The thing about medicinal plants is they often aren’t flashy so you are more likely to trample than cultivate them.
This is certainly true for drab mullein (Verbascum thapsus) in its first growing season. Mullein is a biennial flowering plant that thrives in a multitude of environments ranging from chaparrals and forests to gravel pits and along highways.
But Mullein (pronounced MUH lin) is different in that it’s sort of two plants in one. During the first growing season it produces a gathering of weedy-looking leaves that are fuzzy. But the second year, a change takes place and mullein shoots up a dazzling tall stalk with small yellow flowers.
As a medicinal plant, mullein has a substantial history. In Ireland, mullein was widely cultivated as a remedy for tuberculosis. The seed is said to have arrived on the North American continent in the dirt used as ballast in old sailing vessels.
The seeds of this hardy plant may remain viable as long as 70 years.
Like many plants of European origin, mullein was credited with power over witches and evil spirits. It was considered one of 23 important healing herbs in medieval Jewish medical practice.
Mullein’s large stalk was used as a ceremonial torch as far back as ancient Rome. Stripped of its leaves and dipped in tallow, the cylindrical spike was used to hold a flame when carried aloft from place to place.
Mullein’s large stalk also came in handy during the 1849 California gold rush. Mullein torches permitted prospectors to work inside mine shafts.
Native Americans inhaled the smoke from burning mullein leaves to help relieve pulmonary congestion. The leaves were also sometimes mixed with nicotine leaf and smoked to relieve asthma symptoms.
The flowers of mullein plants have been used to add blonde highlights or soaked in oil to make ear drops.
Among the common names for mullein are flannel leaf, beggar’s blanket, velvet plant, felt-wort, tinder plant, candlewick plant, witch’s candle, Aaron’s rod, lady’s foxglove, donkey’s ears, hag’s taper, candlewick plant, torches, and Quaker rouge.
The origin of the name Quaker rouge is especially interesting. Among young women whose cultures/religions shunned cosmetics, mullein leaves were used as a natural rouge for a rosy glow to the cheeks.
In Mexico, mullein plants (known as Gordolobo) have been used for centuries as a remedy for varicose veins and hemorrhoids.
Today, mullein is used mainly as an expectorant, which means it is believed to help expel excess mucus, usually by making coughs more productive, to bring up mucus that may be settling in the chest or in the throat.
Similarly, mullein is thought to act as a demulcent creating a soothing anti-inflammatory coating over mucous membranes.
As in the past, mullein is also thought to be useful for treating respiratory conditions such as asthma, but also coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing.
The idea is that mullein works for treating respiratory conditions because it helps relax the muscles in the respiratory tract.
Mullein may also help fight viral infections, especially the influenza virus.
Some feel mullein’s antiviral properties also fight pseudorabies, a virus in the herpes family.
Mullein is also used as an antibacterial for treating middle ear infections in children.
Mullein has been a popular treatment over the years for migraines. Tinctures of the plant are used in modern homeopathic therapies.
As a cream, mullein leaves are used topically to soften and protect the skin. Mullein cream is applied to the skin for burns, skin infections, wounds, bruises, hemorrhoids and even frostbite.
You can find mullein leaf sold in various forms like extract, oil, powder, capsule and elixir, as well as creams for cosmetic purposes. However, mullein is most popular brewed as a tea.
Mullein tea can be purchased commercially or prepared with dried loose leaves. It’s generally recommended to pour 1 cup of water over 1–2 teaspoons of dried mullein leaves or flowers. Steep for 10-15 minutes before drinking.
You can drink the tea three or four times a day.
Keep in mind, there’s little research regarding the safety of taking mullein if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. Same goes for giving mullein to infants or young children. Be sure to consult with a medical professional first.
Also, be especially cautious if using mullein to combat bacterial or viral infections, which can pose serious health risks. Again, consult with a medical professional first.
Even though mullein has a long track record as a useful medicinal plant in human history, there are surprisingly few human-based scientific studies on mullein’s health benefits.
One test-tube study noted that mullein extract reduced the growth of certain types of bacteria that cause infections, such as E. coli and Streptococcus pyogenes.
Another test-tube study shows that mullein extract may also fight the herpes virus, pseudorabies.
Yet another test-tube study analyzed several medicinal herbs and found that mullein extract was particularly effective for providing cough relief against the influenza virus.
Curiously, scientists are now discovering that plant extracts, such as those from mullein, may be more effective for treating some diseases (like tuberculosis) than increasingly resistant pharmaceuticals like antibiotics. Regarding mullein, The National Institutes of Health reports:
“Pharmaceutical science is increasingly beginning to realize that the ‘silver bullet’ compounds we are attempting to engineer may have been present in nature all along.”
There have been limited human studies, but the ones that have occurred show that mullein tea may in fact play a role in reducing inflammation, helping to relieve symptoms of asthma and other respiratory conditions.
Then there was a 3-day study of 180 children with ear infections who were administered mullein-infused ear drops three times a day. The result? Ear pain was reduced by 93% on average.
But note that in this study several other herbal extracts were used in the ear drop in addition to mullein. So it’s not clear if the positive results were due to the presence of mullein extract or the extract of the other herbs.
In regards to using mullein for migraines or applying mullein creams for burns, wounds, hemorrhoids and overall skin protection, the empirical proof is sorely lacking.
Yet, there have been several scientific papers written, such as this one in the Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy, encouraging more in-depth research of mullein due to its rich tapestry of potential healing properties.
Mullein is a classic example of a medicinal plant human beings have sworn by for centuries, but one that science has yet to catch up to in regards to verification.
Although research in humans is limited, test-tube studies suggest that it may relieve certain respiratory conditions, such as asthma, and even fight viruses and bacteria.
When considering herbal products such as mullein, bear in mind that quality, purity, and potency standards for dietary supplements can vary greatly.
If you’re interested in mullein leaf, ask your doctor or pharmacist for guidance on trusted brands, safety, and effectiveness.
