Our lung is one of our most vital organs, supplying oxygen to the body and expelling carbon dioxide. So maintaining its health is extremely essential for our overall well-being. With increasing pollution (especially in India), allergens, and respiratory infections, figuring out how to keep lungs healthy naturally should be our top priority. While modern medicine offers various treatments for lung conditions, nature is sometimes the best answer. So we’ve gathered some of the most powerful herbs for health of not only your lungs but also your body as a whole.
10 Best Lung Cleansing Herbs
Herbs like turmeric, black seed oil, ginger, etc. have long been traditionally used for their therapeutic properties. So let’s look at some of the best ayurvedic herbs for lungs and how you can include them in your daily routine.
1. Turmeric
Turmeric or haldi is a bright yellow spice used in Southeast Asian and Indian cuisine as a cooking herb for centuries, but it also holds benefits apart from being a food enhancer.
Function for Lungs: The active compound in turmeric, curcumin, helps reduce inflammation in the airways, making it beneficial for conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (1). With antibacterial and antiviral properties, curcumin also protects us against respiratory infections.
Make it Part of Your Diet: You can add it to curries, soups, and smoothies. Golden milk, a mixture of turmeric, milk, and honey, is another tasty way to have turmeric, or you can add it to your tea to make a lung cleansing tea.
2. Tulsi (Holy Basil)
We all know tulsi as an aromatic herb highly valued in ayurvedic medicine. It’s one of the most powerful herbs for health overall.
Function for Lungs: Tulsi has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and adaptogenic properties. It helps reduce congestion, fight respiratory infections, and improve overall lung function.
Make it Part of Your Diet: Tulsi leaves can be chewed fresh, added to teas, or used in cooking. Tulsi tea, made by steeping the leaves in hot water, is a popular remedy for respiratory issues.
3. Black Seed Oil
This is an herbal oil extracted from the seeds of Nigella sativa, a plant commonly used in traditional medicine. These black seeds are also called black cumin or kalonji seeds.
Function for Lungs: Black seed oil is one of the best herbs for lungs when it comes to relieving lung diseases. With its potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, it can help reduce the severity of asthma symptoms and improve overall lung function (2).
Make it Part of Your Diet: You can take capsule supplements or add it to foods like salads, yogurt, or smoothies. Start with a small dose and gradually increase to avoid digestive issues.
4. Ginger
You can’t figure out how to keep lungs healthy naturally without discussing ginger. It’s been used for centuries for its medicinal properties.
Function for Lungs: Ginger has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that can help reduce inflammation in the lungs. It also helps break down mucus, making it easier to expel (3).
Make it Part of Your Diet: Ginger can be added with honey and lemon to your regular chai to make a lung cleansing tea; or to soups, stir-fries, and smoothies.
5. Garlic
Garlic is a bulbous plant known for its distinctive flavour and numerous health benefits.
Function for Lungs: Garlic has strong anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, so it boosts the immune system, reduces inflammation in the airways, and protects against respiratory infections.
Make it Part of Your Diet: You can add garlic to a variety of dishes, like soups, stews, sauces, and dressings. Try to add raw garlic to your diet in small amounts, because that’s its most potent form.
6. Pippali (Long Pepper)
Pippali is a flowering vine that’s dried and used as a spice in cooking. It’s also one of the best ayurvedic herbs for lungs, used for its medicinal properties.
Function for Lungs: It helps reduce congestion and promotes the expulsion of mucus with its anti-inflammatory powers. It also enhances lung function and can treat respiratory conditions like asthma and bronchitis (4).
Make it Part of Your Diet: It’s used as a spice in cooking or can be added to teas and herbal concoctions to support respiratory health.
7. Licorice Root
Licorice root is most famous for its sweet flavour, but it’s also used in traditional medicine for coughing, asthma, and other lung conditions.
Function for Lungs: Having anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, it helps soothe irritated airways, reduce coughing, and clear mucus from the lungs.
Make it Part of Your Diet: Licorice root can be added to tea, or you can take it as a supplement. It’s also available in tincture and extract forms. But take it with caution, because excessive consumption can cause side effects like high blood pressure.
8. Peppermint
This hybrid mint is a cross between watermint and spearmint, and known for its refreshing flavour.
Function for Lungs: Peppermint contains menthol, which helps relax the respiratory muscles and promote easier breathing.
Make it Part of Your Diet: Peppermint can be added to teas, desserts, and salads; or you can directly apply diluted peppermint oil to your chest to relieve congestion.
9. Oregano
Known for its strong flavour and aroma, oregano is an herb commonly used in cooking (or you might know it best as a pizza topping!)
Function for Lungs: Oregano contains carvacrol and rosmarinic acid, compounds with antiviral and antimicrobial properties. These compounds can help reduce respiratory infections and improve lung function (5).
Make it Part of Your Diet: Oregano can be used fresh or dried in various dishes, including pasta, pizza, and salads.
10. Plantain
Also known as raw bananas, plantain is a broadleaf herb often used in traditional medicine for its healing properties.
Function for Lungs: Plantains have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and mucilage properties that soothe irritated mucus membranes and help clear mucus from the lungs.
Make it Part of Your Diet: You can add its leaves in teas, salads, or cook it as a vegetable. Plantain tea is mostly taken for respiratory issues.
Conclusion
Maintaining lung health is crucial for overall well-being, and incorporating these most powerful herbs for health into your diet can give significant benefits. These herbs offer anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and expectorant properties that help protect the lungs, reduce inflammation, and improve respiratory function. So by including these natural remedies in your daily routine, you can support your lung health and enhance your quality of life.
FAQs
Q1. What are the best ways to keep my lungs healthy?
To keep your lungs healthy: avoid smoking as it’s the leading cause of lung disease; exercise regular to strengthen the respiratory muscles; drink plenty of water throughout the day; use air purifiers at home to minimise exposure to pollutants; and regularly wash your hands and practice good hygiene.
Q2. How can I tell if my lungs are healthy?
Healthy lungs generally exhibit easy natural breathing with no difficulty and no shortness of breath, and have normal oxygen levels (usually above 95% for healthy lungs). You’ll also notice that there’s no chronic cough, persistent wheezing, chest tightness, or excessive mucus production.
Q3. What symptoms indicate that something might be wrong with my lungs?
Signs that you might have lung problems:
• Chronic Cough: A cough lasting more than eight weeks could indicate a lung issue.
• Shortness of Breath: Difficulty breathing or feeling breathless during routine activities.
• Wheezing: A whistling sound when breathing, suggesting airway constriction.
• Chest Pain: Persistent chest pain, especially when breathing deeply or coughing.
• Frequent Respiratory Infections: Recurrent bronchitis or pneumonia.
• Coughing Up Blood: This is a serious symptom and requires immediate medical attention.
Q4. How does air pollution affect lung health?
Air pollution has several detrimental effects on lung health:
• Respiratory Infections: Pollutants can increase the risk of infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.
• Asthma: Pollution can trigger asthma attacks and worsen symptoms.
• Chronic Lung Diseases: Long-term exposure to polluted air can contribute to chronic conditions like COPD.
• Reduced Lung Function: Continuous exposure can impair lung development and function, especially in children.
• Lung Cancer: Certain pollutants, like tobacco smoke and industrial emissions, are carcinogenic and can increase the risk of lung cancer.
Q5. What lifestyle changes can improve lung health?
Quit smoking; maintain a healthy diet rich in fruits, veggies, and antioxidants; exercise regularly; keep yourself adequately hydrated throughout the day; and practice breathing exercises like diaphragmatic breathing and pursed-lip breathing to improve lung capacity and efficiency.