Whispers of Mullein: The Velvet Guardian of the Lungs

There’s a plant I always feel called to honor—one that’s soft to the touch, yet bold in its strength. Towering with a golden torch-like stalk, cloaked in fuzzy leaves that feel like a lamb’s ear, Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a roadside sentinel, a healer of breath, and a quiet companion to the weary.

You’ll often find her standing proud in neglected spaces—abandoned fields, along sunny roadsides, dry hillsides, and disturbed soils. She doesn’t ask for much. Full sun and well-drained soil are her preferences, and she returns again and again, sowing her wild strength where others might not dare to grow. Mullein is biennial—offering her soft basal leaves in the first year and shooting up her floral staff in the second.

Harvesting Her Gifts

Timing is everything when it comes to gathering her medicine. The leaves are best harvested in the first year before the plant sends up its flowering stalk—early morning, after the dew has dried, when the sun is gentle and the plant is vibrant. The flowers are delicate treasures, best plucked on dry days as they bloom—often just a few at a time. The roots, rarely used but still potent, are gathered in the fall of the first year.

Each part of Mullein offers a unique invitation into wellness.

Energetics and Pathways of Mullein

Mullein is an herb of air and breath, ruled by Saturn in old traditions—a grounding, slow-moving plant that brings structure and space to the body. Energetically, she is cooling and slightly moist, yet paradoxically drying to congested tissues, making her a harmonizer in the respiratory system.

Mullein’s signature is unmistakable—her large, soft leaves mirror the shape and feel of our lungs. And that’s no coincidence. She moves through the respiratory tract, soothing inflamed mucosa, thinning mucus, easing spasms, and helping clear stuckness—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But Mullein doesn’t stop there. She moves into the ears, bones, joints, kidneys, and nerves with a gentle but profound effect.

Beyond the Breath: Mullein's Medicine for the Whole Body

Though Mullein is best known for her support of the lungs, her reach is far more expansive—moving through the inner landscape like a gentle guide, coaxing the body back into alignment.

🌿 For the Ears

Mullein flowers, delicately infused in oil, are one of the most time-honored remedies for earaches, particularly those that are hot, inflamed, or associated with infection. When paired with garlic or tea tree oil, she becomes a potent antimicrobial force, easing pain and supporting healing in children and adults alike. She brings comfort where there’s congestion—softening hardened wax, quieting inflammation, and offering peace in moments of discomfort. This is the heart of Melody Ear Oil, a product born from tradition and trust in the plant's tender touch.

💧 For the Kidneys and Urinary Tract

Mullein's softening nature doesn't stop at the lungs. In the urinary tract, she soothes irritation and inflammation, making her a valuable ally for those experiencing discomfort, burning, or urgency. Her cooling, demulcent action calms the tissues, while her subtle diuretic nature encourages gentle release. Think of her here as a fluid mover and inflamed-tissue calmer, perfect when there is hot, irritated urine, or the early stages of urinary imbalance. Sieze UTI Support Extract harnesses the mullein as a smooth muscle relaxant to reduce irritation of the urinary tract.

🦴 For the Bones and Joints

Old folk traditions often called upon Mullein root and leaf poultices for bone bruises, joint stiffness, and rheumatic pain. The root, especially, is gaining renewed attention for its support of spinal alignment and disc hydration—yes, even the structural core of our body responds to her medicine. Herbalists have used Mullein root topically and internally to nourish connective tissues, reduce inflammation in arthritic joints, and ease muscular tension. Her energy is slow and steady—like the long road to healing chronic issues—and yet her support is undeniable.

🌌 For the Nervous System

Mullein holds a subtle affinity for the nervous system. While not sedating, she brings ease. Her softness translates into a kind of internal calm, especially when tension or trauma has set up residence in the body. Herbalists working with trauma or grief often use Mullein to help people “breathe again,” both emotionally and physically. She is especially helpful when emotions have become somatized—when old grief gets “stuck” in the chest or back, or when the body holds onto rigidity from past pain. A warm cup of Settle Tea or a few deep breaths with Reflect Smoking Blend can bring that much-needed unwinding.

🧬 Energetically & Emotionally

Mullein is the plant I call on when someone feels weighed down, congested, or like they’ve lost their voice—physically or spiritually. She brings clarity to clouded lungs and fogged thoughts, strengthens the spine (both literally and metaphorically), and helps people stand tall again. She’s the gentle push we need when we’re ready to release the grief, tension, or pain we've been holding on to for far too long.

Using Mullein Medicinally

There are many ways to bring Mullein into your herbal toolkit:

• Tea: The leaves make a deeply soothing tea for dry, irritated lungs. Always strain it well—those tiny hairs can be scratchy.

• Smoking blends: Paradoxically, Mullein makes an excellent base herb in smoking blends for opening the lungs and reducing harm.

• Ear oil: Her flowers infused in oil are classic for soothing earaches, especially in children.

• Syrups and decoctions: Combine with other respiratory herbs to create a syrup that coats and supports the lungs and throat.

• Poultices or fomentations: The leaves can be moistened and applied topically to ease swelling and draw out heat.

At Monarch Herbs, We’ve harnessed Mullein’s healing nature in four special products that each speak to her gifts:

🌬 Settle Tea

A comforting blend that includes Mullein to help relax and open the respiratory tract. Perfect for when your lungs feel heavy or you’re fighting a lingering cough. Combined with other lung-loving herbs like wild cherry bark and horehound, Settle Tea brings breath back into balance.

🌿 Endure Smoking Blend

A smooth, calming blend of herbs where Mullein plays a starring role as the base. It supports lung health while offering a grounding ritual—ideal for those looking to unwind or wean off harsher habits.

👂 Melody Ear Oil

Crafted from hand-harvested Mullein flowers, infused in olive oil with garlic and tea tree. This soothing oil helps calm inflammation and ease the discomfort of earaches naturally—gentle enough for children, powerful enough for adults.

🌬 Zephyr Respiratory Syrup

Mullein leaf finds harmony with other powerful expectorants and soothing herbs in this syrup designed to clear congestion, ease coughs, and support clear breathing. A go-to during cold season or when lungs feel burdened.

💧 Sieze Extract for UTI Relief

Mullein pairs with Uva Ursi, Goldenrod, Gravel Root, and Mullein to calm irritated urinary tissues, clear heat, and support kidney health. This is a gentle yet effective formula for when urgency, frequency, or discomfort strike.

🐾 Pet Support

Mullein’s gentle power makes it safe and incredibly effective for our furry friends, too.

• Trail – Respiratory Support – Includes Mullein for gentle lung support, especially during kennel cough, seasonal issues, or chronic conditions. Also includes thyme, licorice, and goldenrod for full-spectrum respiratory wellness.

• Echo Ear Oil – As noted above, Mullein flowers soothe itchy, inflamed, or infected ears in dogs and cats. It’s a trusted remedy for ear care made safe and effective for animals.

We have many other products with mullein in it... Check them out here.

Closing Thoughts: A Torch in the Wild...Mullein is the plant that whispers comfort to troubled breath, lends softness to stiff places, and reminds us to exhale what no longer serves. Whether taken as tea, infused into oil, or simply admired as it stands tall in a forgotten field—this is a plant that offers presence as much as it offers medicine.

So the next time you pass by a tall Mullein torch reaching toward the sky, pause and thank her—for the breath you take in more deeply, the pain that eases more gently, and the ancient wisdom she brings from the wild into your lungs and heart.