My heart goes out to the people in northern California right now as they deal with the raging wildfires. In my life, I have lost my home and everything I owned, to fire, not once, but twice. The experience can be overwhelming.
In this post, I'd like to offer real long-term healing support to the millions of people exposed to the toxic smoke that these, and other fires, cause us to inhale. Whether you're very close to these fiery blazes, like the thousands of firefighters and other first-responders, or being affected by the smoke drift throughout the Bay area (and, as it moves eastward, lingering and dropping its’ dusty ash and particulates), the effects can devastate your lungs and long-term health--especially if you have asthma, COPD, or another health condition.
In this post, I'd like to offer real long-term healing support to the millions of people exposed to the toxic smoke that these, and other fires, cause us to inhale. Whether you're very close to these fiery blazes, like the thousands of firefighters and other first-responders, or being affected by the smoke drift throughout the Bay area (and, as it moves eastward, lingering and dropping its’ dusty ash and particulates), the effects can devastate your lungs and long-term health--especially if you have asthma, COPD, or another health condition.
There are a variety of very powerful healing herbs you can use to detoxify the toxins inhaled, soothe the damaged lung tissue, and restore lungs and the entire body from the damage done. The key to success when you want to experience optimal results with herbal remedies is to choose a very high-quality product in the right form for what you're dealing with.
Some of the herbs to pay attention to with smoke exposure are:
| Turmeric root is a powerful detoxifier when we've been exposed to a heavy burden of toxins, and like many fires these days, the smoke from these hot fires raging through northern California are burning thousands of chemical compounds, making the smoke particularly toxic and damaging to the human body (and those of our pets and wildlife, too.) Turmeric not only supports the body in clearing toxins from the lungs, it cleanses potentially harmful toxins from the liver, blood, and lymph nodes, and supports reduction in excess inflammation, while leaving the necessary inflammatory response in an emergency intact (something that most drugs cannot do, leading to tens of thousands of deaths each year.) |  Plate photo (cropped) used under Creative Commons from Stephen G Pearson. See bottom of page for all photo attributions. |
Turmeric root should be organically grown for maximum efficacy. Choose either fresh whole root, dried, powdered root or capsules. Fresh root looks like a thin, orange piece of ginger root which can be sliced, shaved or grated, as desired. Turmeric can be used to make herbal teas (see this article about how to make an effective and medicinal herbal tea) and is delicious when combined with ginger, mint, lemon or licorice. When cooked into your food, try it fresh, dried or in the form of curry powder (it’s delicious in eggs, soups, stir-fry, and more!).
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When choosing Turmeric in capsule form, always choose a high-quality product for optimal results. There are many Turmeric products on the market that contain little actual Turmeric! If you want the greatest results, look for a product that is NOT 95% curcumin. Curcumin is just one of the hundreds of constituents that comprise the whole Turmeric root. The 95% curcumin products are technically not natural, since most Turmeric root contains just 5-7% curcumin, and these products have been chemically altered using either acetone, butane, drycleaning fluid, or another chemical solvent, and therefore act more like an over-the-counter drug than a pure, potent herb.
For optimal benefits, look for any of these clean, powerful products:
- Gaia: Turmeric Supreme Extra Strength, Golden Milk, or Turmeric Boost
- New Chapter: Turmeric Force or Herbal Detoxification
- Oregon's Wild Harvest: Turmeric
- Organic India: Turmeric
Organic Green Tea cleanses impurities from the blood, lymphatic system, and cells, supporting the body's healthy inflammation response to reduce the likelihood of degenerative disease. Please note that it must be organically grown for optimal benefits, and it must contain the naturally occurring caffeine for the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to be present.
Mullein Leaf soothes and restores damaged lungs, bringing relief to the painful chest after too much smoke has been inhaled. As an expectorant, Mullein will ease the discomfort and cause us to cough up the phlegm that has so neatly captured the particulate matter that is irritating the lungs, so please don't take a medication to halt the phlegm-making process. And Mullein is well known for helping to soothe and heal the damaged lung tissue.
Osha Root is an ancient Native Peoples remedy for virtually all bronchial complaints. Osha is widely used in the western states for a variety of respiratory conditions, from head and chest colds, asthma, allergies, pneumonia, and even COPD, with excellent results. Osha helps the lungs by clearing toxins, improving blood circulation, dilating the airways when the lungs are constricted, and allows us to breathe more deeply and fully, relaxing the physical and emotional tension that can be present when lungs work poorly.
Because Osha is a slow growing wild plant and the root is used, causing it to be at risk of becoming extinct without protective measures, I urge us all to use Osha Root in tincture (liquid herbal extract) form. My experience is that even very small amounts of Osha Root tincture provide my family and me great lung and overall health benefits, and this is a way we can do our part to protect our precious plant resources in the wild so we'll continue to have them.
Because Osha is a slow growing wild plant and the root is used, causing it to be at risk of becoming extinct without protective measures, I urge us all to use Osha Root in tincture (liquid herbal extract) form. My experience is that even very small amounts of Osha Root tincture provide my family and me great lung and overall health benefits, and this is a way we can do our part to protect our precious plant resources in the wild so we'll continue to have them.
Elecampane root is a powerful herb for inflammatory lung conditions that present with white- or cream-colored phlegm. Traditionally used in Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, Native Peoples and western herbalism, Elecampane is an ideal go-to herb for asthma, allergies, pleurisy, whooping cough, bronchitis and has been used with good results for tuberculosis, too.
After inhalation of excess smoke, the lungs become inflamed, raw and weak. Elecampane Root strengthens and provides relief for the lungs, allowing for deeper breaths, especially in people who feel weakened, dull and may have rheumatic complaints. An excellent remedy taken in tincture form.
After inhalation of excess smoke, the lungs become inflamed, raw and weak. Elecampane Root strengthens and provides relief for the lungs, allowing for deeper breaths, especially in people who feel weakened, dull and may have rheumatic complaints. An excellent remedy taken in tincture form.
Eucalyptus and Thyme Essential Oils can work wonders providing relief for smoke-damaged, burdened lungs. Choose a high quality true essential oil, not simply scented oils, for optimal benefits, (and Oshadhi is the very best). Place a few drops on an electric diffuser, a tissue or piece of cloth on your nightstand while sleeping. Place two to three drops onto a small cloth or hankie in your upper shirt pocket, or onto a scarf or the outer collar of your jacket to help your breathing as you go through your day. Please note: Do NOT put directly onto your skin. Essential oils may cause a slight burning effect, and should NEVER be applied directly to the skin. (The only exceptions are: tea tree, clove and lavender.) Inhaling these delightful essential oils (and not having them where they can be touched) is an ideal way to soothe and protect the lungs of children, babies and the elderly.
Did you find this article helpful? Would you like more detailed information about anything in particular? Is there anything you'd like to share? Let me know in the comments below.
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