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ature produces thousands of demulcents, emollients and vulnerary Herbs, depending on their different and varied chemical constituents for their therapeutic application in widely diverse conditions.

We have given you a detailed description of thirteen of them, selected carefully, and believed by us to be the world's best. We have only one more demulcent to describe, and then we shall classify them according to their chemistry and particular uses.

DEMULCENTS: Continued.

THE GREAT MULLEIN. Latin name, Verbascum Thapsus (Linn.) Natural Order: Scrophulariaceae.

SYNONYMS: White mullein, gorches, mullein dock, our ladies flannel, velvet dock, blanket Herb, woolen, rag paper, candlewick plant, clown's lungwort, Bullock's lungwort, Aaron's rod, ice leaf, Jupiter's staff, Jacob's staff, Peter's staff, shepherd's staff, shepherd's clubs, beggar's stalk, beggar's blanket, Adam's flannel, Cuddie's lungs, feltwort, fluff weed, hare’s beard, old man’s flannel, duffle, Hag's taper, etc.

PARTS USED: Leaves, flowers and root.

HABITAT: The great mullein is a widely distributed plant, being found all over Europe and in temperate Asia as far as the Himalayas, and in North America. It is exceedingly abundant as a naturalized Herb in the eastern states of America. It grows throughout Britain, except in the extreme north of Scotland. It is found growing on banks, by roadsides, and on waste ground; more especially on gravel, sand or chalky soil. It flowers during July and August.

The natural order, Scrophulariaceae, is a very important family of plants, composing 200 genera, and about 2,500 species, all of which grow in temperate and sub-tropical regions. Many of them produce flowers of great beauty and for this reason, they are cultivated in gardens and green houses on a very extensive scale. Of these, the beautiful calceolaria, mimulus, penstemon, antirrhinum and collinsia are among the most beautiful. Many valuable medicinal plants belong to this family such as the foxglove (digitalis), the speedwells and veronicas, the figworts, toadflax, eyebright, bartsia, cow wheat, the red and yellow rattles or coxcombs and many others. All the various species of mullein possess similar

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medicinal properties, but the great mullein, the most common of them all is the one most employed.

For therapeutic purposes, it is generally collected from wild growing specimens, though there is a large quantity comes to the market from cultivated plants. The great mullein is a most valuable remedy in all pulmonary complaints. It has a special affinity for the respiratory. organs and is considered by some authorities to be more curative in tuberculosis, coughs, bronchitis, etc., than comfrey, lungwort, pleurisy root, or any other Herb used in the treatment of respiratory diseases.

Chemical Constituents. The leaves.

They are nearly odorless, of a mucilaginous and bitter taste. Their chemistry has not been very clearly defined and is scarcely mentioned in the majority of scientific textbooks, but we know that it contains a large percentage of a peculiar gum, with 1 to 2 percent of resin, divisible into two parts.-One soluble in other, the other not; a readily soluble amaroid (bitter) substance, tannin, saponin, mucilage and an anodine principle which has not been defined.

The flowers. Contain gum, resin, a yellow coloring principle, a green fatty substance strongly resembling chlorophyll, a glucoside fatty matter, free phosphoric acid uncrystallizable sugar, mineral salts composed of potassium phosphate, calcium phosphate, a mucilaginous saponitic substance, volatile oil and an astringent narcotic and sedative principle.

We are fully aware that this vaguely defined chemistry is not very enlightening, but we must remember that some Herbs have so many complicated chemical constituents as to defy the most careful analysis by the greatest living chemists. Nature seems to lock her profound secrets up in the leaves and flowers of some plants. Nevertheless, we can be absolutely sure of one thing. Mullein is not only a great plant but is also an important remedy for tuberculosis, and other dreadful pathological conditions. In Ireland, mullein is considered a specific for all lung troubles, and is extensively cultivated there and kept on hand for that purpose. In England, the great mullein has been used medicinally for hundreds of years, and is mentioned in almost every medical Herbal. We do not intend to go deeply into its history, but we might mention that Culpepper, Gerard, Parkinson, Coles, Prior and many other famous Herbalists all speak very highly of mullein.

We wish to call your attention, especially, to the fact that mullein contains both POTASSIUM and CALCIUM PHOSPHATE. We learned in previous lessons that these two organic salts are absolutely necessary for the nervous system and bone structure. As the ravaging effect of tuberculosis is, to feed on all the tissues of the body until they are literally wasted away, it may be, and probably is, on account of the presence of these two vital salts, that the great mullein is so remarkably effective in checking this disease.

by Herbs of Mexico, Inc. 2010

THERAPEUTIC USES AND APPLICATION: Demulcent, emollient, antiseptic, astringent, pectoral, haemostatic, anodyne, narcotic, germicide, vermicide, anti- asthmatic, anti-catarrhal, anti-spasmodic and vulnerary.

