Soothing irritation and congestion in the respiratory tract

Healthy respiration depends greatly on the ability to take a deep, comfortable breath without tightness, pain, and congestion in the chest or head. The remedies that follow contain herbs and essential oils with mucolytic, expectorant, antiseptic, and antiviral properties that will go a long way toward soothing irritation and congestion in the respiratory tract. They’re guaranteed to help bring comfort and ease symptoms to make you feel better soon. Combine these treatments with more-than-ample bed rest, bowls of steaming organic chicken or vegetablegarlic- onion soup, lots of herb tea and water, hot relaxing baths with purifying herbal oils, and possibly the use of a saline nasal irrigation system such as a neti pot, and you’ve got the recipe for healing!

Fending Off Germs
Always remember to take preventive measures to keep potential infectious nasties from taking up residence. During and after visiting places where people congregate, such as airports, bus and train stations, schools, churches, public bathrooms, and grocery stores, wash your hands or use a sanitizing gel as many times as you feel is necessary. I like to tote along a packet of disposable, moist sanitizing sheets so that I can wipe down surfaces that perhaps a thousand other people have touched before me, especially grocery cart handles, arm rests, and food tray tables on airplanes. No need to be obsessive, just proactive.

DEEP HERBAL LUNG RELEASE MASSAGE OIL

This gentle formula contains herbs traditionally used as mucolytics, respiratory antiseptics, and antivirals to help fight infection, ease your wheezing, and open and relax the entire respiratory tract. The lungs truly benefit from receiving a chest and back massage with this remedy, especially when the oil is warmed and your skin is still warm from taking a hot bath.

Note: I typically make this herbal oil blend with fresh herbs, but if dried herbs are your only option, don’t worry — they’ll work, too. I prefer to use the stovetop method for making the infused oil for this recipe, as it results in a superior extraction of the resinous properties of these somewhat sticky herbs.

½ cup dried or 1 cup freshly wilted mugwort leaves
¼ cup dried or ½ cup freshly wilted mullein flowers
¼ cup dried or ½ cup freshly wilted rosemary leaves
¼ cup dried or ½ cup freshly wilted sage leaves
¼ cup dried or ½ cup freshly wilted thyme leaves
3 cups extra-virgin olive base oil
2,000 IU vitamin E oil
40 drops eucalyptus (species radiata) essential oil
40 drops rosemary (chemotype verbenon) essential oil

EQUIPMENT: 2-quart saucepan or double boiler, stirring utensil, candy or yogurt thermometer, strainer, fine filter, funnel, glass or plastic storage containers
PREP TIME: 4 hours to infuse the oil, plus 10 minutes to make the massage oil
YIELD: Approximately 2½ cups of infused oil and 1 cup of massage oil
STORAGE: Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 1 year
APPLICATION: 3 or 4 times per day

PREPARING THE INFUSED OIL:
If you are using freshly wilted herbs, first cut or tear them into smaller pieces to expose more surface area to the oil (though the mullein flowers need no further processing, as they are quite tiny.) Combine the mugwort, mullein, rosemary, sage, and thyme with the olive base oil in a 2-quart saucepan or double boiler, and stir thoroughly to blend. The mixture should look like a thick, leafy greenish yellow soup. Bring the mixture to just shy of a simmer, between 125° and 135°F. Do not let the oil actually simmer — it will degrade the quality of your infused oil. Do not put the lid on the pot. Allow the herbs to macerate in the oil over low heat for 4 hours. Check the temperature every 30 minutes or so with a thermometer and adjust the heat accordingly. If you’re using a double boiler, add more water to the bottom pot as necessary, so it doesn’t dry out. Stir the infusing mixture at least every 30 minutes or so, as the herb bits tend to settle to the bottom. After 4 hours, remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool for 15 minutes. While the oil is still warm, carefully strain it through a fine-mesh strainer lined with a fine filter such as muslin or, preferably, a paper coffee filter, then strain again if necessary to remove all debris. Squeeze the herbs to extract as much of the precious oil as possible. Discard the marc. Add the vitamin E oil and stir to blend. The resulting infused oil will be deep green in color. Pour the finished oil into a storage container, then cap, label, and store in a dark cabinet.

