Mullein Inhalation for Daily Cannabis Users: No Evidence of Benefit
There is no scientific evidence that inhaling mullein extract provides any health benefit for daily cannabis smokers, and adding another inhaled substance to already compromised airways may worsen respiratory damage.
The Core Problem: Cannabis Smoking Damages the Respiratory System
Daily cannabis smoking causes significant respiratory harm through multiple mechanisms:
- Smoked cannabis increases airway reactivity and is associated with chronic bronchitis and potentially COPD 1
- Cannabis smoke contains hundreds of irritant compounds that cause histological signs of airway inflammation 2
- One cannabis-tobacco cigarette is substantially more harmful than tobacco alone due to the deeper inhalation technique and prolonged smoke contact with bronchial mucosa 2
- Cannabis smoking alters the fungicidal and antibacterial activity of alveolar macrophages, compromising lung defense mechanisms 2
- Chronic cannabis inhalation likely increases the relative risk of bronchial cancer, though long-term cohort data remain limited 3
Why Mullein Won't Help
While mullein (Verbascum thapsus) has traditional use for respiratory conditions and demonstrates some biological activities in laboratory studies, there are critical gaps:
- No clinical trials exist examining mullein's effects when inhaled by cannabis smokers 4, 5
- The research on mullein shows antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties only in laboratory extracts and animal models—not in human inhalation studies 4, 6
- Adding any inhaled botanical substance to already inflamed airways introduces additional particulate matter and potential irritants 2
The Fundamental Flaw in This Approach
Inhaling mullein to counteract cannabis damage is attempting to treat smoke-induced respiratory injury with more smoke—this is pharmacologically and physiologically counterproductive 2, 3.
The only intervention proven to benefit lung function in cannabis smokers is complete cessation of cannabis smoking 2.
What Actually Matters for Daily Cannabis Users
Beyond respiratory concerns, daily cannabis use at significant levels causes:
- Increased anesthetic requirements during surgery and potentially higher postoperative pain 1
- Cannabis withdrawal syndrome after 48-72 hours of cessation, with symptoms lasting 1-2 weeks 1
- Cardiovascular effects including tachycardia, potential myocardial ischemia, and orthostatic hypotension 1, 7, 8
- Cognitive impairment affecting verbal learning, memory, attention, and executive function—particularly severe when use begins in adolescence 7
Clinical Bottom Line
For a daily cannabis smoker concerned about respiratory health, the evidence-based recommendation is smoking cessation, not adding mullein inhalation 2. If the patient is unwilling to quit cannabis entirely, switching to non-smoked delivery methods (though these carry their own risks) would be preferable to adding another inhaled substance 7.