There are many plants that are useful for respiratory health. Some help with asthma or bronchitis, others against nasal congestion, or cough. They have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years and can be mixed with food and taken as tea or inhaled as essential oils. In the following, we would like to introduce you to some medicinal plants that strengthen your lungs and help prevent respiratory diseases
Most often, the latter are one or more of the following effects:
- Relief of irritation in the nasal cavity or airways
- The expectorant effect that helps break through the mucus build-up in the bronchi and expel mucus
- Relaxation of the muscles of the upper respiratory tract, which coughs up
- Regulating the release of histamines (one of the main factors for allergic inflammation)
- Eliminate harmful microorganisms that cause breathing problems
- Delivery of antioxidants that slow down the aging of organs and cells
Oregano
Oregano has so many health benefits that it should be in all doctor’s cases and in all kitchens. This is mainly thanks to its content of rosemary acid and carvacrol because the two natural phenols have antihistamine and expectorant properties, from which the respiratory tract and the air supply through the nasal cavities benefit directly. The herbs are also very effective antibiotics as it fights bacteria and fungi that are dangerous to the lungs. The plant’s sterile and antibacterial properties are so outstanding that a French physician writes that oregano oil can even make wastewater sterile.
Lungwort
Lungwort, also known as Pulmonaria, is a plant which has similarities to human body parts so they are good for human, that’s what people in the seventeenth century used think. Lung herb has been used in respiratory diseases due to its parallels to the lung tissue, and it actually works. Today it is extremely valued in herbal medicine due to its content of flavonoids such as kaempferol and quercetin, because thanks to these, it efficiently shields the mucous membranes found in the respiratory tract and has a clear medicine effect.
Elfdock
Elfdock is also known as Elecampane, helenium, and horse heal. According to legend, Elfdock was created in the places where the tears of Helena of Sparta wet the earth with her tears. In other ancient medical cultures of China, Greek, Roman, and India, it has long been used to relax and calm the tracheal muscles. It owes its therapeutic properties in particular to two ingredients, which are called alantolactone and inulin. At the time, the bronchi lining is red and swollen, breathing could prove painful and difficult. Inulin provides relief in the bronchial passages, while the antitussive alantolactone removes the mucus and makes breathing easier.
Hemp
Hemp or also known as cannabis is considered to be one of the most sacred plants to treat many medical conditions according to ancient Indian medicine methodology – Ayurveda. It has remained the topic of controversies since the last century as some of its compounds called cannabinoids are psychoactive. But CBD cannabinoids of cannabis have been in many studies to treat anxiety, colds, and coughs. Several counties have legalized it and it is available at a marijuana dispensary. When used in vaporizers, it helps to widen the respiratory tract and the sinuses. It is believed to help in breathing and that is why many sportspeople also use it.
Thyme
Thyme is really helpful and regarded as one of the best herbs as it is used in infusions for centuries to boost the immune system and relieve respiratory disorders. This is thanks to its strong essential oils, which contain many monoterpenes such as carvacrol and thymol, and thus have antibacterial properties and the ability to get rid of bacteria and viruses. However, the spice herb is also wonderful as a remedy for treating nasal congestion and cough.
