How to Treat Congestion with Herbs
Use eucalyptus., Try anise, thyme, and oregano., Use cardamom and cayenne pepper., Try peppermint., Contemplate fennel seed and horseradish root., Be cautious of pleurisy root.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Use eucalyptus.
Eucalyptus is typically available as an oil instead of an herb.
However, it is also available in lozenges, cough medicines, rubs, and bath salves.
It has a strong scent and decongestant properties that can help with mucus build up.
Eucalyptus has been proven safe for pregnant and nursing women as well as children and it has the GRAS status in the US..
However, never use the oil on children under two years old and always follow dosage instructions.Use a small amount, as the oil is very strong.
Try putting a few drops into a bowl of hot water for a steam treatment.
Never ingest eucalyptus oil unless specifically told to by your doctor.
There are cold and cough medicines that have eucalyptus oil in them, but they have been formulated for ingestion.
The oil is very concentrated and can be very dangerous if too much is ingested.
Always ask your doctor before taking any dosage of eucalyptus oil orally. -
Step 2: Try anise
There are many different herbs that are helpful for congestion.
Anise, thyme, and oregano are herbs that are safe for pregnant and nursing women as well as children in doses normally found in food and teas.
They also have the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status in the US.Anise is available as a seed and essential oil.
Use
0.5 to 3 grams of the seed or
0.1 to
0.3 mL of the oil.
Use the seed in loose leaf tea or the oil in steam treatments.Thyme and oregano are available as a fresh or dried herbs and are safe at any dosage.
They can be added to foods and sprinkled into loose leaf tea., There are other herbs that are decongestants and have additional qualities that can help with your congestion issues.
Cardamom has antibacterial properties, which can help you fight bacteria or infection involved with your congestion.
Cardamom has not been tested in pregnant and nursing women nor in children.Cayenne pepper works as a counterirritant, which means it irritates the mucous membranes with the result of increasing mucus production.
Unlike with congestion, the mucus produced tends to be more liquid and easier to drain.
Cardamom is available as a spice, as seeds, and as an oil.
All can be used in cooking to help with congestion.
The dosing depends on taste.Cayenne is available as a raw pepper, which can be eaten raw or cooked.
You can also get it at powder, which can be used in recipes and mixed into beverages.
There is no dosing information.
The amount depends in taste., Peppermint can be used as an herb or an essential oil.
Its powerful smell help with decongestion.
You can ingest peppermint oil, but only in small doses.
It can cause heartburn.
It is safe for pregnant and nursing women and children.
It also has the GRAS status in the US.
For tea, use 1 tsp of dried peppermint leaves in 1 cup of boiling water.
Peppermint oil can be used in 1 to 2 mL doses on the skin.
Ingest less than 1 mL at a time.
Do not use peppermint or give peppermint products to small children and infants, as it can cause breathing problems in the young., There are some herbs that you should use with caution because they are not safe for all individuals.
Fennel seed is safe for children, but has not been tested in pregnant and nursing women.
Despite this, it has GRAS status in the US.Horseradish root has not been tested in pregnant and nursing women or children.
Horseradish root may also be irritating for some people, so use it with caution.
Despite the caution, horseradish root has been tested and found effective for sinusitis and bronchitis, which are conditions that cause congestion.The common dosage for horseradish is 20 g of fresh root per day while you are suffering from congestion or respiratory issues.This can be added to recipes or in sauces.
It also comes in supplement form, with dosing between two and three capsules per day.Fennel seed can be taken as a seed or as an oil.
The daily dosage of the seed is 5 to 7 g and of the oil is
0.1 to
0.6 mL., Pleurisy is an older term used to describe inflammatory conditions of the lung.
Pleurisy root has been used since ancient times to treat this conditions, but little modern research is available of its effectiveness or side effects.
Pleurisy root should not be used by pregnant or nursing women or by children.
There are also some drug interactions with pleurisy root.
Do not use pleurisy root with Digoxin (Lanoxin), any estrogens such as oral contraceptives, or diuretics (water pills) including chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), or hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Hydrodiuril, Microzide). -
Step 3: and oregano.
