Mullein

Traditional respiratory herb with soothing and expectorant properties, known for supporting lung health and respiratory comfort

Scientific nameVerbascum thapsus FormulaVarious mucilages and saponins Molecular weightVariable natural compounds g/mol CASVarious natural compounds

60 absorption score

9 safety / 10

20 USD per month

4 documented interactions

Check it against something

Evidence level C

Mullein with:

80 out of 100

Works better together Compatible. Timing differs, so follow each supplement's own window.

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What it does

mechanism and evidence for each claim

Respiratory tract soothing

Gentle soothing support for irritated respiratory tract and airways

Mucilaginous compounds provide protective coating and soothing effects Evidence C-grade 1-7 days

Expectorant and mucus clearance

Helps clear respiratory secretions and support productive cough

Saponins and mucilages help mobilize and clear respiratory secretions Evidence C-grade 2-7 days

Anti-inflammatory respiratory support

Reduces inflammation in respiratory tract and lung tissues

Anti-inflammatory compounds reduce respiratory inflammation and irritation Evidence C-grade 1-4 weeks

Dry cough relief

Traditional support for dry, irritating coughs

Soothing mucilages coat and protect irritated throat and respiratory tissues Evidence C-grade 30 minutes to 6 hours

Lung tissue protection

Traditional lung tonic supporting overall respiratory health

Protective and nourishing compounds support healthy lung tissue Evidence C-grade 2-8 weeks

Others take these for the same thing

Same goal, different mechanism — check any of them against this one

Probiotics for Autoimmune Disease Support Gut health & immune modulation 10-100 billion CFU daily B 60% Vitamin D3 Bone health & immune support 1000-2000 IU A 85% Zinc Picolinate Superior immune & healing support 15-30 mg A 95% L-Lysine Immune support & collagen synthesis 1-3g A 90% Oregano Oil Powerful respiratory antimicrobial 100-300mg B 85% Oregano Oil for Antimicrobial Protection Antimicrobial & pathogen defense 1-3 drops diluted daily B 75%

Every pair we checked

12 combinations scored by the engine

Mullein + Caffeine No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Mullein + Creatine Monohydrate No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Mullein + Vitamin D3 No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Mullein + Calcium Carbonate No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Mullein + Whey Protein No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Mullein + Lactase No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Mullein + Bovine Collagen No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Mullein + DHA No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Mullein + Turmeric No documented interaction either way No known interaction 70

Mullein + Marshmallow Root Enhanced mucilaginous soothing and protective effects Works better together 75

Mullein + Ivy Leaf Enhanced respiratory soothing and expectorant support Works better together 80

Mullein + Licorice Root Synergistic anti-inflammatory and soothing effects Works better together 80

Dosage

With meals or as needed

Daily300-800mg

Respiratory soothing300-600mg daily

Anti inflammatory400-800mg daily

Chronic support300-600mg daily long-term

Lung maintenance300-500mg daily

Before you take it

VeganYes

When to expect it

First Effects30 minutes to 6 hours for soothing effects, 1-7 days for respiratory benefits

Peak Benefits2-8 weeks for sustained lung support and respiratory health

Deficiency DevelopmentNot applicable - herbal supplement

Toxicity OnsetVery rare, excellent safety profile

How to measure it

Not typically necessary

MarkerGenerally not needed - extremely safe herb

OptimalImproved respiratory comfort and reduced irritation

Deficient belowNot applicable for herbal supplement

FrequencyMonitor through respiratory symptom improvement

What people actually reported to the FDA

CAERS, 1 reports naming it as the suspect

Most reported effects

Abdominal pain upper 1

Hyperhidrosis 1

Nausea 1

Pyrexia 1

Vomiting 1

Named as the suspect 1 reports of 2 that mention it at all

Serious outcome 100% hospitalisation, emergency room or worse

Other Serious or Important Medical Event1

Reports are voluntary and unverified — they record what someone experienced while taking something, not what the compound caused. Counts skew towards products people take a lot of, and a serious outcome is more likely to be reported than a mild one, so these are not rates. How we filter them →

What actually reaches you

The label counts the carrier, your body does not

Absorption High 60 of 100 · absorbs well relative to other forms

Delivered daily 330 mg

Cost per 100 mg delivered $0.20 comparative — uses the absorption score, not a measured percentage

