In my first herbal support for smoke inhalation article ( see my August blog) I went over some specific strategies, treatment principles and herbal ideas for smoke support during the summer wildfire season…this updated blog highlights the importance of supporting not only the respiratory system, but the Liver as well, due to the extremely toxic nature of the chemicals and pollutants released by the large number of burning buildings in California. You’ll also find my personal herbal recipe here for supporting Lungs, Liver, and chemical stress.
The conditions we are currently dealing with in California are different now than just smoke from a wildfire…a forest fire gives us natural old fashioned wood smoke and particulates, a stress on the Lungs for sure, but nothing compared to the large amounts of toxic chemicals and pollutants that are released when houses and buildings burn. This is why structural firefighters have been known to have one of the highest cancer rates of any profession.
The toxic smoke storm blowing through California right now is no joke, requiring us to support both our respiratory systems and also our Liver and detoxification pathways. Fortunately, our amazing herbal allies are up to the job, and our bodies will be grateful for the support. The Liver is an amazingly regenerative organ, made of millions of tiny identical cells called hepatocytes. When injured (such as by exposure to toxins) hepatocytes are able to repair themselves, over and over again. Because of this, the Liver is the only organ that can regenerate itself. This is part of the creative ability of the Liver as understood in Traditional Chinese Medicine. However, the Liver does have limits- with too many repeated chemical and environmental stresses, it can lose it’s regenerative abilities. Too often, because of the Livers’ miraculous restorative powers, people may actually be unaware that they are damaging this most special organ. Throughout our lives, many of us may be exposed to incredible amounts of pollutants and chemicals and still feel great….to a point. By the time people begin to lose Liver function, the damage has already been done. This can possibly be corrected through intensive and dedicated herbal therapy, along with acupuncture, but why go there if we can prevent it in the first place?
With this in mind, I’ve concocted a formula for herbal support for both smoke and chemical impacts to the body, which targets the Liver and the bodies’ detox functions, protects the body from chemical damage, soothes inflammation, and supports the respiratory system.
Smoke and Environmental Detox Tea
Cheers!
Nettles (4 parts): strong anti inflammatory, anti-allergy, blood purifier, sky-high chlorophyll content, diuretic which helps flush toxins from the system
Licorice (2 parts): universal detoxifier, neutralizes damaging chemicals, adaptogenic, soothes sore throat and cough. do not take in hypertension cases.
Tulsi (3 parts): adaptogen, adrenal tonic, antimicrobial, purifying and protective against environmental pollutants, also known to treat asthma
Elderberry (2 parts): stops cough, very high in antioxidants, anti-cancer, boosts immunity
Schisandra (1 part): proven to repair chemical damage to the Liver, also assists Lung and adrenal function
Horsetail (1 part): high Silica content soothes mucus membranes and aids in their repair, great for eye irritation.
Oat straw: (1 part): high in calcium and magnesium and thus a supportive tonic for the nervous system, soothes mucus membranes and inflammation. oat straw is gluten free, however, for those who are sensitive, oat straw is often processed on the same equipment as other grains. make sure your oatstraw is certified GF.
To brew a medicinal dose of herbal tea, use 1 tsp herbs to 1 cup water. Place elderberries and schisandra berries in water first, bring to a boil, covered. Reduce heat and simmer covered 5-10 minutes. Turn off heat, add the remaining herbs, and steep covered for 20 minutes. Let cool, and enjoy.
Consult with your licensed medical provider before beginning any herbal medicine program. The statements here are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.
Copyright 2018 by Athene Eisenhardt, L.Ac