Herbs for Respiratory Health + Recipes

Allergy tincture, cough syrup, wild cherry honey, and lung tea are your go-to herbal respiratory recipes to ease your winter woes.

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Mullein, horehound, wild cherry, marshmallow, and plantain are your go-to herbs for respiratory health to ease chronic respiratory issues.

If you suffer from chronic respiratory issues, such as asthma, chest congestion, chronic bronchitis, or allergies, take comfort in some of the wonderful lung tonic herbs you can grow in your backyard: mullein (Verbascum thapsus), horehound (Marrubium vulgare), wild cherry (Prunus serotina), marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), and plantain (Plantago major). Each has a different role to play in respiratory health, from clearing coughs to soothing and opening the lungs. So, consider each plant’s actions to choose the best ones for you. Other lung herbs include elecampane (Inula helenium), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), peppermint (Mentha x piperita), Korean mint (Agastache rugosa), bee balm (Monarda spp.), and New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae).

Remember that some respiratory conditions warrant immediate medical attention, including serious infections, difficulty breathing, and pressure that feels like an elephant is sitting on your chest. You can certainly use herbs concomitantly, but medications remain best for acute asthma attacks and pneumonia.

Mullein

Mullein’s soft, flannel-like leaves help signify its soothing nature. Mullein opens constricted airways, moistens the lungs, and eases and cools inflammation and irritation. It can be used solo, but it makes a lovely supportive herb in almost any lung blend. Let this attractive biennial weed seed itself throughout the garden. Harvest the leaves anytime they look healthy, preferably before the plant blooms. Strain out the leaf hairs with a cloth or coffee filter when you prepare it. Best in: syrup, tea, tincture.

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