-
Step 4: Use cardamom and cayenne pepper.
-
Step 5: Try peppermint.
-
Step 6: Contemplate fennel seed and horseradish root.
-
Step 7: Be cautious of pleurisy root.
Detailed Guide
Eucalyptus is typically available as an oil instead of an herb.
However, it is also available in lozenges, cough medicines, rubs, and bath salves.
It has a strong scent and decongestant properties that can help with mucus build up.
Eucalyptus has been proven safe for pregnant and nursing women as well as children and it has the GRAS status in the US..
However, never use the oil on children under two years old and always follow dosage instructions.Use a small amount, as the oil is very strong.
Try putting a few drops into a bowl of hot water for a steam treatment.
Never ingest eucalyptus oil unless specifically told to by your doctor.
There are cold and cough medicines that have eucalyptus oil in them, but they have been formulated for ingestion.
The oil is very concentrated and can be very dangerous if too much is ingested.
Always ask your doctor before taking any dosage of eucalyptus oil orally.
There are many different herbs that are helpful for congestion.
Anise, thyme, and oregano are herbs that are safe for pregnant and nursing women as well as children in doses normally found in food and teas.
They also have the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status in the US.Anise is available as a seed and essential oil.
Use
0.5 to 3 grams of the seed or
0.1 to
0.3 mL of the oil.
Use the seed in loose leaf tea or the oil in steam treatments.Thyme and oregano are available as a fresh or dried herbs and are safe at any dosage.
They can be added to foods and sprinkled into loose leaf tea., There are other herbs that are decongestants and have additional qualities that can help with your congestion issues.
Cardamom has antibacterial properties, which can help you fight bacteria or infection involved with your congestion.
Cardamom has not been tested in pregnant and nursing women nor in children.Cayenne pepper works as a counterirritant, which means it irritates the mucous membranes with the result of increasing mucus production.
Unlike with congestion, the mucus produced tends to be more liquid and easier to drain.
Cardamom is available as a spice, as seeds, and as an oil.
All can be used in cooking to help with congestion.
The dosing depends on taste.Cayenne is available as a raw pepper, which can be eaten raw or cooked.
You can also get it at powder, which can be used in recipes and mixed into beverages.
There is no dosing information.
The amount depends in taste., Peppermint can be used as an herb or an essential oil.
Its powerful smell help with decongestion.
You can ingest peppermint oil, but only in small doses.
It can cause heartburn.
It is safe for pregnant and nursing women and children.
It also has the GRAS status in the US.
For tea, use 1 tsp of dried peppermint leaves in 1 cup of boiling water.
Peppermint oil can be used in 1 to 2 mL doses on the skin.
Ingest less than 1 mL at a time.
Do not use peppermint or give peppermint products to small children and infants, as it can cause breathing problems in the young., There are some herbs that you should use with caution because they are not safe for all individuals.
Fennel seed is safe for children, but has not been tested in pregnant and nursing women.
Despite this, it has GRAS status in the US.Horseradish root has not been tested in pregnant and nursing women or children.
Horseradish root may also be irritating for some people, so use it with caution.
Despite the caution, horseradish root has been tested and found effective for sinusitis and bronchitis, which are conditions that cause congestion.The common dosage for horseradish is 20 g of fresh root per day while you are suffering from congestion or respiratory issues.This can be added to recipes or in sauces.
It also comes in supplement form, with dosing between two and three capsules per day.Fennel seed can be taken as a seed or as an oil.
The daily dosage of the seed is 5 to 7 g and of the oil is
0.1 to
0.6 mL., Pleurisy is an older term used to describe inflammatory conditions of the lung.
Pleurisy root has been used since ancient times to treat this conditions, but little modern research is available of its effectiveness or side effects.
Pleurisy root should not be used by pregnant or nursing women or by children.
There are also some drug interactions with pleurisy root.
Do not use pleurisy root with Digoxin (Lanoxin), any estrogens such as oral contraceptives, or diuretics (water pills) including chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), or hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Hydrodiuril, Microzide).
About the Author
Margaret Stevens
Committed to making creative arts accessible and understandable for everyone.
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