Mullein
Verbascum thapsus
Mullein leaf and flower are gentle, mucilage-rich traditional remedies for dry, irritated coughs and ear pain, with long use but very little clinical research.
At a Glance
- Best known for
- Soothes dry, tickly coughs and irritated airways (demulcent), Mild expectorant for bronchitis and chest congestion, Flower oil used for earache in children (small trials of combination drops)
- Evidence
- Preliminary
- Typical dose
- 1.5–2 g dried leaf or flower in 150 mL hot water, 3x daily
- Type
- Herb
What is Mullein?
Great mullein is a tall biennial with soft, woolly gray-green leaves and a spike of yellow flowers, native to Europe and Asia and naturalized across North America, where it grows on roadsides and disturbed ground. Its fuzzy leaves were once used as lamp wicks and as 'cowboy toilet paper'; the dried stalks dipped in tallow served as torches. Medicinally, mullein has been used since Greek and Roman times for coughs, lung complaints and inflammation, and Native American tribes smoked the leaf for asthma. It is a staple of Western herbal 'lung tonic' blends and the base of the traditional garlic-mullein ear oil.
Known Health Benefits
How It Works
Mullein's mucilage coats the throat and upper airway, forming a soothing film that reduces the urge to cough from irritation. Saponins have a mild expectorant action, loosening thick mucus, while the iridoid glycosides aucubin and verbascoside have documented anti-inflammatory effects (inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis and cytokine release) in laboratory and animal studies. Verbascoside and other phenylethanoids also show antiviral activity against influenza and herpes viruses in vitro and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus, Klebsiella and E. coli. The flower oil's traditional ear use likely combines mild anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects with the soothing warmth of the oil itself.
What Research Says
Clinical evidence for mullein is minimal. The only controlled human trials involve a naturopathic ear drop (Otikon) containing mullein, garlic, calendula and St. John's wort in olive oil: two Israeli trials in 2001 and 2003 with 103 and 171 children found it reduced ear pain from acute otitis media as effectively as anesthetic drops, with or without antibiotics. Mullein's share of that effect cannot be separated. There are no trials of mullein for cough, bronchitis or asthma; its use rests on tradition and on laboratory studies showing antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity of extracts and isolated compounds such as verbascoside. A 2005 review summarized this pharmacology and called for clinical studies that have still largely not happened. Mullein is best described as safe and plausible but unproven.
Active Compounds
Mucilage polysaccharides, iridoid glycosides (aucubin, catalpol), verbascoside (acteoside), saponins, flavonoids (hesperidin, verbascoside), triterpenoids
Forms & Bioavailability
Mucilage acts locally in the throat and gut and is not absorbed, so tea and syrup forms deliver the demulcent effect better than capsules. Verbascoside and iridoids are absorbed to a modest degree after oral dosing and metabolized by gut bacteria and the liver. Alcohol tinctures extract the glycosides and saponins but little mucilage, so a tincture is more expectorant and anti-inflammatory while tea is more soothing; many herbalists combine the two.
Dosage Guidance
| Use Case | Dosage |
|---|---|
| Dry, irritated cough (tea) | 1.5–2 g dried leaf or flower in 150 mL hot water, 3x daily |
| Tincture (1:5) | 2–4 mL 3x daily |
| Earache (flower oil) | 2–3 drops of body-warm oil in the affected ear 2–3x daily |
| Capsules | 500–1000 mg dried leaf 2–3x daily |
Always consult a healthcare provider for personalized dosing.
Natural Food Sources
- Not a food plant
- Mullein flower tea (mild, slightly sweet)
Potential Side Effects
Very well tolerated; fine leaf hairs can irritate the throat if tea is not strained; rare contact dermatitis; seeds contain rotenone and should not be used
Who Should Avoid It
- Ear drops: suspected eardrum perforation, ear discharge, ear tubes, or severe ear pain with fever (needs medical assessment)
- Seeds should never be used (contain rotenone, a fish poison)
- Known allergy to mullein or figwort family plants
- Not a substitute for asthma medication
Pregnancy & Lactation
Mullein tea in moderate amounts is traditionally considered safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding and is a common ingredient in gentle cough teas, but there are no formal safety studies. Avoid high-dose tinctures and extracts during pregnancy out of caution. Topical flower oil for a nursing parent is not a concern.
Known Drug Interactions
None well documented; theoretical additive effect with diuretics; mucilage may slow absorption of oral drugs taken at the same time (separate by 1–2 hours)
Evidence Classification
Based on in vitro studies, animal models, pilot trials, or traditional use documentation. Clinical evidence is limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do mullein ear drops work for ear infections?
Two pediatric trials found a combination herbal ear oil containing mullein relieved ear pain about as well as anesthetic drops. The drops relieve pain; they do not treat the infection itself. Most ear infections resolve on their own, but any child with severe pain, high fever, discharge from the ear or symptoms lasting more than 2–3 days should see a doctor, and oil drops must never be used if the eardrum might be perforated.
Why does mullein tea need to be strained so carefully?
The leaves are covered in tiny stellate hairs that come loose in hot water and can irritate the throat, which is ironic for a throat-soothing herb. Strain the tea through a fine cloth, paper filter or very fine mesh. Flower tea has fewer hairs and a sweeter taste.
Is smoking mullein good for your lungs?
Smoking mullein is a traditional practice, and the leaf is sometimes sold as a 'lung cleansing' smoke or tobacco substitute. Inhaling any combustion smoke deposits tar and irritants in the lungs, and there is no evidence that mullein smoke benefits them. If you want mullein's effects, drink the tea or take a tincture.
Can mullein help with asthma or COPD?
Mullein is a traditional remedy for both, and its demulcent and anti-inflammatory properties may ease irritation and thick mucus, but there are no clinical trials in either condition. It may be a useful comfort measure alongside, never instead of, prescribed inhalers.
References
- Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.): recent advances in research. Turker AU, Gurel E. Phytother Res (2005)
- Efficacy of naturopathic extracts in the management of ear pain associated with acute otitis media. Sarrell EM, Mandelberg A, Cohen HA. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med (2001)
- Naturopathic treatment for ear pain in children. Sarrell EM, Cohen HA, Kahan E. Pediatrics (2003)
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This entry is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement regimen, especially if you take medications or have health conditions.