Plant of the Day  Verbascum thapsus (Mullein)

It is a bitter, cooling, mucilaginous herb that promotes healing and soothes the tissues.  It has diuretic, analgesic, expectorant, and antiseptic properties.  It contains triterpene saponins (including verbascosaponin), mucilage, iridoid glycosides (aucubin, catalpol) flavonoids and phenolic acids.

Verbascum's high content of mucilage and saponins renders this herb ideal for the treatment of respiratory ailments, from coughs and colds to emphysema, asthma and whooping cough. In addition to the soothing effect imparted by the mucilage, it possesses good antibiotic properties.

Mullein is used to see manifestations of spirits, to see into the otherworld, and to commune with the spirits and deities who dwell there.  It is used for divination and dream work or a combination of the two (prophetic dreaming). Mullein protects you in your sleep helping to combat both evil spirits and nightmares. As it helps one to fall asleep when ingested, Mullein makes an excellent tea to encourage prophetic dreams and as an aid in lucid dreaming or astral travel while asleep.

Dreamer’s Tea

2 parts Mullein flowers

1 part Poppy flowers

1 part Mugwort

2 parts Spearmint