Mullein
Verbascum thapsus
Herbs & Roots. Western & European and Dr. Sebi's list.
Also called Common mullein, Flannel leaf, Hag's taper, Aaron's rod
Spanish: Gordolobo
Not for torn eardrumsMullein is a tall, woolly plant whose leaves are steeped for coughs and whose flowers are made into an oil for earaches.
Did you know? Dried mullein stalks were once dipped in fat and burned as torches, which is why one folk name is 'hag's taper.'
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Sore throat & cough. Leaf tea is used for coughs and sore throats, but there are no good human trials.Traditional proof
- Pain & headaches. Flower oil is used for earache, but the few studies are small and weak.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
European folk herbalists used mullein leaf for coughs and chest complaints, and flower oil for earaches.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Demulcent, Expectorant, Antitussive. Energy: cooling.
How people take it
Leaves are steeped as tea and strained well, because of fine hairs. Flowers are soaked in oil to make ear drops, but only if the eardrum is intact. No standard dose is proven.
Tea, oil and syrup.
Where to get it
Grows wild in fields, pastures, and roadsides across Europe, Asia, and North America. Sold as dried leaf and flower, tea, syrups, tinctures, and infused ear oils.
Be careful
Fine hairs on the leaves and flowers can irritate the throat if not strained out. Ear oils are unsafe if the eardrum is torn or has tubes in it. Mullein is not well studied in pregnancy.
Avoid if: torn eardrum; pregnancy.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Both are used in folk cough blends for the lungs.
- Works well together
Both are used in folk cough and chest teas.
- Works well together
Mullein flower oil and garlic oil are combined in old ear oil blends.
- Works well together
Both are soothing herbs used together in cough teas and syrups.
- Works well together
Both soothing leaves appear together in folk cough blends.
- Works well together
A classic cough tea combination in European herbal medicine.
- Works well together
Common in traditional cough teas.
- Works well together
A common cough tea partner in European folk medicine.
- Works well together
Common in traditional chest and cough teas.
Found in these formulas
Chest & breath tea (Western)
The honest take
Mullein is a gentle folk remedy for coughs and ear discomfort, with low risk when used as tea. Almost no good human studies exist for either use. Ear pain can signal an infection, so a doctor should check the ear before any oil is used.