Mullein (Verbascum thapsus): Uses, Evidence and Safety
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus): what traditional use and EU herbal assessments say, why human evidence for coughs is thin, and the safety points for pregnancy, children and medicines.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
What is Mullein good for?
What the body uses it for, and how strong the evidence is. A normal job in the body is not proof that extra supplements add benefit; each card says which.
Traditional use for sore throat with dry cough and cold
Preliminary or mixedThe EU herbal committee accepts mullein flower as a traditional medicine for sore throat with dry cough and cold in adults and adolescents over 12. It rests on long use; the committee noted the lack of clinical studies.
Supplements: Traditional-use status, not trial proof. Traditional use is not evidence of benefit.
Traditional use for lung, skin and throat complaints
Not enough evidenceReviews describe mullein as used for lung, skin and throat disorders, as an astringent and calming agent.
Supplements: No human trials of mullein alone for these uses. Traditional use is not evidence of benefit.
Ear pain (multi-herb ear drops in children)
Not enough evidenceIn children aged 6 to 18 with middle-ear infection, a four-herb ear-drop oil (garlic, mullein, calendula, St. John's wort) eased pain about as much as anaesthetic drops.
Supplements: Result applies to that mixed product only. Ear pain in a child needs a clinician.
Wound healing after childbirth (episiotomy), topical cream
Preliminary or mixedIn one placebo-controlled trial of 93 first-time mothers, a mullein cream was rated better than placebo for episiotomy wound healing by day 10.
Supplements: Promising but limited to one small trial; needs replication.
Antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer effects in the lab
Lab or animal research onlyReviews describe these effects in cell and animal experiments.
Supplements: No human evidence for these effects.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Health goals (1)
- Seasonal WellnessPreliminary or mixed
Traditional-use acceptance in the EU for sore throat with dry cough and cold; no clinical studies.
Body systems (2)
- Respiratory HealthPreliminary or mixed
Accepted in the EU as a traditional medicine for sore throat with dry cough and cold; clinical studies are lacking.
- Respiratory SystemPreliminary or mixed
Traditional use for sore throat with dry cough and cold; the EU committee noted the lack of clinical studies.
Functional actions (1)
- Respiratory SupportPreliminary or mixed
Traditional use for sore throat with dry cough and cold; trials are lacking.
Conditions & symptoms (2)
- Dry CoughPreliminary or mixed
Same traditional use. We found no good human trials of mullein alone for cough.
- Sore ThroatPreliminary or mixed
Traditional herbal use for sore throat with dry cough and cold is accepted in the EU; clinical studies are lacking.
Documented risks and interactions (5)
- Allergy to the plant (contraindication). The EU monograph lists hypersensitivity to the plant as a reason not to use it.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. The EU monograph says safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established, so use is not recommended.
- Children under 12. The EU monograph does not recommend use under 12 because data are lacking.
- Side effects and interactions: none reported, not proven absent. No side effects or interactions were reported at the time of the EU assessment. Long-term safety is not described.
- Persistent or worsening symptoms need a clinician. The EU monograph advises seeing a doctor if symptoms last over a week, worsen, or come with breathlessness, fever or pus-coloured sputum.
Plain summary: mullein flower has a recognized traditional use in the European Union for sore throat with dry cough and cold, but the EU committee itself noted a lack of clinical studies. [1] We found no good human trials of mullein alone for coughs or colds. A persistent cough, fever, breathlessness or coughing up colored sputum needs a clinician, not a herb. [2]
Overview
Mullein is a medicinal herb whose dried leaves and flowers, and extracts, are the parts used in traditional formulations. [3] "Mullein tea" can therefore mean flower or leaf, so check the label. This page covers the plant as a herb. For tea as a product, see Herbal Teas & Extracts and demulcent teas. Single-herb context for coughs is in herbs for colds, flu and cough.Names, plant part and look-alike traps
The accepted name is Verbascum thapsus L., in the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae). [4] The EU monograph for "mullein flower" covers the flowers of V. thapsus, V. densiflorum and V. phlomoides. [2] The sources we read name several Verbascum species, and a study of one species or one plant part does not carry over to another. We give no identification or foraging advice. For wild plants, use local botanists or extension services, and for any plant someone has eaten by mistake, see plant and mushroom poisoning and call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US).Traditional use (not proof)
A 2022 review describes mullein as a medicinal herb native to northern Africa, western and central Asia and Europe, brought to the Americas and Australia, used as a medicine for lung, skin and throat disorders, especially as an astringent and calming agent. [3] The same review says dried leaves, flowers, extracts and flower oil are used in several Indian traditional medicine formulations. [3] The European Medicines Agency committee (HMPC) accepted mullein flower as a traditional herbal medicine for relief of sore throat associated with dry cough and cold, on the basis of long-standing use. [1] Long-standing use is not trial evidence.What research shows
| Use | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Form and population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sore throat with dry cough and cold | The EU committee noted the lack of clinical studies. [1] Proper evidence not found in a PubMed search for "Verbascum thapsus" and for mullein randomized or clinical trials; no trial of mullein alone for cough or colds appeared. | Traditional use only | Flower, as in the EU monograph |
| Ear pain with middle-ear infection in children | A trial of 103 children aged 6 to 18 compared a four-herb ear-drop product with anesthetic ear drops; pain scores improved similarly. [5] Mullein was one of four herbs (garlic, mullein, calendula, St. John's wort in olive oil), so the result cannot be credited to mullein. [5] | Insufficient evidence for mullein itself | Multi-herb ear drops, children 6 to 18 |
| Healing of birth-related (episiotomy) wounds | In a placebo-controlled trial of 93 first-time mothers, a mullein cream was rated better than placebo by day 10. [6] | Promising but limited (one small trial) | Topical cream, applied to a wound, in new mothers |
| Antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer effects | A review describes these effects in experimental studies. [3] | Preclinical (cells or animals) | Extracts in the lab, not products for people |
Ear pain in a child, or a wound that is not healing, needs a clinician. Please do not put anything in the ear without medical advice.
