Here are a few ways that you can use mullein leaves to help combat the common cold, asthma, and other respiratory issues.
![mullein plant](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/how-to-use-mullein-to-fight-a-cold-featured-image.png)
Mullein is commonly uses to help treat colds, flu, and other illnesses.
However, it can also be used for treating asthma, bronchitis, a cough, congestion, constipation, ear infections, insomnia, gout, inflammation, migraine, and a sore throat.
For even more information about the benefits of mullein leaves, visit here.
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Tea
One of the easiest ways to reap the benefits of mullein leaves is to make a herbal tea.
Make and drink two to four cups of this healing tea everyday while you are sick, or when you feel sickness coming on.
Learn how to make it here.
![mullein leaf tea in a mug](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/How-to-Make-Mullein-Leaf-Tea-with-Fresh-and-Dried-Leaves-10-1024x768.jpg)
Herbal Steam
To do a herbal steam to loosen mucus, you are basically going to make a really strong mullein tea.
To a cooking pot, add 2 cups of water and 1/4 cup of dried mullein leaves.
Bring this to a boil for 5 minutes, making sure that the mullein leaves stay submerged.
Turn the heat off and let it steep for 5 more minutes, covered.
Strain out the leaves.
Stand in front of the pot of hot mullein tea, place a large towel over your head and over the pot. This will trap the steam inside, allowing it to be more effective.
Breathe in the warm steam, making sure that you are not too close to the pot, as steam can burn you very badly.
If the pot is too hot yet, you can also breathe in the steam without the towel over your head.
![herbal oil](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/How-to-Make-Mullein-Oil-for-Earaches-and-Ear-Infections-19-768x1024.jpg)
Salve
Rub some mullein salve on your chest to help relieve coughing and ease congestion.
You can make your own salve out of mullein leaves, oil, bees wax.
A recipe for mullein salve is coming soon!
Tincture
A tincture made out of mullein leaves is a super easy way to get mullein into your body even when you are not wanting to drink tea.
Making your own alcohol-free mullein leaf tincture is very easy, however, it isn’t a fast process.
If you need mullein leaf tincture sooner than later, here is a good one.
![amber dropper bottle in a bed of chopped mullein leaves](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/How-to-Make-Mullein-Oil-for-Earaches-and-Ear-Infections-20-768x1024.jpg)
Herbal Oil
Mullein leaves can be used to make a natural healing oil to help soothe sore ears or cold or asthma symptoms.
A combination of mullein leaves, garlic cloves, and olive oil, this oil can be used dropped into your ears to soothe an earache or rubbed onto your chest to ease congestion.
Learn how to make it here, or if you don’t have any mullein on hand, buy the ready made oil here.
Why Does Mullein Help with respiratory issues?
Here is a just a short list of some of the many, many benefits of mullein leaves.
Anti-inflammatory
Mullein helps soothe your body when you have a cold or sinus issues by helping the muscles in your chest and airway relax.
This helps open your airway and relieve breathing issues.
Expectorant
Mullein helps the body get rid of excess mucus by helping relax the airways and making your cough more productive.
![dried mullein leaves in a mason jar](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/How-to-Make-Mullein-Leaf-Tea-with-Fresh-and-Dried-Leaves-3-1024x768.jpg)
Antioxidant
Antioxidants found in mullein leaves help the lungs function at their best by boosting overall health.
Free radicals can cause damage to the body, antioxidants help prevent and/or reduce damage caused by them.
Antioxidants also help increase your immune health.
Astringent
Mullein leaves contain tannin. A strong astringent, tannin, helps to speed the process of wound healing.
In the event of having a sore, scratchy throat, astringents help to soothe and heal the irritated respiratory tract.
![a patch of mullein plants](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Medicinal-Benefits-and-How-to-Use-Mullein-9-1024x768.jpg)
Emollient
The mullein plant contains a substance called mucilage. Mucilage helps coat and soothe the mouth and throat with a gel like substance.
This will help reduce the scratchy feeling in your throat and the dry feeling in your mouth while you have a cold.
To reap the emollient properties of mullein leaves, drink it as tea, breathe in the steam, or take it in the form of tincture.
Anodyne (pain relief)
Mullein leaves help reduce pain. This will help lessen your discomfort in the throat and mouth while sick with a cold, asthma, bronchitis, or other respiratory issue.
Antiseptic
Mullein leaves contain antiseptic properties. Antiseptics help reduce the growth and spread of illnesses.
If you feel a cold (or any other illness for that matter) coming on, try drinking mullein tea two to four times a day to help slow or avoid the sickness.
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