3 Teas to Help Strengthen Your Lungs

The main part of keeping your lungs healthy involves having good lifestyle habits. For example: not smoking, staying away from toxic environments and pollution, getting plenty of exercise, and taking care of your immune system. But that doesn't always stop serious disorders like bronchitis, asthma, and infections that require medical treatment.

Written and verified by psychologist Valeria Sabater.

Last update: 27 May, 2022

Along with treatments prescribed for your doctor, you can also drink certain medicinal teas to help strengthen your lungs. Today we’re going to show you three that are especially good for this.

Enjoy them freshly brewed and served in your favorite mug!

1. Thyme and nettle tea, one of the teas to help strengthen your lungs

• Thyme is one of the most quintessential medicinal plants for lung health. It’s used all the time to alleviate coughs and treat respiratory diseases. It’s also a natural expectorant and antiseptic, making it perfect both as a tea and even if you just want to inhale the steam.
• Nettle is a plant that people have used for centuries for all kinds of things. One of its main properties is cleansing and purifying the bloodstream and lungs. It also contains plenty of vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, and silicon, so it’s perfect for people who have anemia, disabilities, or even people who are bedridden.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of thyme (30 g)
• 1 tablespoon of dried nettle (30 g)
• 1 cup of water (200 ml)
• 1 tablespoon of honey (30 g)

Preparation

• It’s easy to find nettle and thyme for tea brewing in any natural store. These ingredients are usually sold in bags ranging from 300 to 500 grams, and they’re very affordable.
• The first thing you need to do is bring the water to a boil. As always, we recommend using a ceramic teapot or kettle because aluminum and other metals don’t conserve tea’s medicinal properties very well.
• Once the water is boiling, add the thyme and nettle and let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Afterwards, let the tea stand for another 10 minutes as it cools.
• Add the tablespoon of honey and drink slowly, being sure to inhale the steam. It’s very soothing. You can drink two cups of this tea a day.

2. Medicinal tea made with plantain, fennel, and lemon balm

• Plantain: This plant helps you eliminate any mucus or phlegm obstructing your airways. It’s also an excellent anti-inflammatory agent, both from drinking it and inhaling its steam. You can even use it as a hot compress on your chest.
• Fennel and lemon balm: Combining these two medicinal plants helps remove toxins that have built up in your lungs, while also relaxing you. Often, when you have lung problems you also experience extreme fatigue and uncomfortable pressure throughout your respiratory system. Lemon balm helps relieve this.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of lemon balm
• 1 tablespoon of plantain
• 1 tablespoon of fennel
• 1 cup of water (200 ml)
• 2 tablespoons of honey

Preparation

• Again, first you need to heat the cup of water to a boil. Once it’s boiling, add all three herbs: plantain, lemon balm, and fennel. Let them simmer for 20 minutes, then allow the tea to steep for another 10 minutes.
• This tea will taste a bit strong thanks to the plantain, so we recommend adding two tablespoons of honey. Despite its bolder flavor, you should drink this tea three times a day–it’s excellent for detox and reducing inflammation.

3. Linden and green tea, a great way to strengthen your lungs

• This recipe uses green tea for its antioxidant content, and it’s based on research the University of Maryland Medical Center conducted a few years ago. The team found that green tea helps prevent the onset of lung cancer. Obviously it’s not a miracle cure, but a cup a day could make a big difference.
• Linden is a plant that fights spasms and it’s easy to find in any natural store. It helps you relax, allows you to breathe better, and strengthens your lungs. It’s truly amazing, and has a pleasant taste that blends well with other types of teas.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of green tea
• 1 tablespoon of linden
• 1 cup of water (200 ml)
• 1 tablespoon of honey

Preparation

• It’s super simple: just boil the cup of water and add the green tea and linden. Let this tea steep for 10 minutes. Pour it into your favorite mug and add the honey. It’s delicious and goes perfectly with breakfast!