5 Ways to Support Respiratory Health
If you’ve lived on the West Coast for the past several years you’re well aware that your lungs are under constant assault. Late-summer wildfires are continually afflicting the Pacific Northwest, so taking care of your lungs has never been more important. There are a variety of natural ways to enhance your respiratory health during these dry, smoky times. The goals are to moisten and lubricate, as well as to reduce inflammation and alleviate the symptoms associated with smoke inhalation. There are times when more drastic measures might be necessary, but the following is a list of safe and effective treatments that can dramatically improve your quality of life if you live in an area affected by wildfires. As always, if you have a chronic respiratory condition, are immune compromised, or have more questions, consult your doctor before beginning any new supplement.
1. Humidifiers
Don’t underestimate the power of simple water. In addition to staying well-hydrated internally, consider the often-overlooked humidifier as a way to provide increased moisture to your mucous membranes. Humidifiers are cheap and easy to set up, and you can add a variety of lung tonic herbs or essential oils for added benefit.
2. Demulcents
If you choose only one class of herbs to help soothe irritation from smoke, demulcents are your best option. Demulcents are herbs that contain mucilage, which can protect inflamed internal tissues. Some can even stimulate the goblet cells lining your mucous membranes to produce more mucus, creating a mechanical barrier between you and the toxicants in your environment, and offering your body a route for debris removal. Althaea officinalis (marshmallow) root, Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root and Ulmus rubra (slippery elm) bark are examples of demulcents; take them daily in tea form for optimal benefit.
3. Respiratory tonic herbs
Tonics are herbs that increase the tone of tissue, leading to better function over time. They act slowly but powerfully to nourish exhausted organs; for this reason, they’re also referred to as trophorestoratives. Examples of these herbs with a special affinity for the lungs include Hyssopus officinalis (Hyssop) leaf and Verbascum thapsis (mullein) leaf. They can also be taken in tea form and are best used daily over a long period of time.
4. Medicinal mushrooms
Mushrooms such as Chaga, Cordyceps, and Reishi have a long history of therapeutic use to enhance healthy immune response in the respiratory tract. They contain immune-modulating polysaccharides and grow in cool, dark, dank locations, thus having a biochemical and energetic affinity for lung tissue. They can safely be taken daily in capsule form, and in their powdered form can be added to coffee or tea, one teaspoon per eight ounce cup.
5. N-acetyl-cysteine
NAC is a supplement form of cysteine, an amino acid needed to make glutathione, the most potent antioxidant in the human body. It can offset harmful oxidative stress in the lungs by replenishing glutathione and reducing inflammation in the bronchial tubes. It also acts as an expectorant, an agent that thins and breaks up thick mucus to get it moving up and out of the lungs. While very safe, NAC can cause gastrointestinal effects such as loose stools in higher doses.
Citations:
Pizzorno, Joseph E., et al. The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine. Elsevier, 2016.
