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Ingredient guide · November 2026

Mullein Spray and Mullein Leaf Extract, Explained

Mullein is the first ingredient in most breathing-support sprays, VapoLung included. This guide explains the plant, which part is used, how a spray compares with tea, tinctures and capsules, how to read a 10:1 extract label, and what the research does and does not show.

Leaf vs flowerSpray vs tea vs tinctureReading a 10:1 labelSources cited

See a Mullein Oral Spray Compare the Forms

Published November 6, 2026 · Facts from the product label and the official order page

The VapoLung label, listing mullein leaf extract 10:1 first

Editorial disclosure: govapolung.com is an independent guide and is not the manufacturer or distributor of VapoLung. It contains affiliate links, and we may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. VapoLung is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult a healthcare professional before use.

The plant

What Is Mullein? The Plant Behind Mullein Spray

Common mullein, Verbascum thapsus, is a tall biennial herb also called great mullein or velvet plant. In its first year it forms a low rosette of large, soft, grey-green leaves covered in fine woolly hairs; in its second it sends up a flower stalk that can pass two metres, lined with small yellow flowers. It is native to Europe, North Africa and Asia and now grows wild along roadsides across North America and Australia. A 2022 review in Phytotherapy Research describes it as a plant with a long history in herbal tradition and catalogs the compounds found in it: saponins, flavonoids, iridoid glycosides and mucilage among them.

Gupta et al., Phytotherapy Research 2022 (PubMed)

Leaf or flower

Mullein Leaf vs Mullein Flower: Which Part Is Used

The leaf

The large woolly leaves are the part most supplements use, dried and powdered or extracted. VapoLung's label specifies mullein leaf extract at a 10:1 ratio. When leaves are brewed as a tea at home, the liquid is usually strained well because of the fine hairs on the leaf.

The flower

The small yellow flowers are the part covered by the European Medicines Agency's herbal monograph, which is based on long-standing traditional use. Flower preparations and leaf extracts are not interchangeable, so a label should say which part it uses.

EMA monograph on mullein flower

Forms

Mullein Spray vs Tea vs Tincture vs Drops vs Capsules

Mullein is sold in more forms than most herbs. They differ in how they are taken and in what the label tells you.

Form	What it is	How it is taken	What to look for on the label
Oral spray	A liquid extract in a pump bottle, often with other botanicals	A few sprays into the mouth, once or more a day	Serving in sprays and mL, extract ratio, blend total, the base liquid
Tea	Dried leaves or flowers, loose or bagged	Steeped in hot water, strained	Plant part, origin, how much per cup
Tincture or drops	A liquid extract, usually in alcohol or glycerin	Drops into water or under the tongue	Herb-to-liquid ratio, alcohol content, drops per serving
Capsules or tablets	Powdered leaf or dry extract	Swallowed with water	Milligrams per capsule, extract ratio
Gummies	Extract in a chewable sweet base	Chewed	Milligrams per gummy, sugar content

An oral spray is not a nasal spray: "mullein spray" products sold as supplements are sprayed into the mouth. Read the directions to be sure which kind you have.

Reading the label

Mullein Leaf Extract 10:1: How to Read a Mullein Spray Label

The extract ratio

"10:1" means about ten parts of dried leaf went into each part of finished extract. A higher ratio means a more concentrated extract, so 10 mg of a 10:1 extract stands for roughly 100 mg of leaf.

The blend total

Many sprays combine mullein with other botanicals in a proprietary blend and print one total. Ingredients are listed by weight, largest first, so a spray that lists mullein first has more of it than of anything else in the blend.

The serving

A good spray label gives the serving in sprays and in millilitres, and the number of servings per bottle, so you can work out how long a bottle lasts.

An example

Mullein in VapoLung: A Mullein Oral Spray, Line by Line

VapoLung is a mullein-led oral spray. Its label lists mullein (Verbascum thapsus) leaf extract 10:1 first in a 154 mg proprietary blend per 4-spray (0.60 mL) serving, followed by ginger root extract, bromelain, organic lemon extract and organic Cordyceps militaris, in a base of purified water and glycerin. The bottle holds 60 mL, 100 servings. The full panel is on the VapoLung ingredients page.

See VapoLung Pricing

Research

Mullein Benefits: What the Research Actually Covers

Mullein's reputation rests on its long record of traditional use, mostly as a tea of the leaves and flowers. The 2022 review gathers what laboratory research has found about its constituents and notes the plant's traditional role, while well-designed human trials of mullein leaf extract remain few. That is the honest summary: a respected traditional herb with interesting chemistry and limited clinical evidence, which is why supplement labels describe it in general "supports" language tied to the standard disclaimer.

Mullein grows wild, but plants by roadsides may carry dust and runoff, so supplements and teas sold with a label are the simpler choice. Anyone who is pregnant, nursing, under 18, has a known medical condition or takes medication should check with a doctor first.

FAQ

Mullein Spray Guide: Frequently Asked Questions

What is mullein spray?

A liquid mullein extract in a pump bottle, sprayed into the mouth. Most mullein sprays sold as supplements combine mullein leaf extract with other botanicals; VapoLung, for example, adds ginger, bromelain, lemon and Cordyceps militaris.

Is mullein spray oral or nasal?

Supplement mullein sprays such as VapoLung are oral sprays, used in the mouth or on the tongue. Always read the directions on the bottle.

What is mullein leaf extract 10:1?

An extract concentrated at about ten parts of dried mullein leaf to one part of extract.

Mullein tea or mullein spray: which is better?

They are different formats. Tea is brewed from dried leaves or flowers and the amount varies cup to cup; a spray delivers a measured serving of extract. Neither has strong clinical evidence for a specific use.

What are the benefits of mullein?

Mullein has a long history in herbal tradition, and its constituents have been studied in the laboratory, as a 2022 review summarizes. Human trials are few, so no specific benefit is established.

Is mullein leaf the same as mullein flower?

No. Leaf extracts and flower preparations are different. The European Medicines Agency monograph covers the flower; many supplements, VapoLung included, use the leaf.

Is mullein safe?

Human safety data on mullein leaf extracts are limited. Use a labeled product as directed, and check with a doctor first if you are pregnant, nursing, under 18, have a known medical condition or take medication.

How much mullein is in VapoLung?

VapoLung lists mullein leaf extract 10:1 first in a 154 mg blend per 4 sprays; the label does not give mullein's individual share.