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The respiratory system is likely to be one of the systems most sensitive to the action of medicinal herbs for the lungs. Many forms of phytotherapeutic treatments exert a beneficial action on the respiratory organs, for instance, the following:
- Hot infusions or decoctions of pectoral plants first act locally when passing close to the high airways’ larynx and upper areas. Then, their active components pass to the digestive tract and the blood, reaching the lung and bronchial cells.
- Syrups: This method of preparation is traditionally employed for respiratory afflictions. Sugars usually have a balsamic action on the bronchi, especially notable in honey. Syrups should be thus prepared with honey whenever possible. They are especially recommended for children since the flavor masks the likely lousy taste of the plants they are made of.
- Inhalation of essences: Aromatherapy, that is, the use of essences or essential oils, is one of the great rediscoveries of modern phytotherapy. The simple inhalation of an essence exerts medicinal actions on the respiratory system: antiseptic, bronchodilator, and mucolytic (thinning of the bronchial mucous). Breathing the aroma of eucalyptus or raw sliced onion calms a cough, and bronchi is cleared.
- Vapor inhalations: Water vapor is one of the most effective mucolytic substances. Inhaling water vapor and adding some drops of essence to achieve better effectiveness combine the therapeutic effects of the water with those of the herbs employed for the lungs.
- Baths, poultices, and fomentations with herbs for the lungs are other effective methods of treating respiratory ailments.
The use of medicinal herbs for the lungs benefits all respiratory organs. Their action is not limited to neutralizing the symptoms of any disease; they also exert an actual cleansing action for excessive mucus in the interior of the airways. Besides, some plants, such as nasturtium or thyme, also contain antibiotic substances that prevent bacteria growth in the remanding mucus.
We breathe about one thousand liters of air into our lungs daily. This air contains smoke, germs, and small polluting particles in cities. Our bronchi have an effective cleansing mechanism. Their interior is covered by a mucous layer that catches and expels our air’s polluting particles and germs. Under normal conditions, this mechanism is enough to keep the bronchi clear.
However, due to the action of tobacco smoke, other smoke or irritant substances, certain harmful germs, or bad respiratory habits, the bronchi cleaning mechanism stops working effectively, and then we suffer from bronchitis. Medicinal herbs for the lungs can then act by restoring the effective working of the bronchial mucous membrane. The primary condition to repair it is for the cause of the dysfunction to disappear. Applying the best phytotherapeutic – or other kinds of – treatments would be almost useless if the patient kept on smoking or breathing polluted air.
Top Herbs for The Lungs
Top Respiratory Afflictions
Bronchitis: It is inflammation of the mucous membrane that covers the interior of the bronchi. It is usually provoked by infectious causes, to which the inhalation of irritant smoke, such as tobacco smoke, can help it become more severe. The symptoms are fever, cough, pain when coughing, and occasionally, breathing difficulties when this disease appears with a specific frequency, chronic bronchitis.
The phytotherapeutic treatment consists of ingestion and inhalation, employing essences or vapors of balsamic (soothing the respiratory mucous membrane), mucolytic (breaking mucus and easing its elimination), expectorant, and antibiotic plants. See more plants with these actions below. The ones mentioned here exert a gripping preventative effort against new crises or relapses.
Tracheitis is the inflammation of the trachea, from which both main bronchi grow. The phytotherapeutic treatment is the same as bronchitis since tracheitis is a localized form of bronchitis.
Pneumonia: This condition is inflammation of the lung tissues, usually due to infectious causes. The phytotherapeutic treatment is based on infusions and decoctions of pectoral and antibiotic action, inhalation of essences, vapors, and poultices of mustard flour as a complement to the anti-infectious specific treatment.
Asthma: A disease whose characteristics include attacks of breathing difficulty (with wheezing breath, cough, and sensation of constriction due to bronchial spasms). Infectious or allergic reasons usually cause it. The phytotherapeutic treatment is based on plants with antispasmodic (to relax the bronchial spasm), a bronchodilator, and expectorant actions. Herbs for lung health generally have a preventative measure against new relapses.
Lung Emphysema: The excessive and permanent dilation of lung alveoli. It usually appears as a consequence of repeated bronchitis. The best herbs for lung health are one more element in treating this affliction, with mainly preventive action. All pectoral plants are also recommended.
Hemoptysis: The emission of blood with expectoration coming from the respiratory system. A physician must always check out this disorder to discard tumors or tuberculosis as its cause. Once the cause is known, hemostatic herbs for lung health can be administered to stop bleeding.
Coughing: Coughing is, in many cases, a defense mechanism of our body to expel mucus or foreign bodies located in the interior of the trachea or the bronchi. In these cases, coughing is productive and expels mucus. In other cases, coughing is dry, nonproductive, and caused by an irritating focus of infectious or, more rarely, tumoral origin.
These antitussive herbs for lung health can ease coughing by relaxing bronchial muscle spasms (antispasmodic action) or producing nerve sedation.
Pectoral Plants
These herbs for lung health act favorably on the respiratory system afflictions in general. All antitussive, bronchodilator, balsamic, and expectorant plants are also pectoral.
Expectorant Plants
These herbs are used for lung health to ease the expulsion of the trachea and bronchi mucosal secretions. They act by diminishing the mucus viscosity, which makes it easier to eliminate because it is more fluid. Thus, expectorants clean the bronchi and ease coughing.
Antitussive Herbs
The below natural herbs for lung health also have antitussive action, though this is not their main property.
Bronchodilator Herbs
These herbs dilate the bronchi by relaxing the muscle fibers that cover them. They are helpful for the treatment of bronchial asthma.
Balsamic Herbs
These plants contain balsamic substances (a mixture of essences, resins, and oils) that have soothing effects on the respiratory system.
Mucolytic Herbs
These herbs dissolve or break down mucus, making it more fluid and thus easier to be expelled. Expectorant plants also have mucolytic action.
Fomentations with an infusion or a decoction of medicinal herbs produce a potent anti-inflammatory and decongestant action on the respiratory system. They can be carried out with any of the pectoral or balsamic plants mentioned. Instead of the infusion or decoction of a plant, its essence can also be employed by adding some drops to the water. Lavender, eucalyptus, and thyme essences are especially recommended.
Mullein and wild clover are examples of antitussive plants. The pine tree is balsamic, soothing the mucus membrane of the respiratory system.
People who perform outdoor physical exercise, such as cyclists, must have both bronchi and lungs in optimum conditions. The infusion of pectoral medicinal herbs for lung health, such as one of four flowers, prepares the respiratory system for fulfilling its breathing function with maximum efficiency.
This famous pectoral infusion of four flowers is prepared with ten grams of each of the following flowers per liter of water: coltsfoot, poppy, cat’s foot, and high mallow. It is very effective for bronchial catarrh, bronchitis, asthma, and other bronchi and lung afflictions due to the right combination of the respective medicinal actions of each of the four plants.
The iris, the eucalyptus, and the common plantain are three expectorant plants that work well at cleansing the mucus of the bronchi and easing coughs.
DISCLAIMER: All content on this website is presented solely for educational and informational objectives. Do not rely on the information provided as a replacement for advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified medical expert. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have any preexisting medical concerns, talk to your doctor before using any herbal or natural medicines.
REFERENCES
- George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. “Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants.” George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Ed. Francesc X. Gelabert. Vols. 1 San Fernando de Henares: Editorial Safeliz, 2000. 281. Print. [herbs for the lungs]
- American Botanical Council: https://www.herbalgram.org/
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH): https://www.nccih.nih.gov/
- PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/