ASK GRANNY EARTH
I get bronchitis quite often. In the past I have tried taking anti-biotics, cough syrups, mega doses of vitamin C and throat lozenges. I am not comfortable with the antibiotics, and the others didn’t seem to help very much. What herbs can you recommend for me?
Well, forget the antibiotics- they’re doing your immune system more harm than good. Most cough syrups work to suppress the central nervous system’s cough reflex action. Vitamin C is a good thing for you overall system, and a natural throat lozenger can be soothing. But, when it comes to actually healing the cause of your bronchitis or other respiratory prob-lems, you’ll need something a little stronger. There are a lot of herbs that work to relieve and heal the respiratory system. I encourage you to do your own research to see which ones appeal to you. Below are some of my favorites:
1. PLEURISY ROOT (Asclepias tuberosa): The Native American Indians ate Pleurisy root for chest complaints and fever. In early American herbal medicine it was considered to be a “cure all”. It has been used to treat pleurisy, pneumonia, asthma, congestion, dysentery, colic, typhoid, eczema and hysteria. Pleurisy root promotes the coughing up of phlegm, while it reduces inflammation and fever.
2. WILD CHERRY BARK (Prunus serotina): The Native Americans used it to treat coughs and colds, hemorrhoids and diarrhea. Many of the early cough syrups, which were made in this country, used Cherry Bark as a treatment for whooping cough and asthma. Later it was replaced with just “cherry flavoring” and cough suppressing agents. Wild Cherry Bark has wonderful expectorant properties. It also eases digestion and the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, especially when these conditions are of a nervous origin.
3. BORAGE (Borago officinalis): This herb is ‘demulcent’, meaning that it soothes irritated membranes, and emollient, i.e., has softening and soothing qualities. It is used to heal sore and inflamed tissues. Herbalist John Gerard stated (1597), “A syrup made of the flowers of Borage comforteth the heart, purgeth melancholy and quieteth the lunaticke person”. When used in combination with expectorant herbs, Borage has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system.
4. HOREHOUND (Marrubium vulgare): Horehound has been a traditional remedy for chest problems since ancient times. It is used for wheezing, bronchitis, asthma, and whooping cough. It works by causing the secretion of mucus within the respiratory system. It normalizes the heart rhythm and is an aid to digestion.
5. LOBELIA (Lobelia inflata): Lobelia was a traditional Native American remedy for many conditions such as worms, venereal disease, and diseases involving coughs. While being anti-spasmodic, it also stimulates the respiratory center within the brain stem aiding in and promoting strong and deep breathing. Lobelia relaxes muscles, especially smooth muscles which are involved in the breathing process.
6. MULLEIN (Verbascum thapsus): Mullein has a soothing, lubricating, expectorant and antiseptic effect on the entire respiratory system. It is used for coughs, laryngitis, tonsillitis, asthma, tuberculosis, influenza and nervous tension.
7. LICORICE (Glyeyrrhiza glabra): One of the most valuable of all herbal medicines, Licorice is anti-inflammatory and has been used traditionally for asthma and all chest complaints. This is due to its anti-inflammatory, expectorant and demulcent qualities.
8. ECHINACEA (Echinacea purpurea): A general all-around immune system enhancer, Echinacea counteracts all bacterial and viral infections. It is the most important immune stimulant in Western herbal medicine.
Several years ago I put together a cough syrup for my own personal use. I used herbs that I had experienced powerful healing responses with and that I could readily obtain. I gave this cough syrup to family and friends whenever they got sick. The results were miraculous! The above herbs all seemed to work together (in a base of glycerin) to bring fast and complete recovery to everyone who took them.
