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Great mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Also calledVerbasci flos (mullein flower, pharmacy) · Aaron's rod, lamb's ear, woolly mullein, candlewick (English folk names)

A tall, woolly roadside plant whose flowers make one of Europe's standard teas for dry coughs and sore throats, recognised by the EMA on traditional-use grounds. Mullein-flower oil was a folk remedy for earache. Clinical evidence is thin: one ear-drop trial used a mixture of several herbs.

Full natural-history sheet →

What it is used for

Earache
Limited
Flower oil was a folk remedy for earache. In a trial in children with acute otitis media, Otikon, a naturopathic herbal ear-drop formulation, eased ear pain as well as anaesthetic drops; mullein was one ingredient of a mixture, so its own effect is unknown.^3,4
Sore throat
Traditional
EMA traditional use: mullein flower tea to relieve sore throat associated with dry cough and cold, for adults and adolescents over 12; see a doctor if symptoms last more than a week.^1,2
Cough
Traditional
Part of the same EMA indication for dry cough with a cold; Dioscorides already recommended mullein for lung complaints. No modern clinical trials of the flower alone.^1,4
Fungal skin and nail infections
Traditional
The Zuni of New Mexico used a root infusion for athlete's foot and powdered-root poultices on sores, rashes and skin infections.^4,5

How it is prepared

infusion

Dried flowers steeped in boiling water, then strained through fine cloth or paper to remove the irritating hairs.

EMA monograph: 1.5–2 g flowers in 150 ml boiling water, 3–4 times daily (4.5–8 g a day), adults and adolescents over 12.

Sore throat · Cough

infused oil

Flowers steeped in oil, traditionally dropped into the ear; never into an ear with a possibly perforated eardrum or discharge without medical assessment.

Earache

Amounts are as recorded by the named source, not a recommendation.

Safety

Pregnancy: Insufficient data
Breastfeeding: Insufficient data
Children: EMA: not recommended under 12 (no adequate data).

Do not use if

Known hypersensitivity to mullein

Side effects

Throat irritation from leaf and flower hairs if tea is not finely filtered

Toxicity

Seeds contain saponins, coumarin and rotenone and have been used as fish poison; not for internal use.

In the healing traditions

Western herbalism
Mullein, Verbasci flos
Flower tea for dry coughs, catarrh and sore throat; flower oil for earache, chilblains and haemorrhoids.
Dioscorides, De materia medica (lung complaints)
Indigenous North American
Mullein (introduced from Europe)
Leaf-smoking for lung ailments spread quickly to Native American peoples after the plant's introduction; the Zuni use root poultices for sores and rashes and a root infusion for athlete's foot.
European folk medicine
Mullein
Teas for colds and croup; preparations on warts, boils, sunburn and skin irritation.

Active compounds

mucilage and polysaccharides: soothing film on irritated throat lining
saponins: may aid expectoration; also toxic to fish
iridoid and lignan glycosides, flavonoids, tannins: present in flowers and leaves
rotenone: reported in leaves and seeds; piscicide

History

Dioscorides recommended mullein for lung diseases about 2,000 years ago. Brought to North America in the early 18th century for its medicinal and fish-poison uses, it quickly entered Native American medicine. It was official in the US and UK National Formularies, and is now in the European Pharmacopoeia.

Sources

Reference, not prescription. Nothing here is medical advice. Herbs can interact with medicines and be dangerous in pregnancy; tell your doctor or pharmacist about anything you take.