PREPARING THE MASSAGE OIL:
Pour 1 cup of the infused oil into a storage container and add the eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils. Cap and label the container, then shake well to blend and store in a dark cabinet.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Shake well before each use. Warm 1 to 2 tablespoons of the massage oil, whether in the microwave (for 10 seconds or so) or in a saucepan on the stove. Don’t allow it to get too hot, just very warm. Massage an ample amount into your chest and throat, and ask a friend or significant other to massage some into your mid- and upper back. Lie down, relax, and cover up with a blanket. Hopefully your lungs will open up enough so that you can inhale the vapors, but if they don’t, know that the medicinal herbal properties will successfully penetrate via the sweat glands and follicles within your skin. Bonus This blend makes a terrific soothing massage oil for tired, achy legs and feet.

AGE-OLD ONION AND GARLIC POULTICE FOR LUNG CONGESTION

This remedy dates back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. It’s what our grandparents and great-grandparents relied upon to help open tight lungs and sinuses, thin and expectorate mucous, and keep infection at bay. Sure, you’ll smell of onions and garlic, but being sick and miserable stinks, too. Onions and garlic are chock-full of infection-fighting sulfur compounds, plus garlic is a potent antiviral. Ginger contains stimulating, circulationenhancing, anti-inflammatory properties that ease aches and pains. And when the poultice is applied to your chest, the heat and vapors penetrate your chest cavity and sinuses, breaking up congestion and making breathing easier.

Note: This remedy is not recommended if you are running a fever and sweating, as the ingredients are too energetically hot and stimulating and could possibly make you feel worse. Use it if you have the chills combined with mucous that is thick and congestive.

4 large onions, finely chopped 8 garlic cloves, finely chopped
¼ cup finely chopped or grated ginger
1–2 tablespoons water

EQUIPMENT: Sauté pan, spatula, fork or potato masher
PREP TIME: 25 minutes
YIELD: 1 treatment
STORAGE: Do not store; prepare as needed
APPLICATION: Up to 3 times a day Combine the onions, garlic, and ginger with a tablespoon or so of water in a medium pan over medium heat — covered — and gently sauté for 15 to 20 minutes, until soft and glossy. Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool slightly. Mash to form a soft pulp. Strain off any excess juice.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
You’ll need to be reclining to apply this poultice or have someone else apply it for you, as the pulp can be a bit gloppy. My favorite method is to place the poultice in a very small pillowcase, with the open end folded over so the pulp can’t ooze out, and lay the pillowcase on your bare chest. A drawstring bag made of light cloth also works well, or you can lay a square of soft material, such as flannel, on your chest, apply the poultice, and cover with another square of material. Pull a light blanket up and over your head, relax, and breathe deeply of the healing vapors. Discard the entire poultice when it cools. Repeat up to three times per day, as needed.

BE CLEAR SINUS VAPOR RUB

This vapor rub is an essential oil blend that contains strong respiratory antiseptics to help fight infection and mucolytics to aid in dissolving and loosening mucous congestion. Antiviral, decongestant, and analgesic properties help heal the source of your stuffiness, shrink swollen mucous membranes, and alleviate tightness in your chest. This particular remedy calls for a wide variety of essential oils, but they can be used in many other recipes in this book and I recommend having them all.

Note: This is an aromatherapeutically concentrated formula, so use only as directed.

25 drops cajeput essential oil
20 drops eucalyptus (species radiata) essential oil
10 drops balsam fir essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil 10 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops sage essential oil
5 drops clove essential oil
5 drops tea tree essential oil
5 drops thyme (chemotype linalool) essential oil
½ cup jojoba base oil

EQUIPMENT: Dropper, dark glass storage bottle with dropper top or screw cap
PREP TIME: 15 minutes, plus 24 hours to synergize
YIELD: Approximately ½ cup
STORAGE: Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 2 years
APPLICATION: 2 or 3 times per day Add the cajeput, eucalyptus, balsam fir, lavender, peppermint, sage, clove, tea tree, and thyme essential oils drop by drop directly into a storage bottle. Add the jojoba base oil. Screw the top on the bottle and shake vigorously for 2 minutes to blend. Label the bottle and place it in a dark location that’s between 60° and 80°F for 24 hours so that the oils can synergize.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Shake well before using. Apply a drop or two of this aromatic oil under your nose, on your throat, on your temples, and behind your ears. If your skin is not too sensitive, place a drop on each cheekbone as well. Spread several drops on your chest and even on the soles of your feet so they can be absorbed via all those sweat glands. Be sure to massage the oil drops in well, until they are totally absorbed into your skin with nary an oil slick in sight. After you’ve rubbed the oil into the skin, inhale the essences from your hands by cupping them over your mouth and nose. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Bonus Acts as an aid in fighting athlete’s foot and nail fungus. Simply massage into your clean feet and nails twice daily. It also acts as an antiseptic for minor to moderate skin ailments and as a spot treatment for blemishes.

