What Mullein Is
Mullein is Verbascum thapsus, a tall biennial plant native to northern Africa, western and central Asia and Europe, now naturalised across the Americas. Remedy's Mullein Leaf supplies 1000 mg of dried leaf per vegan capsule, with 60 capsules per bottle, as a single ingredient.
It has a long tradition and a thin research base, and this page states both.
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1000 mg per capsule: Single-ingredient mullein leaf.
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60 capsules: Two months at 1 daily.
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Contains: Sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, saponins and lignins.
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Traditional use: Throat, chest and skin complaints.
The full claim map is in our mullein overview.
Supplement Facts
Serving size: 1 Vegan Capsule. Servings per container: 60.
| Amount Per Serving |
Amount |
% Daily Value |
| Mullein leaf (Verbascum thapsus) |
1000 mg |
* |
* Daily Value not established.
Other ingredients: Cellulose, Glycerin, Water (vegan capsule)
Directions: One capsule daily, with food.
Made in the USA.
What the Evidence Actually Shows
Rather than print a benefits list, we would rather print the size of the file behind it. These counts came off PubMed and anyone can rerun them.
| What PubMed holds on mullein |
Count |
| Records mentioning Verbascum thapsus or mullein |
148 |
| Records tagged as human |
31 |
| Randomized or clinical trials |
3 |
| Records mentioning cough, bronchitis, asthma, COPD or respiration |
16 |
| Clinical trials of mullein for any of those |
0 |
Most of what has been published on mullein is chemistry that never left the dish, characterising sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, saponins and lignins.[1]The Antioxidant, Anticarcinogenic and Antimicrobial Properties of Verbascum thapsus L. — Medicinal Chemistry (2021) View source Three clinical trials exist, and none of them tested the leaf by mouth.
The Lung Question
Mullein is sold almost entirely on its reputation for the chest, so the position here should be unambiguous.
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Traditional use: Documented for lung, skin and throat complaints across centuries.[2]Health-promoting and disease-mitigating potential of Verbascum thapsus L. (common mullein): A review — Phytotherapy Research (2022) View source
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Clinical trials for breathing: 0.
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What we do not claim: That it clears, cleanses or detoxes lungs.
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What it never replaces: An inhaler, an antibiotic or an examination.
The whole question is taken apart in does mullein actually help your lungs.
The 3 Human Trials, Named
Because there are only 3 of them, they can be listed rather than summarised vaguely.
| The 3 human trials |
What was tested |
Route |
| Ear pain, 2001 |
A 4-herb oil with garlic, mullein, calendula and St John's wort |
Ear drops |
| Ear pain, 2003 |
The same 4-herb oil, in children |
Ear drops |
| Episiotomy healing, 2021 |
Mullein alone, in 93 women |
Topical |
In the 2 ear trials mullein was 1 of 4 herbs in an olive-oil drop and the endpoint was earache.[3]Efficacy of naturopathic extracts in the management of ear pain associated with acute otitis media — Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (2001) View source The third randomised 93 first-time mothers and measured wound healing after episiotomy.[4]The effect of the Verbascum Thapsus on episiotomy wound healing in nulliparous women: a randomized controlled trial — BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2021) View source Both are real trials. Neither is evidence about your chest.
How to Use It
No clinical trial has established an oral dose, so the label follows the common convention and we say so plainly.
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Our label: 1 capsule daily, with food.
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Per bottle: 60 capsules, which is 2 months.
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Traditional tea: 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried leaf per cup, up to 3 cups.
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Review point: After 2 to 3 weeks, decide whether anything changed.
Formats are compared in mullein dosage and how to take it.
Safety and Who Should Avoid It
The reported side effects are mild and the exclusion list is short. The first entry is not negotiable.
| Group |
Position |
| Pregnant or breastfeeding |
Avoid, in every form including tea |
| Diagnosed COPD, asthma or emphysema |
Do not self-start, ask the clinician managing it |
| Known allergy to Scrophulariaceae plants |
Avoid |
| Children |
Not for self-treatment, ask a paediatrician |
| A cough lasting over 3 weeks |
Get examined before treating it |
Interaction data does not exist because interaction studies have not been run, which is missing information rather than a clean bill of health. The detail is in mullein side effects and who should avoid it.
Tea, Capsules and Smoking
Most people meet this plant as a drink rather than as a capsule, and a smaller group meets it as something to burn.
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Tea: Traditional, mucilaginous, and it must be strained through a paper filter.
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Capsule: A fixed 1000 mg, with no straining and no brewing.
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Tincture: We do not sell one, and strengths vary by maker.
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Smoking the leaf: 0 studies support it and we do not recommend it.
Brewing is covered in mullein tea benefits and how to make it, and the smoker question in mullein for smokers.
Why Choose Remedy's Mullein Leaf
There is no trial that makes one mullein better than another, so the only honest differentiators are what is in the bottle and what the label says.
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Single ingredient: Mullein leaf, with 0 other actives.
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No proprietary blend: You can see the whole formula in 1 line.
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Vegan capsule: Cellulose, glycerin and water.
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No lung claim: Because none has been demonstrated.
Compared with the other herbs sold for breathing in what is the best herb for lungs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mullein leaf good for? +
Traditionally the throat, chest and skin. PubMed holds 148 mullein records and 3 clinical trials, and 0 of the 3 tested those uses by mouth.
Does mullein actually help your lungs? +
No clinical trial has shown that it does. 16 mullein papers mention breathing and 0 of them are trials.
How much mullein is in a capsule? +
1000 mg of mullein leaf, with 0 other active ingredients. There are 60 capsules per bottle.
How long does 1 bottle last? +
Sixty capsules is 2 months at 1 capsule daily.
Is mullein safe to take every day? +
0 long-term studies exist, so tradition is the only guide. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are the 1 firm exclusion.
Can I make tea from the capsules? +
You can open them, but the leaf hairs will not be strained out. Brewing loose leaf and filtering it is the better of the 2 routes.
What not to mix with mullein? +
There are 0 documented interactions because 0 interaction studies exist. Space it 2 hours from prescription medicines.
Can I smoke mullein? +
There are 0 studies supporting it and burning any plant produces particulates. We do not recommend it.
Is mullein FDA approved? +
No. The FDA does not review dietary supplements for effectiveness, which applies to all 60 capsules.
Does mullein help a smoker's lungs? +
There are 0 trials of mullein in smokers. Stopping smoking is the 1 intervention with strong evidence.
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