Mullein Tea for Cough

Mullein is a medicinal herb having several curative properties. It grows so abundantly in the native regions of Asia, America, and Europe that mullein is often considered as a weed. The botanical name of this flowering herbaceous plant is Verbascum thapsus, and is colloquially known by various common names in different regions.

Mullein herb is used as an age-old remedy for ear problems, sore throat, cough, asthma, bronchitis, infections, and urinary tract conditions.

For therapeutic applications, both tea and extract are prepared from dried and fresh mullein. Basically, the petals and foliage are collected for medicinal application. To understand whether sipping mullein tea is effectual for treating cough or not, let's discuss its therapeutic action.

According to research papers, mullein plant possesses anti-inflammatory, demulcent (emollient), analgesic, antimicrobial, and expectorant properties. It contains saponins, mucilage, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), B vitamins, choline, hesperidin, and trace minerals. Know more on mullein uses.

Sipping hot tea and herbal soup for cough treatment is not new in traditional medicine. With mullein tea, the warm liquid gives a soothing effect to the throat, while the curative properties of mullein herb help in addressing inflammation and pathogenic infections.

The saponins present in tea loosen mucus from the respiratory tract, thereby helping in quick recovery. Also, the mucilage present in it provides a protecting coating to the mucous membranes. Thus, this herbal tea is like a tonic for the mucus lining, lungs, and overall respiratory system.

Regular drinking of mullein tea induces coughing up of mucus from the throat and chest area. Mullein tea is safe and effective for children too. It has a pleasant taste, so they enjoy this herbal tea as a beverage, and not as medicinal concoction.

For dealing with mild cough problems, drinking one cup of mullein tea daily for 10 consecutive days is effectual to get relief from the discomfort symptoms. For acute illness episodes (say during cold, influenza, and asthma attacks), have 2 - 3 cups of mullein tea, but for a shorter duration (for 4 - 5 days strictly).

In herbal medicine, use of mullein tea for cough is touted as one of the best remedies. But, in order to reap the therapeutic benefits, you should choose the right plant and brew tea in a correct way. The identifying traits of mullein are pubescent leaves and yellow flowers. As for making mullein tea, it is best prepared by infusion.

You can make it by simply pouring hot water over dried or fresh mullein leaves, and infusing them for some time. If you have a steeping ball, you can add mullein leaves in it, instead of putting in the cup directly. In that case, there is no need for the straining step.

Add 2 teaspoons (or 1 tablespoon for stronger tea) of dried mullein leaves in a bowl, and pour boiling water to fill it. Cover a lid and allow tea to steep for 5 - 10 minutes. Strain tea by using a clean strainer to remove the woolly leaves, and drink immediately. In case you don't have dried leaves, collect the fresh ones and wash them thoroughly.

You will need a higher amount of fresh leaves (about ½ cup for 1 cup tea) to prepare mullein tea. While preparing mullein tea for asthma and cough treatment in children, you can add a small amount of honey to increase palatability. Also, adding a few drops of fresh lemon juice will improve its taste.

To conclude with, sipping mullein tea is definitely a sure way to deal with cough, asthma, and alike respiratory ailments in the natural way. In fact, this herb is added as a main component in herbal remedies for cough. In addition to making herbal tea, dried mullein leaves can be crushed and used for inhalation therapy.

Over here, the active components reach the lungs directly, and help in clearing chest congestion and soothing irritation symptoms. However, with any herbal treatment, concentration and intake period are the main concerns.

Thus, the dose of mullein herb and length of treatment should be decided under the guidance of a qualified herbalist to avoid any unusual health effects.