Mullein Tea for Lungs: A Clinical Herbalist's Guide | Rayz Haven

Mullein Tea for Lungs: What a Clinical Herbalist Wants You to Know

If you've searched "mullein for lungs" lately, you're not alone

-searches for that phrase have climbed more than 300% in the last few years and "Mullein tea" is now one of the most-searched herbal teas in the country. So I thought we would go over some of this. 

What is mullein?

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a biennial -a two year plant. In year one, it's a flat rosette of huge, velvety, pale-green leaves, soft as flannel. In year two, it sends up a flower stalk taller than you are, dotted with small yellow flowers.

That fuzzy leaf is the herbalist's part. It's one of the most forgiving beginner plant in North American herbalism.

Why does everyone search "mullein for lungs"?

Because mullein holds a rare position in Western herbal tradition: it's classed as both demulcent and an expectorant. 

• A demulcent is soothing- mullein leaf contains mucilage, a slippery plant compound that coats and calms irritated tissue. Think of it as comfort for a dry, tickly, scratchy throat and cough.
• An expectorant tradition means herbalists have long used it when a cough is wet and chesty, to support the body's normal process of moving mucus up and out.

Most respiratory herbs lean one way or the other. Mullein is the traditional pick when you can't decide- which is exactly why it anchors so many respiratory blends, including ours.

Things to Know

Mullein's reputation is based on centuries of use, herbalist documentation & books of people using this plant not on large human clinical trials. Currently there are no standalone human trials of mullein leaf to point to. Herbalists use it thoughtfully knowing this. Tradition says mullein is a gentle, supportive herb for respiratory comfort. That is the claim I'll stand by from experience.

How to make mullein tea (the step that not everyone knows about)

Mullein tea is simple- with one non-negotiable detail.

1. Use about 1 tablespoon of dried mullein leaf or 1 tea bag (Rayz Haven Organic Mullein Tea) per cup of freshly boiled water.
2. Pour, cover the cup (the lid keeps the aromatic compounds in), and steep 10-15 minutes.
3. Strain it well - through a cheese cloth or coffee filter.
   

Step 3 is the big deal! Mullein's leaves are covered in tiny hairs- that's the flannel feel -and those hairs can irritate your throat if they end up in the cup. Which also makes me concerned for those that label this plant "Natures Toilet Paper"! Strain this tea twice if you need to. Herbalists have insisted and learned to do this for a very long time, and every winter I meet someone who learned why the hard way.

Mullein Tea vs. Tincture vs. Glycerite

Same plant, three personalities. Which one belongs in your cabinet depends on your life style:

At Rayz Haven, I make mullein all three ways, and yes I double strain all of them. -Organic Mullein Herbal Tea, the Mullein Glycerite, and the Mullein Tincture. We also have created custom blends with mullein in them, Respiratory Blend Herbal Tea, Deep Cough Herbal Blend Herbal Tea, Respiratory Relief Tincture, and our Allergy Relief Tincture. As you can see, we work with mullein all the time. If you're stocking up for the season, try the Seasonal & Cool-Weather Comfort collection or Flu Season Comfort Bundle, I put mullein alongside other respiratory herbs in blends and bundles that I reach for most.

Who should check with a professional first?

• Anyone pregnant or nursing, or taking prescription medications-bring the ingredient list to your provider or pharmacist.
• Anyone with asthma or a diagnosed lung condition: mullein is a traditional support herb, never a replacement for your inhaler or your care plan. If breathing is difficult, that's a clinic visit, not a cup of tea.
• Foragers: harvest leaf away from roadsides and sprayed areas, and never use the seeds-the leaf and flower are the herbalist's parts.
  

And the universal rule: coughing blood, trouble breathing, chest pain, a high fever, or any cough lasting more than three weeks means medical care, promptly.

Mullein questions I hear all the time

Does mullein tea help a cough?

It's traditionally used for exactly that -soothing dry, irritated coughs and supporting wet, productive ones. "Traditionally used" is the honest frame: generations of herbal practice, not clinical proof.

How often can I drink mullein tea?

A cup or two a day during the season you need it is the customary pattern in herbal practice. More isn't automatically better; consistency beats quantity.

Can you smoke mullein?

You'll find this in folk tradition-and all over the internet.  I don't recommend smoking anything as a health practice. The tea, tincture and glycerites are the traditions I use.

When is the best time to buy mullein?

Before you need it. Search interests peaks in January, in the thick of cough season, which is why herbalists stock the cabinet in fall.

Learn it in person

Reading about an herb is good. Holding it, tasting it three ways, and learning specifics is better. Mullein is one of the two plants we study in depth in my Deep Dive: Mullein & Elder class, part of the Herbal Learning Series at Majestic Barn in Norfolk-and the respiratory collection above is where my own mullein preparations live, every herb named on every label. We are picky so you can relax. 

Study the plants. Understand the preparations. Practice herbalism responsibly.

- JoLynn,  clinical herbalist & apothecary, Rayz Haven

Educational notice: This post is for informational purposes only and is not diagnosis, or treatment. Traditional uses do not establish clinical effectiveness. Never delay necessary medical care for respiratory symtoms.