DIY Remedy: Healthy Lungs Tea |

A year ago, we left our house because it had a serious mold issue. You can read our story here. Since then, our health has improved quite a bit. We’ve done a lot to help it along.

The kids are actually basically normal again — kids are so lucky to be able to bounce back so easily. The adults, though, still aren’t 100%. I don’t know if we ever will be again, but I hope so.

My major issue is my lungs. Any time there’s a cold going around, if I get it (and I don’t always), it will go to my chest. I cough, sometimes for weeks. The kids will sometimes get it, and be over it in just a few days, but not me. And my chest feels a bit painful. I know it’s because my lungs are weak from the mold exposure.

I’ve been seeking something to help this for awhile — to support healthy lung function and help me get over these colds/bronchitis (maybe? I never have a fever) more easily, and hopefully stop it from happening in the future.

This particular combination of herbs seems to really help.

Healthy Lungs Tea

I used these three herbs:

Mullein — Good for respiratory illnesses, helps clear mucus from the body, eases sore throats, helps bronchitis.

Fenugreek — Anti-inflammatory, promotes mucus production and clearing, eliminates built-up mucus, and soothe sore throat.

Dandelion root — Anti-inflammatory, fights fungus, cleans the respiratory system and clears mucus, stimulates kidneys and liver.

While researching these herbs, I learned that they are all used for balancing blood sugar, weight loss, and healing damaged guts. Dandelion root is even used against cancer — it doesn’t damage healthy cells, either. (Source 1, 2, 3)

Honestly, this could function as a genera health-promoting tea, along with fresh juice (try pineapple-kale-ginger and make sure to juice the pineapple’s core). Pineapple juice is beneficial for coughs/mucus in the body too and the bromelain in the core is anti-cancer.

I prepared this tea one evening and drank it warm and strong. It’s rather bitter, but it helped. It eased the tightness in my chest, I coughed less, and I slept better. The next morning I coughed some to clear what had settled while I slept, but I didn’t continue to cough after that the way I had in the days prior to this.

This is very easy to make. I recommend drinking it in the mornings to promote health, or a few times throughout the day if you have a cold.

Ingredients:

6 parts mullein leaf
1 part fenugreek seed
1 part dandelion root

Directions:

Step 1: Combine all herbs in a glass jar and shake to combine.

Step 2: Use 1 tbsp. (for tea) or a handful (1/2 c. or so, for infusion) and add to 1 – 2 c. boiling water. Let it steep 10 – 20 minutes.

Step 3: Strain it, then sweeten lightly with raw honey or drink it straight.

I recommend drinking this at the first sign of a cold, or as needed during a cold. It can also be drunk daily for lung health — I plan to try this for awhile. Healthy lung tea + exercise should help!