Forms and why the form matters
The EU monograph covers mullein flower as an herbal tea for oral use. [2] The ear-drop study used a multi-herb oil, and the wound study used a cream. [5][6] Each result applies only to that preparation. See herb forms and preparations.Safety
- Side effects. At the time of the EU assessment, no side effects had been reported with mullein flower medicines. [1] The monograph lists "none known" and says no overdose case has been reported. [2] The sources we read do not describe long-term safety, so "no reports" is not proof of safety.
- Medicines. The EU monograph lists interactions as "none reported." [2] That is an absence of reports. Ask a pharmacist, especially if you take several medicines. See how interactions work.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. The EU monograph says safety has not been established and use is not recommended. [2] See pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Children. The EU monograph does not recommend use under 12 because data are lacking. [2] Ask a clinician about any child's cough; see children and teens.
- Liver, kidney, bleeding and surgery. Not described in the sources we read. As with any herb, tell the surgical team before an operation. See herbs before and after surgery.
- Allergy. The EU monograph lists hypersensitivity to the plant as a contraindication. [2] Stop and seek care for hives, swelling or trouble breathing (call 911 in the US).
- When to see a clinician. The EU monograph says to consult a doctor or qualified practitioner if symptoms last longer than one week, worsen, or if breathlessness, fever or purulent (pus-colored) sputum occurs. [2]
Quality
Herbal products can differ in species, plant part and content. Check the botanical name and part on the label. See quality testing and certifications and herb quality.Official statements
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC (EU), 2018: mullein flower is a traditional herbal medicine for sore throat with dry cough and cold in adults and adolescents over 12, based on long-standing use. [1]
Frequently asked questions
Does mullein help a cough?
Proper evidence not found for mullein alone in our search of PubMed and the EU assessment. The EU committee accepts a traditional use for sore throat with dry cough but noted the lack of clinical studies. [1]
Is mullein tea safe?
The EU assessment found no reported side effects at the time. [1] Use in pregnancy, breastfeeding and under age 12 is not recommended because safety is not established. [2]
What is the botanical name of mullein?
Verbascum thapsus L. is the accepted name. [4] The EU monograph for the flower also includes two related species. [2]
Can mullein be used for ear pain?
One trial tested a four-herb ear-drop product, not mullein alone. [5] Ear pain needs a clinician's assessment.
Does mullein interact with medicines?
The EU monograph lists none reported. [2] That means none were found, not that none exist. Ask a pharmacist.
References
- European Medicines Agency, Verbasci flos - herbal medicinal product (mullein flower). Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC, European Union herbal monograph on Verbascum thapsus L., V. densiflorum Bertol. (V. thapsiforme Schrad) and V. phlomoides L., flos (EMA/HMPC/611537/2016; revised 27 March 2018). Read 2026-10-23.
- Mohammad Ali Shah S, et al. Health-promoting and disease-mitigating potential of Verbascum thapsus L. (common mullein): A review. Phytother Res. 2022. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, Verbascum thapsus L.. Read 2026-10-23.
- Sarrell EM, et al. Efficacy of naturopathic extracts in the management of ear pain associated with acute otitis media. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001. Read 2026-10-23.
- Ghaderi M, et al. The effect of the Verbascum Thapsus on episiotomy wound healing in nulliparous women: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2021. Read 2026-10-23.