Verbascum: mullein ear oil.

To: herb.franklin.oit.unc.edu
Subject: [herb] Re: infusing
From: May Terry <mterry.snet.net>
Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2002 08:50:25 -0500

What about mullein flowers? My understanding was that you need to use fresh flowers to make an ear oil.

From: Henriette Kress <hetta.saunalahti.fi>

Nah, you only need fresh flowers to make an oil if you let the flowers themselves melt in the sun. If you infuse everything that comes off the flowerstalk in oil you get an oil of equal value at _far_ less work. Use dried herb for that.

From: Veronica Honthaas <honthaas.bigsky.net>

Does that mean seeds and all? I have only used the flower and am interested in your method.

From: Henriette Kress <hetta.saunalahti.fi>

Yes. Everything that comes off the flowering stem of mullein is "mullein flowers" to me. If you grow (or find) Verbascum nigrum you don't even have to pull things off that stem, just snip into nice short chunks when it's dry.

Oh, and use gloves for pulling things off the dried thicker-stemmed Verbascums. If you don't you'll have lots of sticks in your skin.

From: Veronica Honthaas <honthaas.bigsky.net>

How does Verbascum nigrum compare medicinally with our common Verbascum thapsus. I am only familiar with the latter.

From: Henriette Kress <hetta.saunalahti.fi>

I've found no difference. ALL Verbascums work, including the purple-flowered one and the tiny white-flowered one.