Breathe EASY

This not only helps clear the lungs, but helps you feel rested and relaxed when you’re fighting a cold or flu while also helping you feel alert, and aware so you can still function mentally while taking it. I have been adding it to my water because it tastes SO GOOD, even though I don’t need it…

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) can help to naturally heal and improve upper respiratory problems, including bronchitis, dry coughs, sore throats, general hoarseness and tonsillitis, asthma and COPD.

The leaves contain an extract that is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Leaves and flowers helps to rid the body of mucus, and soothe raw inflamed membranes. As an asthma support it is effective because of its soothing impact on the bronchioles.

Researchers at Clemson University confirmed the antibacterial properties of Mullein. In 2002, these researchers reported that the plant’s extracts are effective against several species of disease-causing bacteria including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli more commonly known as E. coli.

**Mullein has been reported to inhibit the effectiveness of anti-diabetic drugs and may intensify the effects of muscle relaxants and lithium. If you’re taking prescription diuretics, you should talk to your doctor before using. Not recommended for nursing or pregnant women.

Eastern White Pine’s (Pinus strobus) long, slender needles (2-5 inches long) grow in bundles of 5 needles that contain high Vitamin C. They are expectorant, circulatory stimulant, Astringent, Antiseptic, Analgesic, Anodyne, mild diuretic, immune stimulant.

Specific for respiratory and bronchial complaints, especially when wet and cold in nature, needles are helpful to promote expectoration and removal and thinning of mucous from the lungs. Use for coughs, colds, bronchitis, laryngitis, croup.

*White Pine can be quite stimulating to coughs, so if the cough is dry and spasming in nature it can exacerbate these symptoms.

Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) helps relieve allergies, sinusitis, colds and flu, laryngitis, fever, fungal infections, tuberculosis, edema, depression (especially seasonal affective disorder), gout, bladder infections, venous insufficiency, and tumors.

New England Purple Aster is uniquely clearing, relaxing and decongesting to the head and lungs. This effect is readily apparent when taking a bit of the tincture; the effects aren’t subtle and can be easily perceived. It acts very effectively to break up stuffy lung and (to as lesser extent) sinus congestion, though as it’s not especially astringent, it doesn’t stop a drippy nose as well as, say, goldenrod.

It is, however, uniquely antispasmodic for the lung tissue; it relaxes and dilates the respiratory passages. As a respiratory relaxant, use new england purple aster when tension is “quivery” and irritable, whether such a state is acute or chronic. I picture quivery, shivery, shuddery lungs which, if they shudder just enough, trigger coughing or asthma or whatever baleful respiratory woe the afflicted is predisposed to.

This falls in line with the experience of herbalist Sean Donahue, who writes of purple aster, “A tincture made from the flowering tops can immediately relieve muscle constriction around the airways – most effective when the is tightness around the airway that signals that an asthma attack is imminent but spasms have not begun.”

Rosemary is packed with antioxidants, volatile oils and other protective phytochemical compounds. Rosemary’s taste is described as warm and somewhat bitter. It’s in the same plant family as mint (the Lamiaceae family).

It is a good source of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, as well as essential nutrients including iron, calcium, and vitamins A, C, and B6.

Like some other herbs in the mint family, rosemary’s smell is considered a “cognitive stimulant” and can help make you feel more awake and focused, is neuro-protective, and has the ability to improve memory and cognitive performance by preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical in the brain that helps with concentration and memory retention. This delightful plant can improve your mood, reduce drowsiness and reduced stress levels (due to its ability to decrease release of the “stress hormone”) and it defends against growth of some bacteria.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a perennial plant from the Asteraceae family. It’s the best-known species of the genus Achillea due to its various therapeutic uses in both folk and conventional medicine. Traditional herbal medicine in China, Europe and India has used this herb to calm inflammation for a variety of health issues, especially inflammation in the intestines and female reproductive tract. Extracts have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Researchers believe that yarrow’s ability to quell inflammation is related to the fact that it contains both flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones. Yarrow has also been used in folk medicine to treat fevers, colds and the flu.

Summer savory is considered to be a good source of magnesium. It also contains Thymol and carvacrol. Thymol is antiseptic and antifungal, while carvacrol is antibacterial and inhibits the development of several bacteria, including E. coli.

Helps reduce Infections of the lungs and soothe sore throats.

The plant is expectorant, anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic, and is frequently used by traditional healers to treat anxiety since it helps to quiet the mind and lessens many of the physical symptoms, such as heart palpitations and shortness of breath, when one is ill with cold or flu.

Summer savory has minor sedating effects which can help with resting while healing.

Parsley, often labeled as one of the most powerful disease-fighting plants, parsley provides great nutritional value. It’s particularly rich in vitamins K, A, and C.

Saint Hildegard von Bingen’s Divine Remedy was Parsley Wine because she said Parsley is a universal remedy against cardiac insufficiency, heart failure, poor circulation, weakness, stress-based nervous heart pain, valve defects and for the detoxification after viral infections.