6 Herbs to Aid The Respiratory System

Fight infection and boost immunity

immunomodulator

Astragalus, Astagalus membranaceus

Astragalus is a plant most often harvested for its root. The plant itself is a perennial native to Asia, Mongolia in particular, a member of the pea family! It is a staple in Traditional Mongolian Medicine and is one of the 50 fundamentals herbs in this practice. It grows upwards to 12-36 inches tall sporting a hairy stem with lateral shoots coming off containing about a dozen leaflets. Its flowers range from blue to purple and pink, blooming every spring. When harvesting in the fall always make sure to leave plenty of roots so that the plant may come back year after year. This plant is highly medicinal and is widely known for its benefits for the lungs. It is traditionally used for upper respiratory tract infections, shortness of breath, and coughs in general. It is great to use in preventative care especially when flu season comes around. Taking it to support your immune system can help prevent you from ever getting sick in the first place! But its antiviral activity makes it just as useful if an infection has already taken root.

Prepare a tea for immediate use or try a tincture or capsule, as said earlier its roots are the part to utilize. Due to its tonic nature it is quite suitable for long term use as well.

Stimulate immune system

immune enhancer

Ecinacea, E. angustifolia, E. pallida, and E. purpurea

Echinacea, also known as the coneflower, is a perennial plant native to North and Central America. Thriving in open prairies, other grasslands and open wooded areas this flowering plant can grow up to 4 feet tall! It blooms in the summer producing the bright purple/pink flowers known for their medicinal value. The plant has an erect stem with leaves alternating up it, the buds forming at the top with spiky centers of the flower head. There are three main varieties that all differ in their chemical constituents, E. angustifolia, E. pallida, and E. purpurea. All are used to treat symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection and even to prevent them. It is thought to do so by stimulating an immune response, encouraging the body to fight off the infection. 

Alcohol tinctures have shown to have a more prominent effect compared to the fresh herb juice, so this is an excellent form of delivery. Alternatively teas using the dried tops are also great modes of administration.

Soothe nervous coughs

expectorant

Mullein, Verbascum thapsus

Mullein is a plant that grows where most do not, thriving in poor soils it will slowly improve soil health paving the way for other species to thrive!  Mullein is a biennial plant that grows large, fuzzy leaves in a cluster at the base of a long thick stem. At the top of this stem clusters of yellow flowers grow. Its roots actually have the ability to sequester toxins from the soil including heavy metals. Like its action in ecosystems in our bodies it helps to improve our health, allowing us to thrive. One system it is widely known for aiding is the Respiratory System. Here it acts as to expel excess mucus, removing what is in abundance creating a balance in our respiratory tract just as it does with soil when there is an abundance of toxins. The actions of the harvested herb mirroring those of the living plant! 

This herb works best when used to create a cold infusion, this preserves some of the bioactive constituents that are responsible for its actions. However, when more instantaneous relief is needed, brew up a cup of tea and inhale the steam prior to drinking, this will help loosen mucus before the herb acts to expel it.

Treat respiratory infection

immune enhancer

Pelargonium, Pelargonium sidoides

Pelargonium sidoides, a plant Native to South Africa, shows promising medicinal value for respiratory health. It thrives in rocky soil in grasslands since it doesn't get very tall. It flowers nearly year round in its native temperate environment, spouting 5 petal buds with purple, nearly black petals. Recent studies of its chemical constituents have shown that some of its highly oxygenated coumarin compounds are antibacterial, making them essential to its role in fighting respiratory infections. In particular pro-delphinidins, methoxycoumarin, and proanthocyanidins all have been shown to treat upper respiratory infections. All of these compounds can be extracted in alcohol.  

Take a tincture made from the root of pelargonium only when treatment of a respiratory tract infection is needed, not for long term use. 

Ease coughing & sore throats

expectorant

Sage, Salvia officinalis, Salvia elegans, Savia apiana

Sage grows in many varieties including the sacred white sage, the popular pineapple sage and common sage too. Common sage is native to dry lands thriving in rocky soils, blooming with pink or purple to white buds. Across many cultures this plant is renowned, praised by many for its medicinal uses especially in our respiratory system. Today it is commonly used to treat coughs and colds, soothe throats and dazzle taste buds. Sage tea is a known remedy for a sore throat, it eases the irritation and can even be used as a gargle at the onset of a cough or cold. The essential oils of each variety of this plant are different, but they all elicit similar actions in the body and mind, for that it is a beneficial addition to aromatherapy for the lungs. 

Enjoy a tea or tincture of sage to receive its benefits, sprinkle some on your food for a flavorful and distinct experience

Soothe wet coughs

antitussive & astringent expectorant

Wild Cherry Bark, Prunus avium

Wild cherry bark is a drying herb that helps with coughs and acts to expel excess mucus in the respiratory tract. The cherry tree from which this powerful substance derives is native to North America. The bark may be stripped from young shoots leaving plenty to repopulate the area. It is always so important to harvest sustainably, taking only what can easily be replenished. It can be used to treat colds and is anti-inflammatory in nature, this in combination with its astringent properties makes it a powerful remedy against coughs and lung inflammation. The specific action of this bark is unique, the active constituents enter and are expelled by the lungs, this increases breathing momentarily, until it begins soothing the nerves that cause excess coughing. It is powerful but intense so take in moderation and never if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Use as a tincture or tea for immediate relief. 

References

1. Harley, C. B., Liu, W., Blasco, M., Vera, E., Andrews, W. H., Briggs, L. A., & Raffaele, J. M. (2011). A natural product telomerase activator as part of a health maintenance program. Rejuvenation research, 14(1), 45–56. https://doi.org/10.1089/rej.2010.1085

2. Vohra, S., & Rieder, M. (2005). Efficacy of echinacea for upper respiratory tract infections in children. Paediatrics & child health, 10(4), 224. https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/10.4.224

3. Chicca, A., Raduner, S., Pellati, F., Strompen, T., Altmann, K. H., Schoop, R., & Gertsch, J. (2009). Synergistic immunomopharmacological effects of N-alkylamides in Echinacea purpurea herbal extracts. International immunopharmacology, 9(7-8), 850–858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2009.03.006

4. Turker, A. U., & Camper, N. D. (2002). Biological activity of common mullein, a medicinal plant. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 82(2-3), 117–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-8741(02)00186-1

5. Ghorbani, A., & Esmaeilizadeh, M. (2017). Pharmacological properties of Salvia officinalis and its components. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine, 7(4), 433–440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.12.014

6. Telichowska, A., Kobus-Cisowska, J., & Szulc, P. (2020). Phytopharmacological Possibilities of Bird Cherry Prunus padus L. and Prunus serotina L. Species and Their Bioactive Phytochemicals. Nutrients, 12(7), 1966. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12071966

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