Mullien Questions

[Hogleg]

I have Mullien growing on my property and would like to start using it. I hear some people pronounce it Mullen is that something different. The books I have looked it up in say it is Mullien, a wooly leafed plant that grows a tall spike in its second year with yellow flowers on its top end.
Made as a tea you need to filter out the little hairs as they are an irritant, as I have read anyway.

How would I go about making a tincture, specifically. I have never picked herbs just store bought dried herbs as a tea, such as skullcap and lemon balm. I do plan to grow some herbs this summer though.

Anyway, I just asking for thoughts and experiences in using Mullien. I am looking to improve overall health, calm anxiety, and help with hayfever.

Thanks,
Andy

[zbery1]

My brother had bad hayfever as a child and his eyes would swell shut. My mother would poor boiling water over the mullien leaves(dried or fresh) and when it cooled strain it through cheesecloth and have my brother wash his eyes with it or lay a cloth soaked in it over his eyes.

There are several types of tinctures. Using grain alcohol to soak the herbs in for a length of time is probably the most common. What the herb is, and how it will be used are important in deciding how to extract the medicinal qualities.

I recommend the book "The Herbal Medicine Makers Handbook" by James Green for clarity and ease of use in making any herbal remedies. He suggests placing chopped mullien leaves(3-5 grams per cup of water) in cold water to soak for a few hours, then gradually heat to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes. Cool, then press all liquid from the leaves before straining through filter paper. Coffee filter should work fine. The resulting liquid can be drunk (one cup, 3-4 times a day)or used on a cloth as a compress.

For a tincture use one part 190 proof grain alcohol( I use Vodka) to one part chopped mullien leaves and flowers in a jar. Put the lid on and let it set for 2 weeks, shaking daily. on the 15th day don't shake it. On day 16 pour off the liquid, pressing it all from the plant matter then filter the liquid and store in a tightly covered dark glass bottle. dosage is 2-3 ml up to 4 times a day.

Hope that helps :-)

[bookwormom]

I am familiar with drying the flowers. Gather them from June to September. It is used as a tea mostly for respiratory problems, from asthma to bronchities. It is reptuted to loosen phlegm. Also used for urinary problems, but I would have to look up the particulars.
If I am not mistaken, it was also used as a dying herb, but can not remember what color. My grandmother just added it to her all purpose herbal mix with lots of other stuff.