Natural Respiratory Health

Ever notice a connection between the words respiration, spirit, and inspiration?

We can live for weeks without food, days without water, yet only minutes without air. Our lungs expand and contract about 20,000 times a day and the average person draws in twelve breaths a minute.  Respiration brings oxygen and prana (life force) into our bodies and eliminates carbon dioxide. 

According to the principles of Asian Medicine, the lungs correlate to the emotion of grief. Crying and self expression can help clear the lungs of emotions that make one prone to lung weakness. Laughter and exercise bring oxygen into the lungs, cleaning them as they increaseenergy! Singing and playing a wind instrument, such as flute, harmonica or even kazoo can also increase respiratory capacity. 

When considering lung health, foods that nourish the respiratory system include the high beta-carotene green and yellow foods like apricots, carrots, collards, papaya, kale, peaches, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and winter squashes. Chlorophyll, found in green leafy vegetables brings more oxygen into the body. Pungent foods and condiments like cayenne, daikon, garlic, ginger, horseradish, mustard greens, onions, oregano, scallions, thyme and watercress help disperse lung congestion and dilate the bronchioles. Lemon in water helps thin mucous secretions. Dairy products, white flour products, white sugar and other refined carbohydrates, can contribute to producing more sticky phlegm and thus congestion and aare thus not in the best interest of lung health.. 

Nature blesses us with so many botanicals that can support lung health and here are a few ways they can be effective. <<SIDEBAR Antispasmodics calm bronchial spasms. Bronchiodilators help open congested airspaces. Demulcents soothe irritation. Expectorants stimulate the natural process of removing excessive mucous from the lungs. Mucilaginous herbs help soothe irritated mucous membranes and bind with phlegm to carry it out of the body. Mucolytics, high in essential oils, help break up mucous. Tonic herbs help tone and strengthen the organs.

Cannabis buds (Cannabis sativa) Cannabis’ effects can vary in different people, but most noted are the dilation of blood vessels and alveoli sacs in the lungs, resulting in deeper respiration and an increase in heart rate. Vaporizing is a technique that does not burn the herb and reduces smoke inhalation. Using a water pipe can also decrease the amount of irritating particles inhaled. Smoking in general can be hard on the lungs, and though cannabis buds have been used to treat asthma and bronchitis, smoking them can also aggravate those conditions. If smoking, use a hemp wick to light a pipe rather than inhaling the vapors of a butane lighter, which is very toxic. Cannabis can also be consumed as food, tinctured, encapsulated, or as a sublingual spray. 

My guess is you already know where to get weed, for these herbs listed below, look for them in natural food or herbal shops. You may find effective combinations that contain several lung herbs available in tea, tincture or capsule.

Codonopsis root (Codonopsis pilosula), sometimes referred to as “Poor person’s ginseng” nourishes the lungs and helps clear excess mucous. It builds resistance to disease and reduces asthma and wheezing. Codonopsis is demulcent, expectorant, nutritive and tonic.

Elecampane root (Inula helenium), whose genus name honor Helen of Troy, who was said to have been collecting this herb when captured by Paris.  helps fight deep lung infection and prevents bronchial spasms. It improves asthma, bronchitis, chest colds, emphysema, hay fever, pneumonia, tuberculosis, wheezing and whooping cough.  Elecampane is antiseptic, astringent, expectorant and rejuvenative.  

Fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum), whose binomial means “triangular shaped Greek hay” reduces asthma and breaks up copious white phlegm, yjus alleviating bronchitis, catarrh, cough, mucous congestion, sore throat and tuberculosis. It is anti-inflammatory, demulcent, expectorant, mucilaginous, and rejuvenative. 

Grindelia flower (Grindelia squarrosa). A bright yellow flower with a sticky resin, when ingested, liquefies and binds with thick mucousy  secretions, then carries it out of the body.  It is a relaxing expectorant that stimulates repair of the epithelium tissue.  Grindelia benefits asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, colds, chronic coughs, emphysema, hay fever, pneumonia, sinus congestion, tuberculosis and whooping cough. It is an antispasmodic, demulcent, expectorant and sedative. 

