Mullein is most commonly used as a tea made from dried leaves or flowers, though it also works as a tincture, infused oil, or even a smokeable herb. The plant has a long history in European and Native American folk medicine, primarily for soothing dry coughs, sore throats, and upper respiratory congestion. Here’s how to prepare and use it in each form.
Making Mullein Tea
The simplest and most popular way to use mullein is as a hot tea. Add 1 tablespoon of dried mullein leaves to about 200 mL (roughly ¾ cup) of boiling water and let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Longer steeping draws out more of the plant’s mucilage, a gel-like substance that coats irritated throat and airway tissue and gives the tea its slightly thick mouthfeel.
For a milder, smoother version, try cold brewing. Use 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried leaves per cup of cold water and let it sit in the refrigerator for 8 to 12 hours, or overnight. Cold brewing produces a less bitter flavor while still extracting the soothing compounds.
One important step many beginners skip: always strain mullein tea through a fine filter before drinking. The leaves are covered in tiny hairs (trichomes) that can irritate your throat if swallowed. A coffee filter, paper towel, or piece of cheesecloth works well. A standard mesh tea ball alone isn’t quite fine enough, so line it with a cotton tea bag or filter if that’s what you have on hand. Some people never notice the irritation from the hairs, but filtering is an easy precaution.
Using Mullein Tincture
Tinctures are alcohol-based extracts that concentrate the plant’s active compounds into a small, easy-to-dose liquid. You can buy mullein leaf tincture at most health food stores or online. The typical recommendation for respiratory support is ½ teaspoon to 2 teaspoons, taken three times daily. Most people add it to a small glass of water or juice to mask the taste.
Tinctures are convenient when you don’t want to brew tea multiple times a day, and they have a much longer shelf life than dried leaves. Start at the lower end of the dosage range and adjust based on how you respond.
Mullein Flower Oil for Ear Discomfort
Mullein flowers infused in olive oil are a traditional remedy for ear pain. You can make your own by filling a small jar with fresh mullein flowers, covering them completely with olive oil, and letting the jar sit in a sunny window for two to three weeks, shaking it every few days. Strain through cheesecloth and store in a dark glass bottle.
To use it, warm the oil slightly (test a drop on your wrist first) and place two to three drops into the affected ear. A 2001 clinical study tested a naturopathic ear drop formula containing mullein along with garlic, calendula, and St. John’s wort in olive oil, and found it helped manage ear pain in children with ear infections. The combination of plants likely contributed to the effect, so mullein flower oil on its own may offer more modest relief.
Smoking Mullein
This might surprise you, but smoking mullein leaves is one of the plant’s oldest uses. Native Americans and early colonists smoked the dried leaves specifically for coughs and breathing difficulties. Mullein is still used today as a base herb in herbal smoking blends, partly because it burns smoothly and produces a light, non-harsh smoke.
That said, inhaling any kind of smoke introduces irritants into your lungs. If respiratory relief is your goal, tea or tincture delivers the same compounds without the combustion byproducts.
Why Mullein Works for Respiratory Issues
Mullein’s reputation as a lung herb comes down to a few key properties. The mucilage in its leaves and flowers acts as a demulcent, forming a protective film over irritated mucous membranes in your throat and airways. This is why mullein tea feels soothing when you have a dry, scratchy cough.
It also functions as an expectorant, meaning it thins mucus and makes it easier to cough up. When you’re congested, this helps clear your airways rather than just suppressing the cough reflex. On top of that, mullein contains antioxidants like vitamin C and flavonoids, and lab studies have found antiseptic properties effective against bacteria that cause pneumonia and staph infections. Some research even suggests antiviral activity against influenza, though this hasn’t been confirmed in human trials.
The European Medicines Agency has formally recognized mullein flower preparations for relief of sore throat associated with dry cough and cold. Their assessment is based on traditional use over at least 30 years rather than large clinical trials, but it confirms the plant’s long safety record for this purpose.
Identifying Mullein Safely
If you plan to harvest wild mullein, correct identification matters. Mullein grows a distinctive tall flower stalk (sometimes over six feet) with dense yellow flowers, but before it flowers, its large, fuzzy basal leaves can be confused with foxglove, which is toxic.
The key difference is texture and leaf edges. Mullein leaves are extremely fuzzy, almost velvety, with smooth, untoothed margins. Foxglove leaves are less hairy and have visibly toothed (serrated) edges. If you’re not confident in your identification, buy dried mullein from a reputable herb supplier rather than wildcrafting it.
Safety Considerations
Mullein leaves and flowers have a strong safety profile for most adults and adolescents over 12. The European Medicines Agency recommends limiting use to one week if symptoms aren’t improving.
Mullein seeds are a different story. They contain compounds that are potentially toxic and should never be consumed. When harvesting or buying mullein, make sure you’re working with leaves and flowers only.
There isn’t enough reliable data on mullein’s safety during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so it’s best avoided during those times. No significant drug interactions have been documented, but the lack of formal research means interactions simply haven’t been well studied rather than ruled out.