Origins and Botanical Background

• Native Regions: Originally native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia, mullein has naturalized widely, including in North America, where it was introduced by early settlers.

• Plant Characteristics: It is a tall, biennial herb with velvety leaves and a spike of bright yellow flowers. The plant’s soft, fuzzy leaves are one of its most recognizable features. All mullein species contain mucilage, which causes a soothing effect on bronchioles (the air passages inside the lungs) and promotes the discharge of mucus. The expectorant qualities of the plant are also thought to be due to its saponins.

Ancient Uses

Greco-Roman Medicine

• Hippocrates and Dioscorides both wrote about mullein as a remedy for pulmonary diseases.

• Ancient Greeks used mullein leaf teas and decoctions to treat respiratory issues, coughs, and asthma.

• Roman soldiers reportedly used dried mullein stalks dipped in tallow as torches, giving rise to the nickname “candlewick plant.”

Traditional European Folk Medicine

• Widely used in rural communities to treat earaches, bronchitis, whooping cough, and tuberculosis.

• The flowers were steeped in olive oil to create a remedy for ear infections.

• The leaves were smoked or made into teas for lung cleansing and to relieve asthma and coughs.

• Some cultures even used mullein as a protective charm against evil spirits.

Native American Medicine

After its introduction to North America, mullein was quickly adopted by Indigenous tribes, who recognized its healing properties:

• Cherokee, Navajo, and Zuni tribes used it for lung conditions, skin infections, and pain relief.

• Leaves were used in smoke mixtures for treating asthma and congestion.

• Poultices made from the leaves were applied to wounds, boils, and rashes.

Symbolic and Cultural Significance

• In European folklore, mullein was considered a symbol of protection and health.

• Also used in ritual—believed to ward off evil and nightmares.

• The softness of the leaves led to nicknames like "hag's taper" and "flannel plant."

🔬 Modern Interest

Many of these traditional uses have sparked modern scientific interest, particularly for:

• Anti-inflammatory

• Expectorant (Mucus thinning)

• Antiviral

• Antibacterial

• Demulcent (soothing) properties

Assessing the Effectiveness of Mullein on Respiratory Conditions Such as Asthma

Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.): recent advances in research

Functional medicine specialist Sobia Khan, MD, shares the benefits of mullein and the challenges of finding a quality product.

Research & Studies

Searching for Scientific Explanations for the Uses of Spanish Folk Medicine: A Review on the Case of Mullein (Verbascum, Scrophulariaceae)

Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Osteoarthritic Bioactive Potential

Anti-microbial activity

Overview of ethnobotanical, phytochemical and biological activity relations of Verbascum species in worldwide

Biological activity of common mullein, a medicinal plant