Preparing for Cold and Flu Season with Mullein Tincture

Preparing for Cold and Flu Season with Mullein Tincture

How did the summer slip by so fast?  Soon the kiddos will all be making their way back to school.  School supplies are already on sale at the stores.  It will quickly be time to buy warm socks and heavy coats.  That's why my thoughts have turned to making preparations for cold and flu season for the winter.  It takes time to make a tincture.  So, making my tinctures have to be top priority right now.  For making a cold/flu preparation, Mullein can't be beat.  It has antiviral properties and research has shown that it can slow the influenza virus.  It has been shown to help the respiratory system and help with coughs too.  It is a very useful remedy to have on hand when those cold winter winds blow.

Back in the spring, by my mailbox out by the street, I noticed a little plant struggling to grow.  It had soft silvery leaves and at first, I thought it was a start of lamb's ears.  Then I looked closer.  It was a mullein plant!  I hurried to get my garden trowel and uprooted it.  I knew the mower would cut it down.  I planted it behind the house in my flower bed and it grew.  I watered it carefully and watched in surprise as a long flower spire appeared this month.  Mullein only flowers on the second year, so that little plant must have been struggling there a whole year before I had noticed it.  Woohoo!  I can make a tincture!

Make Your Own Mullein Tincture

Okay, so you are sold and are ready to become armed against those pesky viruses that can pop up.  So how to make your very own tincture?  You will use fresh or dried Mullein leaves and flowers.  For fresh, you will need to fill a quart jar about 3/4 of the way full.   Gather the leaves and flowers and give them a rough chop and drop in your jar. If you use dried, only fill it 1/2 full. Next, you need to have a high proof alcohol like vodka or brandy.  Or you can use a good 5% vinegar.  Pour your alcohol or vinegar of choice over the plant material making sure that it is fully covered.  This will draw out all the good medicinal qualities from the Mullein into the liquid to preserve it.  Seal and store the jar in a cool, dark cupboard for about 6 to 8 weeks.  You'll want to shake it at least once a week.  

After it has steeped the prescribed period, use cheesecloth or a strainer to strain your concoction.  You can compost the used plant material.  At this time, you can then pour your brew into small glass dropper bottles (get the dark colored kind, some are brown or blue).  This is for ease in storage and use.  At this time, you definitely want to label and date your jars.  These will be shelf stable a long time, at least a few years if stored properly in a cool dark place.  But don't forget where you put them---you want them on hand when you feel an illness coming on.

To use, at the first sign of symptoms of illness, use the dropper to place 30-60 drops diluted in water, juice or tea at least 2 times a day until you get some relief.

I know what you are thinking...Carly, I didn't happen to find a Mullein plant just growing by my driveway!  Where can I get some dried Mullein now?  Luckily, there are two good places to get it from.  At Rose Mountain Herbs, you can get dried Mullein, and seeds too...Search results (mountainroseherbs.com)

Amazon is another place you can easily purchase dried Mullein from Amazon.com : dried mullein leaves

And if you want to be pro-active and grow your own Mullein next year---and in a pot, here's a website that tells you how easy it is: https://livetoplant.com/guide-to-growing-mullein-plant-in-a-pot/

For me, making tinctures makes sense and I will probably make four to five different ones.  They are compact and easy to store and keep on hand, they last a long time, and they are powerful healers.  Pat yourself on your back if you are filling your medicinal larder in preparation for the coming winter season.  I think it is just as important to do that, as it is to harvest and store your food larder.