EUCALYPTUS, PINE, AND THYME RESPIRATORY VAPORS BALM

Eucalyptus, pine, and thyme essential oils are traditionally used to help ease respiratory congestion, thereby encouraging deep, oxygenating breaths while fortifying resistance and general immunity. They also offer powerful antiviral, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antiseptic properties accompanied by a stimulating energy. The base ingredients soothe and soften the dry, raw skin in and around your nose. This recipe calls for a small amount of Amazon Woman Balsam Fir–Infused Oil. If you have some, do use it; it adds amazing fragrance and has respiratory-opening properties.

Note: This is an aromatherapeutically concentrated formula, so use only as directed.

5 tablespoons infused oil from Amazon Woman — Balsam Fir– Infused Oil or soybean or almond base oil
1 tablespoon beeswax
1 tablespoon cocoa butter
1 tablespoon refined shea butter (unrefined shea butter will work, but its stronger fragrance will often mask the aroma of the essential oils)
40 drops eucalyptus (species radiata) essential oil
40 drops Scotch pine essential oil
20 drops thyme (chemotype linalool) essential oil

EQUIPMENT: Small saucepan or double boiler, stirring utensil, plastic or glass jar or tin
PREP TIME: 20 minutes to make the balm, plus 12 hours to thicken
YIELD: ½ cup
STORAGE: Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 1 year

APPLICATION:
3 or 4 times per day Combine the base oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, and shea butter in a small saucepan or double boiler, and gently warm over low heat until all the solids are just melted. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Stir a few times to blend the mixture thoroughly. Add the eucalyptus, Scotch pine, and thyme essential oils and stir again. Pour into a storage container. Cap and label, and set the balm aside to thicken overnight at room temperature. Because both cocoa butter and shea butter are included, the balm may continue to change texture slightly for another 24 hours.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Apply a tiny dab or two of this aromatic balm under your nose, on your throat, on your temples, and behind your ears. If your skin is not too sensitive, place a tiny amount on each cheekbone as well. Spread a little bit onto your chest and even on the soles of your feet. Massage the balm in well. After you’ve rubbed the balm into your skin, inhale the essences from your hands by cupping them over your mouth and nose.

“OUCH … MY NOSE HURTS” SALVE

Your poor nose can really suffer when you have a cold, sinus congestion, or allergy. Constantly wiping your nose with dry tissues can leave it rough, sore, raw, and oh-so-unattractively red. What you need is an extremely gentle, moisturizing salve to soothe and heal the damaged tissue. Basic shea butter with the addition of an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory essential oil such as lavender, myrrh, German chamomile, or palmarosa will gently stimulate skin cell regeneration, while conditioning and softening the skin in and around your nose so that you soon feel comfortable again. If you don’t want to add an essential oil to this simple remedy, plain shea butter can be used as an effective treatment on its own, as can extra-virgin coconut oil. 4 tablespoons refined shea butter (unrefined shea butter will work, but its stronger fragrance will often mask the aroma of the essential oils) 20 drops German chamomile, lavender, myrrh, or palmarosa essential oil

EQUIPMENT: Small saucepan or double boiler, stirring utensil, glass or plastic jar or tin
PREP TIME: 15 minutes, plus up to 24 hours to thicken
YIELD: Approximately ¼ cup
STORAGE: Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 1 year

APPLICATION:
As desired Warm the shea butter in a small saucepan (a ¾-quart size works great) or double boiler over low heat, until it has just melted. Remove from the heat. Add the essential oil directly to your storage container, then slowly pour in the liquefied shea butter. Gently stir to blend. Cap and label. Unlike beeswax, shea butter takes a long time to completely thicken, and this formula may need up to 24 hours, depending on the temperature in your kitchen. When it’s ready, it will be very thick, semi-hard, and white (or creamy yellow, if you’ve used unrefined shea butter).

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
As needed, smear a small dab of this salve slightly inside and around the nostrils, completely covering all irritated skin. If your lips are dry, spread a dab there, too.

Bonus
This salve works wonders to condition dry, brittle nails and cuticles and also helps heal blisters and cracked skin on your feet. It also makes a protective balm for your skin during winter, when you’ll be exposed to the harsh, dry, cold air.