Mullein

Last Editorial Review: 6/11/2021
Other Name(s):

Aaron's Rod, Adam's Flannel, American Mullein, Beggar's Blanket, Blanket Herb, Blanket Leaf, Bouillon Blanc, Bouillon Jaune, Candleflower, Candlewick, Cierge Cotonneux, Cierge de Notre-Dame, Clot-Bur, Clown's Lungwort, Cuddy's Lungs, Duffle, European Mullein, Faux Bouillon-Blanc, Feltwort, Flannelflower, Fleur de Grand Chandelier, Fluffweed, Gidar Tamaku, Gordolobo, Hag's Taper, Hare's Beard, Hedge Taper, Herbe de Saint-Fiacre, Herbe Saint Fiacre, Higtaper, Jacob's Staff, Longwort, Molène, Molène à Grandes Fleurs, Molène Bouillon-Blanc, Molène Faux-Phlomis, Molène Thapsus, Orange Mullein, Oreille de Loup, Oreille de Saint Cloud, Our Lady's Flannel, Queue de Loup, Rag Paper, Shepherd's Club, Shepherd's Staff, Tabac du Diable, Torch Weed, Torches, Velvet Plant, Verbasci Flos, Wild Ice Leaf, Verbascum densiflorum, Verbascum phlomides, Verbascum thapsiforme, Verbascum thapsus, Woolen, Woolly Mullein.

Overview

Mullein is a plant. The flower is used to make medicine.

Mullein is used for cough, whooping cough, tuberculosis, bronchitis, hoarseness, pneumonia, earaches, colds, chills, flu, swine flu, fever, allergies, tonsillitis, and sore throat. Other uses include asthma, diarrhea, colic, gastrointestinal bleeding, migraines, joint pain, and gout. It is also used as a sedative and as a diuretic to increase urine output.

Mullein is applied to the skin for wounds, burns, hemorrhoids, bruises, frostbite, and skin infections (cellulitis). The leaves are used topically to soften and protect the skin.

In manufacturing, mullein is used as a flavoring ingredient in alcoholic beverages.

How does it work?

The chemicals in mullein might be able to fight influenza and herpes viruses, and some bacteria that cause respiratory infections.

SLIDESHOW

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Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of mullein for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

Side Effects

Mullein is POSSIBLY SAFE for when applied to the ear, short-term. A specific product (Otikon Otic Solution, Healthy-On Ltd.) that contains mullein, garlic, calendula, and St. John's wort has been used in the ear for up to 3 days.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Children: Mullein is POSSIBLY SAFE when applied to the ear, short-term. A specific product (Otikon Otic Solution, Healthy-On Ltd.) that contains mullein, garlic, calendula, and St. John's wort has been used in the ear for up to 3 days.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking mullein if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

QUESTION

Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See Answer

Dosing

The appropriate dose of mullein depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for mullein. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

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Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

References

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Bom, I., van Wassenaar, D., and Boot, J. Hybrid affinity chromatography of alpha-galactosidase from Verbascum thapsus L. J Chromatogr A 5-29-1998;808(1-2):133-139. View abstract.

Courtois, J. E., Wickstrom, A., Fleury, P., and Le Dizet, P. [Glucose cerebrosides derived from sucrose cerebrosides insolated from the common mullein.]. Bull.Soc.Chim.Biol (Paris) 1955;37(9-10):1009-1021. View abstract.

Foster, S. and Duke, J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. 1990.

Galasinski, W., Chlabicz, J., Paszkiewicz-Gadek, A., Marcinkiewicz, C., and Gindzienski, A. The substances of plant origin that inhibit protein biosynthesis. Acta Pol.Pharm. 1996;53(5):311-318. View abstract.

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Herissey, H., Fleury, P., Wickstrom, A., Courtois, J. E., and Le Dizet, P. [Action of periodic acid and of alpha-galactosidase on the galactosides of sucrose isolated from the roots of the common mullein.]. Bull.Soc.Chim.Biol (Paris) 1954;36(11-12):1519-1524. View abstract.

Klimek, B. Hydroxycinnamoyl ester glycosides and saponins from flowers of Verbascum phlomoides. Phytochemistry 1996;43(6):1281-1284. View abstract.

Magiatis, P., Spanakis, D., Mitaku, S., Tsitsa, E., Mentis, A., and Harvala, C. Verbalactone, a new macrocyclic dimer lactone from the roots of Verbascum undulatum with antibacterial activity. J Nat.Prod. 2001;64(8):1093-1094. View abstract.

Miyase, T., Horikoshi, C., Yabe, S., Miyasaka, S., Melek, F. R., and Kusano, G. Saikosaponin homologues from Verbascum spp. The structures of mulleinsaponins I-VII. Chem Pharm Bull.(Tokyo) 1997;45(12):2029-2033. View abstract.

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Sarrell EM, Mandelberg A, and Cohen HA. Efficacy of naturopathic extracts in the management of ear pain associated with acute otitis media. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2001;155:796-799. View abstract.

Sarrell, E. M., Cohen, H. A., and Kahan, E. Naturopathic treatment for ear pain in children. Pediatrics 2003;111(5 Pt 1):e574-e579. View abstract.

Serkedjieva, J. Combined antiinfluenza virus activity of Flos verbasci infusion and amantadine derivatives. Phytother Res 2000;14(7):571-574. View abstract.

Slagowska, A., Zgorniak-Nowosielska, I., and Grzybek, J. Inhibition of herpes simplex virus replication by Flos verbasci infusion. Pol.J Pharmacol Pharm 1987;39(1):55-61. View abstract.

Tadeg, H., Mohammed, E., Asres, K., and Gebre-Mariam, T. Antimicrobial activities of some selected traditional Ethiopian medicinal plants used in the treatment of skin disorders. J Ethnopharmacol 8-22-2005;100(1-2):168-175. View abstract.

Zanon, S. M., Ceriatti, F. S., Rovera, M., Sabini, L. J., and Ramos, B. A. Search for antiviral activity of certain medicinal plants from Cordoba, Argentina. Rev Latinoam.Microbiol. 1999;41(2):59-62. View abstract.

Lin LT, Liu LT, Chiang LC, Lin CC. In vitro anti-hepatoma activity of fifteen natural medicines from Canada. Phytother Res 2002;16:440-4. View abstract.

McCutcheon AR, Roberts TE, Gibbons E, et al. Antiviral screening of British Columbian medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol 1995;49:101-10. View abstract.

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Zgorniak-Nowosielska I, Grzybek J, Manolova N, et al. Antiviral activity of Flos verbasci infusion against influenza and Herpes simplex viruses. Arch Immunol Ther Exp 1991;39:103-8. View abstract.