3 Herbs To Support Lung Health

Its been 1 week since the start of the fires in Napa and Sonoma and while there has been some containment, a majority of the fires are still burning.  

Those with asthma and other lung conditions that are especially sensitive to particulates in the air, and may be affected by the fires even long after we stop smelling the smoke. Here are three herbs to help protect your lungs.
 
We've stocked upon several formulas that we can customize to get you through this fire and fall season. 

Photo courtesy of Dr Shen Clinic

Gan Cao (licorice root)
How do I love you Gan Cao? I can't even count the ways.  This herbs is in a majority of all chinese herbal formulas and does  a great job at balancing them out. 
In regards to smoke exposure, Gan Cao clears heat toxin and relieves sore or scratchy throat. Licorice can be decocted raw, or dry-fried in honey and then decocted into a tea. 

Quick to note, this herb does speed up heart rate, and should not be taken by anyone with a heart condition, unless under care of a trained provider.

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Photo by tcmwiki

Bai He  (Lily Bulb)
Bai He is the fleshy bud scale of the perennial herbaceous plant Lilium brownii. Picked in the Fall season, it  is commonly used when a dry, hacking, cough is present.  Bai He nourishes the yin fluids of the lungs, and has the added benefit of calming the heart to support those recovering from this traumatic fire. Lily bulb can be brewed as a tea, or cooked in soup and consumed.

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Photo by NaturalHealth365

Sang Ye  (Mulberry Leaf)
Sang Ye's health benefits are attributed to its naturally occurring compound, 1-deoxynojirimycin, or DNJ. DNJ is responsible for mulberry's antidiabetic effects, which have been studied extensively. Mulberry leaf tea also has powerful antioxidant properties and has been found to lower cholesterol and triglycerides and reduce inflammation

Sang Ye cools and moistens the lungs, which balances the hot and drying effect of smoke exposure. Mulberry leaf also cools and clears the eyes. The bark of the Mulberry tree, Sang Bai Pi, is colder in nature and works on a deeper level to calm wheezing and cough for individuals with asthma. Both can be brewed as a tea. 

Don't hesitate to contact us with your specific questions on formulas that would benefit you during this time.