While these herbs are not going to be enough to get rid of the worst cases of the flu and other things of the sort, they can help you to feel a lot better while sick. If you’re dealing with any kind of respiratory issue be it asthma or sinusitis, perhaps you should try adding these to your life on some level.
There are tons of different herbs out there with benefits across the board. You cannot deny that for most things, there is a natural remedy present. However, that remedy isn’t always going to be the ‘end all be all’ or capable of ‘fixing’ everyone’s problems so keep that in mind. You should always use these kinds of things with the guidance of your doctor if possible.
Below I am going to go over some of the best herbs for respiratory issues and how to use them properly. While that in itself may vary from person to person if you are talking with a professional and giving things a go, all should be fine. These herbs might not be enough on their own, but they can in many ways make the presence of the issue much less severe depending on what you’re facing.
Eucalyptus
This herb is something that grows quickly and is not hard to find. According to Medical News Today in an article that was medically reviewed by Debora Rose Wilson Ph.D., this plant’s antimicrobial properties are quite prominent. It can be used to relieve the effects of things like sore throat, sinusitis, and even bronchitis depending on the person. In order to use this one you add the fresh leaves to some hot water and allow them to steep, you can gargle this water or if you want you can use the vapor that the oil from this plant creates to decongest through inhalation.
Peppermint
Another really good plant that can be used to aid your respiratory system is peppermint. While a lot of people love the taste, there is more to this plant than just a flavor. This one can be drunk as a tea to help open things back up or steamed to help really clear your airways out.
Because this one contains menthol it is good for decongesting when it comes to things like the cold or the flu. It will help loosen mucus up from within the lungs and allow you to feel much better overall. Honestly, this one is easily my favorite.
That having been said, there are risks and precautions that should be taken with any herb but in regard to peppermint young children should most likely avoid it as it can cause issues for them depending on how they react to it. If you have diabetes it could even increase your risk of hypoglycemia. As noted above please talk to your doctor before diving down the natural remedy hole.
Plantain Leaf
Now, last on this list is going to be the plantain leaf. This leaf is might be something you never expected would land on this list but is well worth mentioning. According to Dr. Eddy Betterman plantain leaf is commonly used for different things like respiratory issues and gastrointestinal disorders. He even claims it is approved by the German Commission E for the use of easing coughs and other things of the sort.
Actually the abstract of a study called ‘[Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.): anti-inflammatory action in upper respiratory tract infections]’ about this specific kind of leaf goes as follows noting the effects offered:
Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) is used for the therapy of infections of the upper respiratory airways. While only few clinical data are available, results of experimental research confirm e.g. antiinflammatory, spasmolytic and immunostimulatory actions. A positive benefit-risk-ratio allows the recommendation of plantain in moderate chronic irritative cough, also especially for children.
Perhaps one of these could be what you were looking for to help ease that cough or rid you of those flu symptoms on some level? Again, don’t forget to keep your doctor informed. Will you be considering any of these for future use?