Four Home Remedies to Strengthen the Lungs
These remedies to strengthen your lungs are important. This is because they’re part of the respiratory system. They’re located in the chest, on either side of the heart, where they’re protected by the ribs. The respiratory system is responsible for transporting air containing oxygen from the environment and into the bloodstream.
The function of the lungs is therefore to carry out a gas exchange with the blood. To do this, the alveoli are situated in close contact with the capillaries.
Throughout our lives, many different factors influence the quality of this gas exchange. This may be factors such as outside pollutants, or lifestyle habits such as smoking.
It’s very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to protect the health of your lungs. In addition, regular check-ups will help prevent diseases and other conditions.
As a complementary measure, you can also try some natural remedies to help strengthen your lungs. These include herbal preparations which, according to natural medicine, can be beneficial for the respiratory system.
Natural remedies to strengthen your lungs
When it comes to these natural remedies to help strengthen your lungs, it’s important that we clarify a few points. Firstly, you shouldn’t consider these as complementary treatment options and never a primary source of treatment against the disease.
Moreover, we must reiterate that there is limited evidence to verify the safety and efficacy of these remedies. As such, they should be used with caution, especially if you’re in a poor state of health, or you’re already taking medication. In these cases, it’s essential to consult with your doctor first and let them know that you’re thinking of trying these remedies.
1. Eucalyptus vapor
Eucalyptus is one of the most used plants to strengthen the organs in the respiratory system. This is due to its high content of menthol. Menthol allows for the maximum opening of the bronchial tubes and is an excellent way to get air.
In fact, an investigation published in Alternative Medicine Review explains that inhaling steam with added eucalyptus can be effective against symptoms of bronchitis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
This is thanks to its active compound 1,8-cineole, which has antimicrobial effects against a variety of different bacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. of eucalyptus leaves
- 8 c. of boiling water
Preparation
- Firstly, bring the water to a boil and add the eucalyptus leaves. Then, cover the pan to concentrate the essence of the leaves in the water.
- While the pan is still on the heat, put your face over it, being careful not to burn yourself. Breathe in the menthol vapor of the leaves for approximately 10 minutes. Within no time, you will be able to breathe better.
- Repeat this process each time you have trouble breathing, or you’re experiencing other respiratory conditions, whether it be asthma or a sinus condition. After consulting with a specialist, you can repeat this process as needed.
We recommend The Goodness of Eucalyptus for Our Health
Strengthen your lungs with chestnuts
Using chestnuts as a way to strengthen the respiratory system is an option that gives very good results. This is largely due to the presence of a substance known as escin, which is found in the chestnut extract. According to information in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, escin acts as an anti-inflammatory.
Ingredients
- 1 tsp. of chestnuts
- 1 c. of boiling water
Preparation
- Firstly, add the chestnuts to the water. Let them sit in the bottom of the cup and then strain.
- Drink this 2 or 3 times per week when there is a change in breathing, such as asthma, coughing, or bronchitis. Needless to say, don’t forget to consult a specialist to discuss your symptoms.
3. Licorice root
This natural remedy is one of the most effective when one is trying to soothe the irritation of the respiratory airways. Plus, as detailed in a study published in the journal Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B, it has both antiviral and antimicrobial properties.
Ingredients
- 1 slice of licorice root
- 1 c. of water
Preparation
- Heat the water, and when it comes to a boil, add the licorice root and allow it to sit for 5 minutes. Strain it and, after a few minutes, drink it.
- This remedy is generally not recommended for people with hypertension, as it can actually make the condition worse. Therefore, it’s important to always discuss your symptoms with a doctor.
4. Bay Leaves
There have been very few studies into the use of bay leaves in promoting respiratory health. However, in natural medicine, people have used it for many years as a way to quit smoking, and soothe the irritation of the respiratory airways.
It’s important to mention that there’s evidence that bay leaves may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This may explain their supposed beneficial effects on respiratory health.
Ingredients
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 c. of water
- 1 tbsp. of honeysuckle
Preparation
- Firstly, heat the water to boiling. Next, add the bay leaves and the honeysuckle and leave them to combine on a low heat for approximately 5 minutes.
- Then, after the time indicated, remove from the heat, cover, and let it steep for 10 more minutes. Allow it to cool to a tolerable temperature and consume.
- Finally, if you live with smokers, we would recommend drinking one cup a day, three times a week. This way, you can strengthen your lungs, and help them stay healthy.
Conclusion
Feel free to try some of these natural remedies to help boost your lung function. However, due to the lack of evidence, it’s best to use them with caution, and in moderation. If possible, consult your doctor before you start taking them on a regular basis.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Sadlon, A. E., & Lamson, D. W. (2010, April). Immune-modifying and antimicrobial effects of eucalyptus oil and simple inhalation devices. Alternative Medicine Review.
- Wang, H., Zhang, L., Jiang, N., Wang, Z., Chong, Y., & Fu, F. (2013). Anti-inflammatory effects of escin are correlated with the glucocorticoid receptor/NF-κB signaling pathway, but not the COX/PGF2α signaling pathway. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 6(2), 419–422. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2013.1128
- Wang L, Yang R, Yuan B, Liu Y, Liu C. The antiviral and antimicrobial activities of licorice, a widely-used Chinese herb. Acta Pharm Sin B. 2015;5(4):310–315. doi:10.1016/j.apsb.2015.05.005
- Patrakar, R., Mansuriya, M., & Patil, P. (2012). Phytochemical and pharmacological review on Laurus Nobilis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND CHEMICAL SCIENCES, 3(7), 255–258.
- Krup et al., J. Pharmacological Activities of Turmeric (Curcuma longa linn): A Review. Homeop Ayurv Med 2013; 2: 4. http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2167-1206.1000133
- Chang-Mo O, In-Hwan O, Bong-Keun C, et al. Consuming green tea at least twice each day is associated with reduced odds of chronic obstructive lung disease in middle-aged and older korean adults. The Journal of Nutrition. 2018; 148(1): 70–76.