Works better with

3 documented

Ivy Leaf

Enhanced respiratory soothing and expectorant support

Both provide respiratory tract soothing and mucus clearance · level C

Licorice Root

Synergistic anti-inflammatory and soothing effects

Both provide respiratory anti-inflammatory and soothing properties · level C

Marshmallow Root

Enhanced mucilaginous soothing and protective effects

Both provide mucilaginous protective coating for respiratory tissues · level C

What not to take with Mullein

1 documented

Stimulating Expectorants

Very mild potential interference with strong stimulating expectorants

Gentle soothing vs. stimulating expectorant action · minimal significance

Medication interactions

Discuss these with a pharmacist before combining

no-known-interactions None

Generally safe with all medications

What to do: Safe concurrent use

diabetes-medications Minimal

Theoretical mild effect on blood sugar

What to do: Monitor if diabetic and concerned

respiratory-medications None

Generally complementary to respiratory treatments

What to do: Safe supportive use

Available forms

bioavailability compared

Mullein Leaf Extract (Seed-Free) 60

Mullein Leaf Extract (Seed-Free): Excellent safety, Gentle soothing, Traditional use, Lung support

Food sources

before you supplement

Mullein leaf tea Moderate active compound content · 55

Dried mullein leaves Concentrated compounds · 50

Standardized leaf extracts (seed-free) Concentrated mucilages and compounds · 60

Not found in common foods Specific plant preparation required · N/A

Too little

deficiency signs

Not applicable (herbal supplement, not essential nutrient):
General symptoms addressed by mullein:
Dry, irritating cough and throat irritation
Respiratory inflammation and tissue irritation
Poor mucus clearance and respiratory congestion
Chronic respiratory discomfort
Sensitive or easily irritated respiratory tract

Too much

toxicity signs

Extremely safe with minimal side effects:
Rare allergic reactions in sensitive individuals
Potential toxicity only if seeds are included in preparation
Very mild digestive upset (rare)
Excellent overall safety profile

Who benefits most

dry-cough-throat-irritation

Excellent soothing support for dry, irritating coughs and throat irritation

300-600mg daily

respiratory-inflammation-irritation

Gentle anti-inflammatory support for irritated respiratory tract

400-800mg daily

chronic-respiratory-conditions

Long-term respiratory support for chronic conditions like COPD

300-600mg daily long-term

lung-health-maintenance

Traditional lung tonic for overall respiratory health maintenance

300-500mg daily

seasonal-respiratory-support

Preventive respiratory support during allergy or irritant season

300mg daily

Where to buy it

compare forms first

Look for Mullein at 300-800mg per serving. The form that matters here is Mullein Leaf Extract (Seed-Free).

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How it works

Mucilaginous compounds provide protective coating and soothing effects on respiratory tissues
Saponins help mobilize and clear respiratory secretions as expectorant
Anti-inflammatory compounds reduce respiratory tract inflammation and irritation
Soothing properties coat and protect irritated throat and airway tissues
Traditional lung tonic effects support overall respiratory health
Demulcent properties provide lasting protective coating effects

Key findings

what the evidence supports

Strong traditional use evidence for respiratory soothing
Preliminary research supports anti-inflammatory effects
Excellent safety profile with centuries of use
Limited modern clinical research but extensive historical validation

Sources: NIH Examine.com · data reviewed 2026-08-02

Compiled by Denis, who maintains this database and holds no medical qualification — every figure here is sourced or derived, never asserted. How we calculate it →

Common questions

What are the benefits of Mullein?

Documented effects: Respiratory tract soothing; Expectorant and mucus clearance; Anti-inflammatory respiratory support; Dry cough relief. Gentle soothing support for irritated respiratory tract and airways

How much Mullein should you take per day?

The common daily range is 300-800mg. By goal — respiratory soothing: 300-600mg daily; anti inflammatory: 400-800mg daily; chronic support: 300-600mg daily long-term; lung maintenance: 300-500mg daily.

When is the best time to take Mullein?

With meals or as needed. First effects are typically reported within 30 minutes to 6 hours for soothing effects, 1-7 days for respiratory benefits.

What are the side effects of Mullein?

At excessive doses: Extremely safe with minimal side effects:, Rare allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, Potential toxicity only if seeds are included in preparation, Very mild digestive upset (rare), Excellent overall safety profile. Safety rating at normal doses is 9 out of 10.

What should you not take with Mullein?

Separate it from Stimulating Expectorants by two to four hours. Very mild potential interference with strong stimulating expectorants

Does Mullein interact with medications?

Documented interactions with no-known-interactions, diabetes-medications, respiratory-medications. Discuss these with a pharmacist before combining.

How do you know if you need Mullein?

The marker is Generally not needed - extremely safe herb, optimal range Improved respiratory comfort and reduced irritation. Common deficiency signs: Not applicable (herbal supplement, not essential nutrient):, General symptoms addressed by mullein:, Dry, irritating cough and throat irritation, Respiratory inflammation and tissue irritation.

Taken for

59 Immunity

Vitamin D3 · Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) · Comprehensive Immune Support Complex