Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

It is impossible not to notice Mullein when it raises its enormous flowering stalk in the middle of a field. Growing to over two meters tall, it seems to light up ditches and abandoned lots with its hundreds of yellow flowers.

Yet behind this majestic silhouette lies a plant that is too often reduced to simply a “cough plant.” The reality is much more fascinating.

A Plant That Takes Its Time

Mullein is a biennial plant.

Throughout its first year, it forms a large rosette of thick, soft, velvety leaves that hug the ground. Meanwhile, it slowly develops a powerful taproot in which it stores all the energy needed for its future flowering, because it is only in the following year that it reveals its full grandeur.

An immense flowering stalk then rises toward the sky, carrying a long spike of yellow flowers that gradually open from the base toward the top over a period of several weeks. But after producing thousands of seeds, the plant dies.

But its story does not end there!

Mullein has an exceptional survival strategy.

Its seeds can remain dormant for several decades, sometimes nearly a century according to some studies, simply waiting for the soil to be disturbed before germinating—whether after a fire, construction work, a landslide, or simply when the time is right!

The Torch of the Ancients

Long before it was recognized as a medicinal plant, Mullein was used as a torch.

The Greeks and Romans dried its tall flowering stalk, then soaked it in tallow or wax before lighting it. This practice is actually where several of its common names come from: Our Lady’s candle, witches’ candle, great candle, or fairy candle!

In some parts of Europe, a stalk of Mullein was even hung near homes or barns to ward off evil spirits and protect the inhabitants.

A Plant That Has Crossed the Centuries

Mullein has accompanied humans for more than two thousand years. The Greek physician Dioscorides was already recommending it in the 1st century for respiratory ailments. Later, John Gerard described it as a valuable plant for the respiratory tract, while Nicholas Culpeper considered it one of the great pectoral herbs of his time.

In the 19th century, an Irish physician even reported that infusions of Mullein leaves prepared in milk improved coughing, shortness of breath, and the general condition of some patients suffering from tuberculosis.

First Nations peoples of North America also used Mullein to relieve coughs, asthma, and various pulmonary conditions.

But in reality, Mullein acts throughout the respiratory system. Its leaves are rich in mucilages, which soothe irritated mucous membranes, as well as saponins, which help loosen bronchial secretions.

This combination is particularly interesting: while the mucilages soothe irritation, the saponins help promote expectoration. The leaves also contain two compounds that are currently attracting researchers’ attention: verbascoside and aucubin.

Verbascoside: The Molecule That Intrigues Researchers

Among all the constituents of Mullein, verbascoside, also known as acteoside, is probably the one attracting the most interest.

Recent research attributes anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial properties to this compound.

Verbascoside is currently being studied in inflammatory lung diseases, as well as in certain neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Research also suggests that it may limit the formation of certain bacterial biofilms, although this remains an area of ongoing research.

What is fascinating is that verbascoside is found in both the leaves and the flowers.

Leaves or Flowers?

The two parts each have their own personality.

The leaves are particularly rich in mucilages, saponins, verbascoside, and aucubin. They are the great allies of the respiratory system. Their only drawback? Their many tiny hairs, which make careful filtering essential when preparing an infusion.

The flowers, on the other hand, also contain verbascoside, but are richer in flavonoids, carotenoids, and aromatic compounds.

They are also traditionally macerated in olive oil to help soothe earaches and ear inflammation. The lipophilic compounds in the flowers migrate more easily into oil than the mucilages in the leaves, and their relatively low hair content makes preparation much easier.

And What About the Root?

This is probably the most mysterious part of the plant.

While the leaves and flowers are well known, the root has almost fallen into obscurity. Yet Dioscorides was already mentioning it in antiquity.

Today, several North American herbalists, including Matthew Wood and Jim McDonald, are rediscovering it. They associate the root particularly with the spine, ligaments, lower back pain, and certain forms of sciatica.

Tincture or Infusion?

An infusion primarily highlights the mucilages and saponins, making it an excellent ally for the respiratory system.

A hydroalcoholic tincture efficiently extracts verbascoside, aucubin, flavonoids, and several other anti-inflammatory compounds. Contrary to what is sometimes claimed, there is currently no evidence to establish that a glycerite is superior to a tincture.

Mullein is a plant that has clearly not finished surprising us. The more I study it, the more I feel as though I am looking at several different plants in one!

The leaves protect the lungs, the flowers care for the ears, and the root intrigues herbalists with its affinity for the spine… And behind all of this is a molecule, verbascoside, that continues to reveal new properties as research progresses.

After more than two thousand years of use, Mullein has clearly not revealed all of its secrets yet.

© 2026 Mélanie Lavoie — La Prêle du Temps. Any reproduction must credit the source and obtain permission from the author.