

  1. Oh I did not know this :) Cool.

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  2. thanks friend for passing by blessings your way

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  3. :) Thank you Rebecca..
    You to have a lovely site :)
    Blessed to Meet you :)

    Blessings,Renee

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  4. Thanks for the tip on drying mullein in the microwave. I had several leaves I've been drying for almost 2 weeks. They were still fairly pliable. I nuked them for a tad over a minute and now they're brittle enough to crush. :)

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  5. I have an abundance of these in my yard. I try to ask my guys now to now them over because I liked them. Now, I like them more! I have a nonproductive cough and decided to dry a few stems in our convection oven and yes, saw this video and made tea! Not a bad flavor! I plan on making another batch today to drink to help this cough. Dr. says it is a virus.... I don't know about microwaving ours, I hear it hurts the foods' nutritional values. Never the less, I will cultivate more of this plant.

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    1. That's wonderful, Kathryn! And, yes, I agree! The more I learn about the effects of microwaving, the less and less I use ours. Happy cultivating and drying! :)

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  6. I have an abundance of these in my yard. I try to ask my guys now to now them over because I liked them. Now, I like them more! I have a nonproductive cough and decided to dry a few stems in our convection oven and yes, saw this video and made tea! Not a bad flavor! I plan on making another batch today to drink to help this cough. Dr. says it is a virus.... I don't know about microwaving ours, I hear it hurts the foods' nutritional values. Never the less, I will cultivate more of this plant.

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  7. Great tips thanks so much👊

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  8. THIS STARTED ON FIRE IN MU MICROWAVE!!!!!! Had been in for a total of TWO MINUTES!!!!!! It’s good I was right there watching it, or it could have burn down my house!!!!

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    1. Ohmygoodness! I'm sorry to hear that! Did you simmer the cup of water in there before microwaving as instructed? I've never done the microwave method myself. Thanks for the heads up and glad you were right there and got it under control before thing got out of hand. :/

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    2. Are you suppose to wash the leaves first?I have not seen any comments on this?

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    3. If needed, yes, but, if found in a clean area away from road, then no. Washing certainly doesn't hurt them. Just make sure to dry well.

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