Herbal Options for Respiratory Infections
Yes, you can have it your way!
Herbal medicine is more than tea! We can choose the way we want to take them. Some herbs work best as tea, but we have options. Remember, it's not good for us if we use it. So let's stack the odds in our favor with these forms that are particularly good for respiratory infections:
Photo by Monstera
Tea
Water is an excellent way to extract the compounds that make herbs effective. Tea also helps keep you hydrated and soothes the lower respiratory tract. Bonus: It's simple to prepare and cost-effective. For medicinal use, tea should be taken 2-3 times a day.
Photo by Anna Pou
Herbal Honey & Syrup
Syrups are a tasty way to coat the mucous membranes of the throat and chest and cool inflammation. Children tend to like syrups because they are sweet and mask the taste of unpleasant herbs. When made with honey, we get more essential minerals, enzymes, and support for coughs and fevers. The beauty of herbal syrups and honey is we can take it by the spoonful, add it to tea, pour it over your pancakes, or add it to a cocktail or mocktail!
Herbal Bath
Photo by Rodnae
Our skin is our largest organ, so a bath is a relaxing way to use water to extract its benefits. When you add an herb like calendula, which is antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and soothing to the skin, we can relax, unwind, and pamper our bodies too.
Aromatherapy
Essential oils are created by extracting volatile oils from herbs. When we inhale them for medicinal benefit (aromatherapy), the scent can easily reach the upper and lower parts of the respiratory system. They are one of the more powerful ways to experience herbal medicine, so to be safe, you want to follow standard practices. It's best not to apply them to the skin directly or ingest them without talking to a professional, but you're pretty safe when using a diffuser or in an oil or salve you rub into your neck and chest. Add essential oils to your bath for an incredibly restorative and harmonious experience. The scent can make your home smell delightful.
Facial Steam
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For a simple and effective steam, place your herbs and essential oils in a mug or bowl, add water, cover your head with a towel to keep all of the goodness contained, lean over, and breathe. As with aromatherapy, it's a great way to get directly to your upper respiratory system. And you feel like you're spoiling yourself! I'm closing my eyes as I type this and imagining I'm having one right now!
You can check out our article on Herbs for Respiratory Infections to see ten herbs that are particularly good for respiratory infections. Here’s a sneak peek:
You can visit eden’s leaves website to see our herbalist-crafted, organic herbal products for respiratory infections and more that are always made with love.
Kim Violet is a mom, wife, herbalist, and the founder of Eden's Leaves, an herbal products company with medicinal blends for immunity and emotional health. She studies, writes, and teaches about herbal medicine. She is also the founder of Simply Brilliant, a consulting practice for organizations creating the world we want to leave for our great-grandchildren.