Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Synopsis
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a tall, woolly biennial plant native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia, now widely naturalized in North America and other temperate regions. It is easily recognized by its soft, velvety leaves and tall yellow flower spikes, and belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family. Mullein has long been used in herbal medicine, especially for respiratory support, owing to its demulcent, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, and mild astringent properties. The leaves, flowers, and sometimes roots are all used medicinally, most often in teas, tinctures, syrups, oils, or smoking blends for lung health.
The plant contains mucilage, saponins, flavonoids (such as verbascoside), iridoid glycosides, and small amounts of volatile oils, which help soothe mucous membranes, thin mucus, and relieve coughs. Mullein is particularly valued for dry, irritating coughs and conditions involving inflammation of the lungs and throat, such as bronchitis, asthma, laryngitis, and colds.
Historical Use in Medicine:
Mullein has a long and well-documented history in European folk medicine and was a favored remedy of both classical and Renaissance herbalists. The ancient Greek physician Dioscorides recommended mullein for pulmonary diseases, and Roman physicians used it as a treatment for chronic coughs and hoarseness. In medieval Europe, it was known as “hag’s taper” due to its use in torches and was also believed to ward off evil spirits. The leaves and flowers were used in infusions or poultices for lung congestion, skin wounds, and glandular swellings.
Nicholas Culpeper, the 17th-century English herbalist, praised mullein for its ability to relieve cough, asthma, and difficulty breathing, and recommended it for earaches when the flowers were infused in oil—a use that persists today. The dried leaves were sometimes smoked or burned as a folk remedy for respiratory ailments, based on the belief that the smoke cleared phlegm and opened the airways.
In Native American medicine, various tribes used mullein in similar ways: as a lung tonic, wound healer, and anti-inflammatory agent. The Cherokee and Navajo used it in poultices for swollen joints and in teas for coughs, while the Iroquois used it for colds and colic. The plant’s fuzzy leaves were also famously used as makeshift bandages or even toilet paper in rural traditions.
In homeopathy, mullein (Verbascum) has been used for earaches, neuralgia, and facial pain, while in modern herbalism, it remains a go-to herb for respiratory support, often combined with herbs like licorice, thyme, or elecampane in lung formulas.
Today, mullein continues to be a trusted herb in natural medicine for soothing inflamed mucous membranes, supporting lung function, and gently aiding detoxification through the respiratory system—a role it has played for centuries in both traditional and Western herbal traditions.
Uses: Health Conditions
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (Traditional)
Ear Infection or Earache (Traditional)
Emphysema (Traditional)
Pertussis (Traditional)
Pleurisy (Traditional)
Pneumonia (Traditional)
Body Systems
Breasts (Traditional)
Bronchials (Traditional)
Ears (Traditional)
Eustachian Tubes (Traditional)
Gall Bladder (Traditional)
Intestinal System (Traditional)
Lungs (Traditional)
Lymphatics (Traditional)
Mucus Membranes (Traditional)
Nerves (Traditional)
Respiratory System (Traditional)
Skeletal System (Bones) (Traditional)
Structural System (Traditional)
Tonsils (Traditional)