Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. Therapeutic herbalism [Course handout]. Tr… First, infuse in hot or warm water, then let it cool to room temperature, extending the length of the infusion. American Botanical Council. Mullein tincture is a tried and true remedy for colds, coughs, asthma, emphysema, and other lung conditions. The first step to making herbal preparations is harvesting the desired part at the right time. Mullein Leaf Extract Tincture - Herbal Supplement for Dry Irritating Coughs and Congestion Relief - Natural Lung Detox and Cleanse for Smokers - Organic Mullein - Herb Lore (4 Oz) 4.2 out of 5 stars 3 $28.99$28.99 ($7.25/Fl Oz) Cultures have also turned to smoking mullein for cough and asthma. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Opening our wild hearts to the healing herbs. It thins mucus, which increases recovery time, and causes many infections to be less symptomatic. 9. It’s a good idea to reserve a bottle of your finished Mullein flower oil in your medicine cabinet or herbal first aid kit for earaches, but there are other ways you can use Mullein infused oil too. Stey C, Steurer J, Bachmann S, Medici TC, Tramer MR. It is an effective expectorant, meaning that it helps clear mucus from your lungs. . Efficacy of diaphragmatic breathing in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a review of the literature. Your doctor may talk with you about lifestyle changes you can make to help relieve the symptoms of COPD, such as exercising and eating a healthy diet. 2001;23(2):268-287. When we ingest demulcents, their first direct action is on the mouth, throat, and other tissues of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Bourjeily G, Rochester CL. This table features culinary and garden herbs that you may already have on hand. Herbs for digestive function. Expectorants can be what conventional pharmacy refers to as “mucolytic,” or a substance that thins or breaks up the physical structure of mucus, making it easier for the body to expel. Historically, mullein has been used by herbalists as a remedy for the respiratory tract, particularly in cases of irritating coughs with bronchial congestion. Walking is a good exercise to build endurance. View all posts by connie dello buono. Hoffmann, D. (2003). All but the seeds of the plant are utilized medicinally and some of the uses are rooted in folk herbal medicine. If you are coastal and have learned to identify and gather seaweeds safely, then you might have a bit of Irish moss. Clin Chest Med. leaf and flower, linden (Tilia spp.) Thyme can be taken as a tincture, as a tea, or used as an essential oil in a diffuser. One rare form of COPD is inherited (see Risk Factors). Check out our upcoming ebook and posts on Pantry Herbalism: Antiviral Foods and Spices as they also focus on how some of these actions are achieved by common herbs and foods! All parts are useful, including root, leaf, and flower. Indications include a “hard cough with soreness” (Hoffmann, 2003, p. 592). (2016a). The spirometer measures how much air you have in your lungs, and can help detect COPD before your symptoms become obvious. This means that the herb helps the body remove excess mucus from the lungs and soothes the mucus membranes with its emollient properties. Preliminary studies suggest that acupuncture may help relieve shortness of breath in those with COPD. However, avoid long-term use of licorice (. Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) fills out the description of demulcent to a tee. Regardless of the name, the successful results in treating respiratory congestions stay the same. The flower is used to make medicine. The German Commission E has approved the root for oral and pharyngeal mucosa irritation, dry cough, and mild irritation of the gastric mucosa, and the leaf for dry cough and oral/pharyngeal mucosal irritation (American Botanical Council, 2016a; American Botanical Council, 2016b). The main risk factor for COPD is smoking. Mullein. Other uses include asthma, diarrhea, colic, gastrointestinal bleeding, migraines, joint pain, and gout. Part two–management. Cooling aromatics, such as spearmint (. Lung reduction surgery is a procedure where a surgeon removes damaged parts of your lung to create more space for your lung to work better. Mullein is a wonderful herb to use in treating a cough, even the serious cough experienced in bronchitis and whooping cough. Also note that a little demulcency can go a long way! 2001;10(13):845-850. All parts are useful, including root, leaf, and flower. Low levels of antioxidants and certain minerals including vitamins A, C, and E, potassium, magnesium, selenium, and zinc are associated with having COPD and may contribute to poor lung function. Mullein helps the lungs because it acts as an expectorant. Mullein has a particular influence on the upper