Mullein: for coughs

by Dr Karen Bridgman October 20, 2015

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is one of those wonderful traditional plants that have been used in many cultures and, as such, has some beautifully descriptive names — 27 at the last count. Seven of these are Mullein the Great, Mullein dock, Velvet dock, Aaron’s-rod, Candlewick, Adam’s-flannel and Blanket leaf. Mullein is a member of the Scrophularia botanical family, the whole family being associated herbally with a condition called “scrofula”, meaning swollen glands.

It is native to both Europe and Asia and was believed to be introduced to North America hundreds of years ago, so has wide distribution. It is documented as being smoked by traditional tribal people to relieve general pulmonary disorders and for asthma and sore throats.

Active ingredients

The active components of mullein that convey its therapeutic properties are the saponins, the mucilage (3 per cent — soothing and anti-inflammatory, flavonoids (anti-inflammatory) and tannins (astringent). The mullein plant also contains the compound verbascoside, which has antiseptic, anti-tumour and immunosuppressant activity.

Uses

Respiratory conditions

Mullein is best known as a respiratory remedy, particularly for dry respiratory conditions, with or without swollen glands. The demulcent (soothing and moisturising properties) of mullein leaf has made this herb important in managing respiratory conditions such as bronchitis (with hard coughs), dry, hacking coughs, whooping cough, deep coughs and coughs with thick, viscid mucus, allergies and asthma. It can assist in the removal of abnormal fluids in weak tissue states, so can also be used as an expectorant. This ability to remove abnormal fluids has also made it useful to remove fluid accumulation, giving it gentle diuretic properties as well.

Mullein has reportedly also been used traditionally to treat fever, tumour formation, allergies and urinary-tract inflammation due to both its anti-inflammatory action and its diuretic properties. It is anti-inflammatory and anti-viral (including against the influenza viruses A and B and Herpes simplex), making it very useful during the wintry chesty cold and flu months of the year.

Soothing

The sedative properties of mullein work synergistically with its other active principles to soothe inflamed and irritated nerves and to assist with sleep.

The leaves and flowers of common mullein were also used traditionally for their anti-inflammatory and soothing properties to treat conditions such as migraines and other headaches (particularly when used topically) and to soothe bruising and inflamed skin conditions such as eczema, burns and swelling. Mullein’s astringent properties have shown it to be useful for treating conditions such as diarrhoea and haemorrhoids.

Joint inflammation

Mullein is particularly useful to improve dry, atrophic conditions throughout the body, as it moistens and lubricates the lungs as well as the other membranes of the body, including the synovial membranes of the spine and the joints. It has been shown to be effective in back injuries, where improving the synovial fluid in the joints assists in lubricating the spine and joints, making them more pliable and thereby reducing the symptoms of pain and inflammation.

Mullein has even been used traditionally by people walking in dense bushland for its magical properties of protection from wild animals and to enhance the courage of the wearer — the dried leaf and flowers were sprinkled in the shoes.

Ear pain

Both the oil and the leaves brewed into an infusion (tea) are frequently used today to treat ear pain associated with otitis media and eczema of the ear. Oil made from the flowers can also be applied externally to relieve eczema and other inflammatory skin conditions and to assist with wound healing (vulnerary).

Generally, the leaves and flowers are used therapeutically, the leaves being harvested during and after the first year of growth, and the oil is distilled from the flowers harvested in the second year. The roots of mullein have also been used for similar conditions when boiled as a decoction. The water-based preparations (and the oil) seem to be the more effective when compared to the alcohol extracts, largely due to better extraction of its mucilaginous (soothing) compounds.

While mullein has a long history of multicultural traditional use, there are have been few human clinical trials conducted on this useful plant. However, one human (in vivo) trial showing its effectiveness had mullein used to help to relieve ear pain in children suffering from acute otitis media. The effect of the herbal solution (which contained mullein, garlic, St John’s wort and calendula) was compared to that of a traditional anaesthetic solution used for ear pain in children. It was concluded that, in the users of the “herbal” solution, the relief from ear pain was of equal effectiveness to that of the anaesthetic ear drops.

Taking mullein

The dose for this wonderful all-purpose respiratory herb is two grams of the leaf and/or flowers made into an infusion (cup of tea). It can be drunk three to four times a day and has very low toxicity, so can be used successfully with children (at an appropriate lower dose). Add some honey — preferably manuka or jellybush — for an enhanced anti-microbial effect.