Breathe Easy Naturally: 10 Powerful Herbs & Recipes to Clear, Soothe, and Strengthen the Lungs
- Nikki
- Dec 28, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 5
Your lungs are more than just organs of breath — they are gateways of life, vitality, and emotion. Each inhale brings in oxygen and energy; each exhale releases what your body no longer needs. But when the lungs are burdened — whether by environmental toxins, seasonal allergies, infections, or emotional heaviness — the entire body feels it.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the lungs are associated with grief and sadness — emotions that, when unprocessed, can weaken lung energy and leave you feeling depleted, short of breath, or emotionally heavy. This connection reminds us that healing the lungs isn’t just about the physical — it’s also about releasing what weighs us down emotionally.
🌬️ Common Lung Challenges
Our respiratory system faces constant stress — from pollution and allergens to chronic conditions like asthma, bronchitis, or long-term congestion.
Asthma: Often triggered by allergens, cold air, stress, or exercise. Asthma tightens the bronchial passages and inflames airways, making it hard to breathe.
Colds & Flu: Viral infections irritate the lungs and sinuses, leading to mucus buildup and cough.
Environmental & Emotional Triggers: Smoke, poor air quality, or even suppressed sadness can all impact lung vitality.
Thankfully, herbal allies have long supported the respiratory system — opening airways, reducing inflammation, soothing irritation, and helping the body release mucus naturally.
🌿 Why Respiratory Health Matters
Your lungs do more than help you breathe — they filter pollutants, balance oxygen and carbon dioxide, and act as a vital detox organ. When your lungs struggle, you may notice:
Chest tightness
Chronic cough or wheezing
Mucus buildup
Dry, irritated lungs
Fatigue or low oxygen levels
Herbs can help strengthen the respiratory system, support immunity, and soothe both the body and spirit.
🌬️ How to Use Herbs for the Lungs
Internally: Take herbs as tea, tincture, syrup, or capsule. (Some herbs, like horehound, are bitter — honey or glycerin can help improve flavor.)
Externally: Use steam inhalations, poultices, or herbal rubs to draw out congestion and open the airways.
Energetically: Support your lungs emotionally by journaling, crying when needed, practicing deep breathing, or meditating on release and renewal.
🌬️ 10 Best Herbs for Lung Congestion, Dryness & Wheezing
1. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
A foundational lung herb, mullein is both expectorant and demulcent — helping expel mucus while soothing irritation.🫖 Use as a tea or tincture.
2. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Antimicrobial and antispasmodic, thyme clears mucus and relaxes spasms.🫖 Best as a tea, steam inhalation, or syrup.
3. Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
A strong expectorant that helps with thick, sticky phlegm and persistent coughs.🫖 Use as tea or syrup with honey.
4. Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis)
Rich in mucilage, marshmallow soothes dryness, irritation, and scratchy throats.🫖 Use in cold infusions or warm teas.
5. Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Anti-inflammatory and moistening; helps protect mucous membranes.⚠️ Avoid in high blood pressure. Use as tea or tincture.
6. Osha Root (Ligusticum porteri)
Traditionally used for asthma, altitude sickness, and bronchitis, osha opens airways and boosts oxygenation.🫖 Use as tincture or in small tea amounts.
7. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
A warming anti-inflammatory that improves circulation and helps reduce wheezing.🫖 Use fresh or dried in tea or tincture.
8. Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
A soothing demulcent that helps calm dry coughs and clear mucus.🫖 Use as tea or syrup for short-term relief.⚠️ Avoid long-term use or during pregnancy.
9. Wild Cherry Bark (Prunus serotina)
Calms spasmodic coughing while supporting natural mucus flow.🫖 Best as a syrup or decoction.⚠️ Avoid during pregnancy or when taking sedatives.
10. Lobelia (Lobelia inflata)
A powerful bronchial relaxant that opens constricted airways.🫖 Use tincture in small, practitioner-recommended doses.⚠️ Avoid during pregnancy or in high doses (may cause nausea).
RECIPES FOR LUNG SUPPORT
🍵 Lung Support Tea Blend
Ingredients:
1 part Mullein Leaf
1 part Marshmallow Root
1 part Thyme
½ part Coltsfoot
½ part Wild Cherry Bark
Directions:
Mix all herbs and store in a jar.
Use 1 tablespoon per cup of hot water.
Steep 10–15 minutes, strain well.
Add honey for taste and soothing effect.
💚 This blend soothes irritated airways and helps loosen mucus naturally.
🍯 Cough-Calming Syrup
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon each Wild Cherry Bark, Horehound, and Ginger Root
2 cups water
1 cup raw honey
Directions:
Simmer herbs in water for 20 minutes.
Strain and cool slightly.
Stir in honey and store in a glass jar in the fridge.
Take 1 teaspoon as needed for cough or congestion.
💚 Wild cherry quiets the cough, while horehound and ginger clear phlegm.
🌫️ Steam Inhalation for Clearer Breathing
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon dried Thyme
1 teaspoon Mullein Leaf
½ teaspoon Lobelia (optional for tight lungs)
A few drops of Eucalyptus or Peppermint essential oil (optional)
Directions:
Add herbs to a bowl and pour in boiling water.
Drape a towel over your head and the bowl.
Breathe deeply for 5–10 minutes, keeping eyes closed.
Gently blow your nose afterward to release mucus.
💨 This method opens the airways, loosens congestion, and offers fast relief for colds, flu, and asthma-like tightness.
🌿 Monarch Herbs Lung-Support Favorites
✨ Settle Tea – A soothing blend that supports respiratory function and helps break up mucus.
🌬️ Zenith Extract – A powerful lung-opening tincture designed for asthma and wheezing relief.
🍯 Zephyr Syrup – A delicious, honey-based lung tonic that calms coughs and supports immune function.
🔥 Endure Smoking Blend – A non-tobacco herbal smoke that supports lung repair and relaxation.
🐾 Trail Pet Extract – Herbal respiratory support for pets, made gentle and safe for dogs and cats.
These formulas can be paired with your daily tea, tincture, or steam routine to naturally strengthen the lungs and promote clearer breathing.
⚠️ Cautions & Contraindications
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding: Avoid osha, lobelia, coltsfoot, and wild cherry bark.
High Blood Pressure: Avoid licorice.
Asthma Medications: Consult your healthcare provider before combining lobelia or osha with prescription inhalers.
Children: Mullein, thyme, coltsfoot and marshmallow are generally safe at reduced doses.
Always source quality herbs — organic or ethically wildcrafted for purity and potency.
💚 Breathe Easier, Heal Deeper
Your lungs are messengers of balance — connecting body, mind, and emotion through the breath. When you nurture them with herbal allies and gentle lifestyle shifts, you’re not just improving your breathing — you’re supporting emotional release, vitality, and calm.
At Monarch Herbs, we’ve curated a line of teas, tinctures, and syrups formulated specifically to restore lung health naturally — so you can breathe easier, move freely, and feel lighter.
✨ Explore our respiratory line: Settle Tea, Zephyr Syrup, Zenith Extract, and Endure Smoking Blend — all crafted with care, intention, and herbal wisdom.
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