respiratory tract and is useful for dry, hoarse coughs (Felter & Lloyd, 1898; Hoffmann, n.d.). The practice of traditional Western herbalism. Because mullein is a biennial plant (taking two years to complete its life cycle), leaves and roots can be harvested at the end of the first and beginning of the second year, while flowers can only be harvested from the second year. 2003;97(3):197-204. leaf is a respiratory tonic that reduces irritation and stimulates fluid production, therefore thinning mucus and facilitating expectoration (Hoffmann, 2003). With emphysema, the walls of your lungs lose their elasticity — they can’t constrict to allow you to exhale. root is one classic example of a versatile respiratory herb that is an expectorant and, tissue irritation and inflammation that results from coughing—one of the reasons it is an ally to those who have suffered chronic respiratory irritation from smoking or occupational exposure to irritants. Mullein is a particularly effective treatment for ear infections and it’s especially gratifying to make your own oil from its flowers and flower buds. Elecampane can be very easily found in the woods. The most important thing you can do to prevent COPD or to stop the damage from getting worse if you have it is to not smoke. Gigliotti F, Romagnoli I, Scano G. Breathing retraining and exercise conditioning in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a physiological approach. However, other herbalists suggest that a cold infusion of the root is best. Chuck A, Jacobs P, Mayers I, Marciniuk D. Cost-effectiveness of combination therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. COPD is a difficult disease to live with, and joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems can help relieve stress of the disease. Mullein is commonly used for its emollient (skin moisturizing) and astringent (tissue constrictive) properties. It’s another herb that has traditionally been used as a remedy for the lungs and respiratory tract thanks to its soothing ingredients. Of course plants often possess a combination of all of these actions and related constituents, so as you learn about herbs for lungs and respiratory support, don’t count on being able to categorize each herb as having just one of these actions! ) Great Mullein is a versatile herb; it can be applied, drunk, smoked or inhaled for medicinal purposes. Elecampane can be very easily found in the woods. Herbs with aromatic properties tend to be stimulating and can be characterized as warming or cooling. As you give thought to the herbal actions you are looking for—and take stock of the herbs you have on hand—think about how to combine these herbs for respiratory support. Elecampane Root. This gentle herb seems to focus its energy in a very effective way in the lungs, and it gets to work fast! Perhaps nodding to its own soft fuzzy hairs, the herb is also indicated to increase the health of weakened cilia (the moving hairs of the lungs and respiratory tract) due to smoking and infection. The use of herbs is a time honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Eventually, scar tissue forms in the lungs, which don’t allow in as much oxygen as you need. Mullein has a particular influence on the upper respiratory tract and is useful for dry, hoarse coughs (Felter & Lloyd, 1898; Hoffmann, n.d.). It is Anti-Inflammatory. Benefits of Mullein: Harvesting Tips. Expectorants can be what conventional pharmacy refers to as “mucolytic,” or a substance that thins or breaks up the physical structure of mucus, making it easier for the body to expel. It can be important to consider the energetics as well as the actions of plants when selecting the best herb among your resources on hand. Soothing mullein, aromatic spearmint, and immune enhancing rose hips combine to create a lung supporting blend to assisting blend. 5-6). Demulcents are characterized by a slightly slippery texture and often provide a thickening quality when infused in hot or cold water. Stick to good, common herbal sense, and find the potentially useful herbs you already have. To read more about pyrrolizidine alkaloids, you can check out our comfrey article. Mullein was once used to soothe the coughing associated with tuberculosis, and to cure it. I have been taking mullein leaf capsules for 1 year to open my sinuses and to receive a related earache at the suggestion of someone else. The mucilaginous polysaccharide inulin in elecampane relaxes tissues and soothes irritation, while the volatile oils are stimulating and promote expectoration (Hoffmann, 2003). It is a natural medicine that contains a compound known as saponins which help break down the mucus in the lungs. