By MountainSageNaturalHealth.com Editorial Team
The short answer: mullein has a long history of traditional use for lung complaints, and experimental research describes interesting plant chemistry. The review we checked does not, in its abstract, report human trial results showing that mullein improves breathing. Tradition is a place to start asking questions. It is not proof that a plant works.
What Mullein Is and How It Has Been Used
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus, also called great or common mullein) is a medicinal herb native to northern Africa, western and central Asia, and Europe. A 2022 review in Phytotherapy Research says it has been used as a medicine for lung, skin and throat disorders, with a long history as an astringent and calming agent. The same review notes that dried leaves, flowers, extracts and flower oil appear in several formulations within Indian traditional medicine. Source: PubMed abstract, Phytother Res. 2022;36(4):1507-1522.
Traditional herbalism tells us where people have looked for help. It does not tell us how well a plant works, how much to take, or who should avoid it.
What the Research Says, and What It Does Not
The review describes mullein’s chemistry as including flavonoids, iridoid, phenylethanoid and phenylpropanoid glycosides, saponins, vitamin C and minerals. It says “emerging literature based on experimental studies” points to a range of biological properties, including antiviral, antioxidant, analgesic, sedative, anti-inflammatory, hypnotic, antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer activities. PubMed lists the publication type as a review.
We read only the abstract. It does not report a human trial of mullein for breathing, and it does not say whether such trials exist. The full paper is the place to look for more.
Human Evidence vs. Experimental Findings
What the abstract supports:
- Traditional use for lung, skin and throat disorders, with a long history as an astringent and calming agent.
- Varied plant chemistry, including flavonoids, saponins and glycosides.
- Experimental studies reporting several biological properties, including anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity.
What the abstract does not show:
- Human trial results showing that mullein improves breathing, cough or lung function.
- Whether an experimental finding carries over to people at a realistic amount.
- A safe or effective amount for any breathing concern.
- How mullein interacts with medicines or with existing lung conditions.
An experimental finding is a reason to study a plant further. By itself, it does not show that the plant helps a person.
Breathing Symptoms That Call for Professional Advice
Mayo Clinic says to call your healthcare professional if your cough, or your child’s cough, doesn’t go away after a few weeks or if it also involves:
- Coughing up thick, greenish-yellow phlegm
- Wheezing
- A fever
- Shortness of breath
- Fainting
- Ankle swelling or weight loss
Mayo Clinic says to seek emergency care if you or your child is:
- Choking or vomiting
- Having trouble breathing or swallowing
- Coughing up bloody or pink-tinged phlegm
- Having chest pain
Source: Mayo Clinic, Cough (page dated Dec. 11, 2024). Do not use any herb as a reason to delay care.
What You Can Do Next
- Write down your symptoms, how long they have lasted, and what makes them better or worse.
- Bring a list of every herb, supplement and medicine you take to your pharmacist or clinician.
- Ask a clinician whether your breathing concern needs testing before you try any herbal product.
- When you read a claim about mullein and breathing, check whether it cites human research or only tradition and experimental work.
Sources and Limits
This article is general education, not medical advice. It does not diagnose, treat or recommend any product. Sources were opened on October 5, 2026: the PubMed abstract linked above (abstract only, not the full paper) and the Mayo Clinic page linked above.