Respiratory System Herbs

This page includes herbs that exhibit actions such as: demulcent, expectorant, antitussive, respiratory sedative, aromatic, etc. The herbs listed here do not fall under all of these categories; with each herb I have included what its main effect would be on the respiratory system, but many of these herbs have even more effects on this system, and on many other systems in the body. Many of these herbs are best utilized as teas for steam inhalations for coughs. Please see the Materia Medica page, or Teas & Guides, for more information on specific herbal actions.

A

Actaea racemosa - antispasmodic, for dry coughs

Allium sativum - mild antitussive

Althaea officinalis - demulcent

Asclepias tuberosa - relaxant expectorant

B

C

Carum carvi - mild expectorant

Citrus sinensis - astringent to moist coughs

Codonopsis pilosa - lung qi tonic

Cordyceps sinensis - anti-asthmatic, lung qi tonic

D

E

Eriodictyon californicum - expectorant for poor, unproductive cough

Eschscholzia californica - antitussive, relaxant

F

G

Garrya wrightii - smooth muscle relaxant (low dose herb)

Glycyrrhiza glabra - demulcent, expectorant

Grindelia spp. - expectorant for harsh, unproductive cough

H

I

Inula helenium - expectorant for cold, moist cough

J

K

L

Ligusticum porteri - expectorant for moist unproductive coughs

Lobelia inflata - antispasmodic, neuromuscular relaxant

M

Marrubium vulgaris - drying expectorant, astringent

Melissa officinalis - antispasmodic, relaxant

N

O

P

Pinus spp. - stimulant expectorant for wet, stuck cough

Plantago spp. - demulcent

Prunus virginiana, Prunus serotina - stimulating tonic expectorant

Q

R

S

Symphytum officinale - expectorant for dry coughs (high doses are toxic!)

T

Thymus vulgaris - antispasmodic, antiseptic

Trifolium pratense - relaxant expectorant, affinity for lower respiratory tract

Turnera diffusa - mild antitussive

Tussilago farfara - relaxant expectorant for dry unproductive coughs with mucus

U

V

Verbascum thapsus - tonic/astringent, relaxant (flower is more relaxing than leaf for bronchial tissue)

W

X

Y

Z