FORMULA No. 79 Infusion of Mullein Leaves 1 ounce Mullein Leaves (cut) 1½ pints Distilled water

Boil the water and pour over the leaves. Cover and let steep in a hot place for 15 minutes. Strain through muslin to avoid the hairs. Sweeten with honey to taste, or add 1 ounce of glycerine. Cool, bottle and keep in a cool place.

DOSE: One wineglassful to half a teacupful or more 3 or 4 times a day between meals. Children less according to age.

This is a precious remedy for checking the distressing cough and expectoration in phthisis and all pulmonary diseases. Also for hemorrhage of the lungs, stomach, intestines or any other internal part. When the disease is far advanced, we recommend the strong decoction of the leaves and flowers, singly or in combination with comfrey root and garlic juice.

FORMULA No. 80: Strong Decoction of Mullein.

4 ounces Mullein leaves and flowers, equal parts (cut) 3 pints distilled water

Boil slowly for 15 minutes. Strain, press and reduce to 1 pint. Add 4 ounces glycerine, cool, bottle and keep in a cool place.

DOSE: One tablespoonful 3 or 4 times a day. Children, one teaspoonful. Add 4 ounces of honey for children. This decoction is 4 times the strength of the infusion, and is much more astringent and anodyne. It is non poisonous and may be taken in larger doses. It is a wonderful and merciful remedy, calming and quieting to the nerves, and soothing the inflamed tissues remarkably. Tuberculosis has been cured in its earlier stages by this one remedy alone. In all stages, however, it will give prompt relief and promote rest and sleep. Its narcotic principle is not well known, but is IS well known that, it is not poisonous. Enormous quantities of it have been taken, and there is no case on record that injury or harm has come to patients who have consumed as much as a quart a day. It is claimed to have overcome extreme cases of diarrhea and dysentery, but its greatest virtue is manifest in the treatment of tuberculosis and other pulmonary complaints.

As already stated in previous lessons, and particularly in Lesson No. 12, that there is no better remedy in nature for hemorrhage/of the lungs than comfrey

by Herbs of Mexico, Inc. 2010

or garlic juice for supplying lost sulphur, and stopping the decay of cells in any part of the organism; particularly in advanced stages of tuberculosis. But we are also aware that, while one specific Herb or remedy will do one thing most thoroughly, it often happens that a combination of two, three, or even more Herbs will be more effective in bringing about a recovery. One single Herb, no matter how good that one might be for a specific condition, is sometimes not adequate to take care of all the complications that might exist. So, for advanced stages of tuberculosis, we highly recommend the following formula. NOTE: This does not imply that our previously recommended formulas for the treatment of pulmonary disease are in any way inferior to this one, but there is an old saying that "What is one man's meat is another man's poison." This is particular true in the treatment of disease. No two people are exactly alike. As true physicians, we must remember this, and note carefully the characteristic type of our patients and their peculiar temperament. After we have used a special treatment which seemed to be indicated, but proved disappointing in its results, we must not give up the ghost but think things over, and try to ascertain where we have made our mistake; and then adopt another formula of a similar character, which will often turn out to be the best we could have used. And now, here, is the formula which we have found to be extremely virtuous, and which has often given results after other remedies have failed.

FORMULA No. 81. For Advanced Stage of Tuberculosis.

1 pint of Strong Decoction of Mullein (See page 4, this lesson) 1 pint Formula No. 54, (Lesson No. 12, page 11 (Comfrey) 1 pint Formula No. 21, (Lesson No. 5, page 17 (Garlic)

DOSE: One tablespoonful or more, according to the severity of the case, 3 or 4 times a day. Children less according to age, with honey added.

This is a special formula, expressly for advanced cases of tuberculosis, but is also of great value in treatment of many other conditions such as ulceration of stomach, duodenum, intestines, renal disease with blood in the urine, dysentery, cholera, internal tumors, cancers, acid or alkali burns, infected wounds, sprains, bruises, second and third degree burns, torn ligaments, broken bones, torn and lacerated flesh, purulent skin diseases, and all diseases that show a marked deficiency of calcium and sulphur. It is powerfully antiseptic, nourishing, emollient, demulcent and healing and is indicated in all wasting diseases, malnutrition and rickets. It is exceedingly valuable in all forms of bone disease, necrosis, osteo-myelitis, etc. It gives prompt relief in coughs, catarrh, bronchitis, asthma, dyspnoea, high blood pressure and many nervous troubles. It is perfectly harmless and may be given in very large doses where indicated. The dried leaves of mullein have been used extensively and with great benefit, smoked in an ordinary tobacco pipe to relieve the irritation of the respiratory mucus membranes in asthma and the hacking cough of tuberculosis. Either smoked in a pipe or made into cigarettes, it very often completely controls the spasms and cough far more

by Herbs of Mexico, Inc. 2010