The 5 Best Herbs and Spices for Respiratory Cleansing

Have you ever taken that first bite of food and instantly felt your sinuses open up? If so, odds are you were eating something pretty spicy. For just as long as herbs and spices have been used to add flavor to our favorite foods, they've been used for medicinal purposes. In honor of this past National Herbs and Spices Day, we’re moving these five ingredients out of the spice drawer and into the medicine cabinet.

Eucalyptus. Instead of reaching for cough drops the next time you have a scratchy throat, try grabbing some eucalyptus oil — the main ingredient in cough drops. Eucalyptus oil will soothe your throat just as well as a cough drop, but doesn’t contain all the artificial colors and flavors. Best of all, eucalyptus contains antioxidants. This means it won’t just make your throat feel better, it will actually help you heal faster.

Oregano. Oregano isn’t just for your pizza anymore. The next time you’re feeling congested, take a teaspoon of organic oregano. While oregano has plenty of vitamins and minerals, its main health benefits come from its carvacrol and rosmarinic acid content. Combined, these two ingredients can help treat a respiratory tract infection, sore throat, and congestion.

Lungwort. It may not be the prettiest looking plant (as it actually resembles a pair of lungs) or the nicest sounding name, but none of that matters when congestion is keeping you up at night. Lungwort has been used since the 1600s to promote lung and respiratory health.

Elecampane. Since the 1800s, the Greeks, Romans, and Chinese have used elecampane to soothe a sore throat and enhance their lung capacity. Elecampane’s two main ingredients, inulin and alantolactone, work to soothe your bronchial passage while simultaneously flushing your system of mucus.

Peppermint. Who says candy can’t be good for you? Peppermint and peppermint oil both contain menthol — an ingredient that relaxes your muscles and promotes easy breathing. Best of all, you can benefit from peppermint just by smelling it.

If these natural remedies just aren’t cutting it or the pain worsens, we encourage you to schedule an appointment at our Sinus & Facial Plastics Institute. With locations in Orlando and Kissimmee Florida, we’re dedicated to the complete medical care of your nose and throat, both cosmetically and functionally. To learn more about our sinus institute, give us a call at 407-944-3340.