Herbs & Supplements:
Mullein
Verbascum thapsus

Principal Proposed Uses
  • Reducing Pain of Ear Infections (topical, in combination with other herbs)
Other Proposed Uses
  • Asthma, Colds, Cough, Sore Throat

Also called "grandmother's flannel" for its thick, soft leaves, mullein is a common wildflower that can grow almost anywhere. It reaches several feet tall and puts up a spike of densely packed tiny yellow flowers. Mullein has served many purposes over the centuries, from making candlewicks to casting out evil spirits, but as medicine it was primarily used to treat diarrhea, respiratory diseases, and hemorrhoids.

What Is Mullein Used for Today?

Like marshmallow, mullein contains a high proportion of mucilage (large sugar molecules); mucilage is generally thought to have a soothing effect. Mullein also contains saponins that may help loosen mucus.¹ Oral mullein is said to be most effective when combined with other herbs of similar qualities, such as yerba santa, marshmallow, cherry bark, and elecampane, but there is no evidence to support this belief.

Mullein is often combined with other herbs in oil preparations to soothe the pain of ear infections (otitis media, or middle ear infection, but not “swimmer’s ear,” an external ear infection), and one study provides preliminary support for this use.²

Like many herbs, in test tube studies mullein has been found to kill viruses.³ In addition, an interesting but highly preliminary study suggests that mullein might help certain medications used for influenza work better.⁴ These findings, however, are far too preliminary to hint that internal use of mullein will fight viral infections.

Finally, contemporary herbalists sometimes recommend hot mullein tea for asthma, colds, coughs, and sore throats. You can also breathe the steam from a boiling pot of mullein tea. However, there is no scientific evidence that mullein is effective for any of these purposes.

What Is the Scientific Evidence for Mullein?

A randomized, controlled trial of more than 100 children and young adults with eardrum pain caused by middle ear infection compared the effectiveness of an herbal preparation containing mullein, garlic, St. John’s wort and calendula against a standard anesthetic ear drop product (ametocaine and phenazone).³ The results indicated that the two treatments were equally effective. However, due to the strong placebo response in pain conditions, this study needed a placebo group to provide truly dependable evidence.

Note: While herbal ear products may reduce pain, it is very unlikely that they have any actual effect on the infection because the eardrum is in the way.

Dosage

To make mullein tea, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried leaves and flowers to 1 cup of boiling water and steep for 10 minutes. Make sure to strain the tea before drinking it because fuzzy bits of the herb can stick in your throat and cause an irritating tickle. NOTE: Mullein seeds contain the potentially toxic substance rotenone (see Safety Issues). For this reason, it is advisable to make sure there are no seeds in the mullein flowers that you use; or, alternatively, you can use only mullein leaf.

For ear infection pain, mullein oil products are brought to room temperature and dripped into the ear canal. NOTE: It is advisable to make sure the eardrum isn’t punctured before using mullein oil ear products.

Safety Issues

Mullein leaves and flowers are on the FDA’s GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list, and there have been no credible reports of serious adverse effects. However, mullein seeds (as opposed to leaves) contain the insecticide and fish poison rotenone. While rotenone is relatively safe in humans, it does present some toxic risks. If mullein leaf products are contaminated with mullein seeds, long-term use might be harmful.

For this reason, as well as a complete lack of formal safety investigation of mullein, young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease should not use mullein for a prolonged period of time except on the advice of a physician.

Last reviewed June 2002 by Medical Review Board

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