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press. People with COPD often lack essential nutrients in their bodies. Whether it is mullein oil, or mullein essential oil, both of them contain the properties exerted by Mullein. It can be important to consider the energetics as well as the actions of plants when selecting the best herb among your resources on hand. Demulcents are wonderfully soothing to throat tissues during a dry cough or sore throat. When flare ups are severe, requiring hospitalization, you may need supplemental oxygen. In the Appalachian region of the United States, th… Coltsfoot can be made into syrups, which may be the ideal preparation, as coltsfoot is high in pyrrolizidine alkaloids, constituents that may accumulate and affect the liver negatively if used long-term. Eating foods rich in antioxidants, magnesium and other minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids (including fruits, vegetables, and fish) may help lower your risk for COPD. In some cases, mullein is applied directly to the skin to help treat burns or inflammatory skin conditions. Mullein leaf preparations, such as teas, are used for bronchial conditions, including bronchitis, asthma, dry coughs, congestion, whooping cough, tuberculosis, pneumonia, tonsillitis, colds and the flu. Some plant alkaloids have this effect, for example. He or she will also look for signs that you are having trouble breathing, like flaring of your nostrils and contracting of the muscles between your ribs. The effect of oral N-acetylcysteine in chronic bronchitis: a quantitative systematic review. It also helps people with anxiety issues. When making a tincture of this or other demulcents, keep in mind that it is best to use either a low concentration of alcohol or non-alcoholic solvents, such as glycerin, because the mucilage is precipitated out of the solution by alcohol (Cech, 2000). If you have COPD, avoiding respiratory infections is very important. Be sure to talk to your physician about any supplements you are taking or considering taking. Herbs such as marshmallow (, spp.) Retrieved from http://www.katolenyardley.com/Digestive%20Health.pdf. This is due to small molecules that can be easily sensed (smelled) and that create a bit of movement in the GI tract and respiratory tract when tasted or inhaled. Coltsfoot is both expectorant and demulcent, and it also has affinity for the respiratory system. When addressing viral respiratory infections, we want to think about herbs that have strong immune or antiviral actions in addition to herbs for lungs and basic respiratory support. Rahman I, Kilty I. Antioxidant therapeutic targets in COPD. As mentioned, there are many uses for mullein, and it is not only the leaves but also the seeds and flowers that can aid in your herbal healing. As luck would have it, coltsfoot is also one of the earliest and most widespread spring ephemerals. The mullein leaf and the flowers of the plant are used in tinctures, syrups, oils, and even used to gargle. Usually, it is used as a tea, added to oils, or smoked. ter to use what you already have on hand than to spend an extended amount of time out of the home or to bring new items into the home. Mullein herb for lung and breast health – COPD signs, symptoms and diagnosis, Life Insurance for Mortgage Protection and Final Expense, Foods to eat and avoid when you have Gout and leg pains, Signs of the preactive and active phase of dying, medications for terminally ill, Restore your vision naturally y Dr. Mercola, Case Note Sample Narratives from visiting nurses, social workers and physical therapists for home care patients, MEDICATIONS TO AVOID that worse PD (Parkinson’s disease), Non pasteurized beers have more health benefits, Dan Rather into safer harbors of our democratic traditions, Health resource helper and coaching to a healthy you, Donate lunch meals to our health workers in nursing facilities in the bay area, Shortness of breath, especially during exercise. Mullein is a plant. The plant has also been used in its various forms to treat hemorrhoids, burns, bruises, and gout. The Complete Herbal. Celebration Herbals offers a mullein tea made of the plant’s leaves, which are certified organic and guaranteed to soothe your lungs. As mentioned, there are many uses for mullein, and it is not only the leaves but also the seeds and flowers that can aid in your herbal healing. 2006 Jun;7(6):707-20. The encyclopedia of medicinal plants. Bronchodilators — increase airflow by opening airways and making it easier to breathe, Corticosteroids — reduce inflammation; either inhaled with an inhaler or taken by mouth, they are usually used to treat moderate to severe COPD, Leukotriene modifiers — help prevent inflammation and swelling in airways, and reduce mucus, Antibiotics — used to treat respiratory infections, Combination therapy — taking inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators together is an effective treatment in stable COPD. 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