Horehound leaf (Marrubium vulgare), named for the rough leaves like a dog’s tongue (in case you thought it related to hookers) relieves lung congestion, expels mucus and cools infection.  It is used to treat asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, colds, coughs, croup, emphysema, upper lung problems, laryngitis, sore throat, tuberculosis and whooping cough.  Horehound is an antispasmodic, demulcent and expectorant. 

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), known for its sweet flavor soothes irritated 

mucus membranes. It slows the breakdown of corticosteroids, thus prolonging the effects of anti-inflammatory cortisol. It nourishes adrenal glands exhausted by asthma.  Licorice helps reduce the symptoms of allergies, asthma, bronchitis, colds, cough, debility, laryngitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, sinusitis, and sore throat and smoker's cough. It is an adrenal tonic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, demulcent, expectorant, nutritive and rejuvenative.   

Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis), was once used to make the white 

confection we may have used as a candy, is valued for its ability to  moistens dryness, soothe irritated tissues and stimulate white blood cell production. It helps relieve asthma, bronchitis, dry cough, laryngitis, pleurisy, sore throat, tuberculosis and whooping cough. Marshmallow is antispasmodic, demulcent, expectorant, immune stimulant, mucilaginous, nutritive, and rejuvenative.

Mullein leaf (Verbascum thapsus) was recommended by physicians in the 1800’s 

to be smoked for asthma. It reduces inflammation of the trachea and soothes irritated tissue.  Consider mullein to relieve asthma, chronic bronchitis, catarrh, chest colds, coughs, hay fever, laryngitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, sinusitis, sore throat, tonsillitis, tuberculosis and whooping cough.  It is antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, demulcent, and expectorant. Some people even mix it with tobacco or cannabis, bit tea works fine. 

Osha root (Ligusticum porteri) which is a precious herb difficult to cultivate and 

bearing exotic names like Empress of the Dark Forest, Bear Medicine and Colorado Cough root,  strengthens the resiliency of alveolar sacs and soothes irritated lung tissue, including bronchial inflammation.  Use osha to treat allergies, asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, colds, coughs, emphysema, mid and lower lung problems, pneumonia, sinusitis, sore throat and whooping cough. Osha is antiseptic, antiviral, bronchial dilating, expectorant and immune stimulant. 

Slippery Elm bark (Ulmus rubra) once abundant, but decimated by Dutch Elm 

Disease is available as a medicine, buut can also be replaced by Red Elm or Siberian Elm clings to mucous and facilitates its elimination through the colon due to its own mucilage content. It helps build up very deficient people that are "wasting away." Consider this herb for bronchitis, convalescence, coughs, debility, laryngitis, upper lung problems, sore throat and tuberculosis. Slippery Elm is anti-inflammatory, demulcent, expectorant, nutritive, and restorative. 

Usnea lichen (Usnea barbata) is often found growing on dead pine tree branches and also known as “old man’s beard” is very effective in treating streptococcus and 

pneumoccus. It is used to treat bacterial infections, bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, sinusitis, sore throat, strep throat and tuberculosis. Usnea is antifungal, antiseptic and an immune stimulant. 

Yerba santa herb (Eriodictyon californicum) was a widely used herb by Native People of the American southwest. It stimulates the cilia of the lungs, decreases phlegm and reduces inflammation. Use yerba santa for allergies, wet asthma, bronchitis, colds, cough, hay fever,  excess mucous, upper respiratory congestion, pleurisy and tuberculosis.  Yerba santa is antispasmodic, astringent, bronchial dilating, decongestant, expectorant, stimulant and tonic. 

Essential oils can be powerful allies in delivering antimicrobial molecules into the air we breathe. The oils can be inhaled from the bottle, seven drops added to a tub of bath water, diluted in vegetable oil and used for massage, or best yet, diffused in an aromatherapy diffuser. Essential oils that benefit the lungs include clary sage, cypress, eucalyptus, ginger, lavender (best one for kids), marjoram, oregano, peppermint, pine, rosemary, sage, and tea tree. 

How we breathe can affect our health and consciousness. Breathing through the nose warms the air and helps trap microbes and particles before they reach the lungs. It is better to breathe into the belly rather than only into the chest. When inhaling visualize taking in life force and, let go of tensions and toxins with the exhale. Breathe deep the breath of life!