Oakland, CA – Strengthening the Lungs in the Time of Coronavirus

Astragalus root

Recently I’ve been working with a number of people who have had persistent respiratory concerns for months or even years. With coronavirus circulating in our communities, many of us are now taking extra steps to ensure that we are as healthy as possible to ensure that we can recover well from COVID-19.

Chinese herbal medicine has a wide variety of herbal formulas to address lung health. Let’s explore a few different ways that this medicine can support weakened lungs.

Phlegm

Some of us have a low-grade but persistent case of phlegm. This phlegm might be stored in the sinuses or deeper into the lungs. People with persistent phlegm may find that they have to blow their nose every day, or that they wake in the morning and have to cough up some phlegm. The Chinese pharmacopeia has quite a few herbs that clear phlegm out of the respiratory system and decrease the quantity of phlegm that the body produces. Bamboo and seaweed are two of the many herbs that assist with clearing phlegm.

As a side note – some people have robust phlegm production because of their diet. Consumption of dairy, gluten, and sugar can all contribute to a higher quantity of phlegm in the body. If you have persistent phlegm you may wish to try an elimination diet, removing either dairy, gluten, or sugar from the diet for three weeks to determine whether you feel any health improvements.

Dryness

As opposed to phlegm, some people feel a persistent sense of dryness in their lungs and in their throat and nasal cavity. This can happen when a previous illness damages the natural fluids of the lungs, or due to other imbalance in the body decreasing the fluids available to the body. While the lungs do not want to be filled with phlegm, they also do not function optimally if they are overly dry. Herbal medicine can provide moistening to the lungs so that dry cough and a persistent sense of dryness in the respiratory system can be resolved. Examples of these moistening herbs include American ginseng, lily bulb, black sesame seed, and white wood ear mushrooms.

Persistent Cough

I have worked with many people who struggle with a persistent cough. Sometimes the cough comes on after an illness and never leaves; other times the cough comes after emotional difficulty or a prolonged period of overexertion. Chinese herbal medicine has a variety of strengthening herbs that help to restore the body to its vitality and reduce coughing. Some of these beautiful strengthening herbs include Chinese yam, licorice, astragalus, and ginseng.

If you are curious about whether Chinese medicine could help to restore your health while coronavirus is a concern, contact me to discuss your health. I look forward to hearing from you!