Herbal Pantry: Demulcents and Expectorants

An Herbal Diary

Medicine from plants can’t replace pharmaceuticals, but botanical remedies can contribute to prevention and recovery from illness. In this episode, I explore building the kitchen herbal pantry to include cough remedies.

Categories and Examples of Herbs with therapeutic use for coughing

Demulcents are herbs that soothe and protect mucous membranes from irritation and inflammation and thin mucus

Examples are flax seed, chia seed, oats, okra, marshmallow, licorice, fenugreek, fennel, slippery elm, mullein, violet, butterfly weed

Expectorants are herbs that help move excessive mucus out of the respiratory system

Examples include wild cherry bark, plantain, hyssop, fenugreek, thyme, fennel, licorice, ginger, marshmallow, anise, onion, garlic, eucalyptus, pine, elecampane, lobelia, horehound

Decongestants reduce and/or eliminate the formation of mucus or phlegm

Examples are anise, black pepper, cayenne, ginger, fenugreek, mullein, marshmallow, licorice, horehound, sumac, wild cherry, elecampane, lobelia

Astringents dry up mucus, be careful with astringents, use only if copious mucus

Examples include peppermint, spearmint, bayberry, sumach, raspberry leaf, wild cherry, cleavers, lobelia

Antispasmodics relax muscles, decrease constriction and tightness, help coughing spasms

Examples are Fenugreek, fennel, lavender, peppermint, lemon balm, mullein, Angelica, bayberry, red clover, elecampane and lobelia

Mentions:

American Herbalist Guild COVID19 Resource page

Respiratory System and Respiratory Immunity: Course offered by the Matthew Wood Institute of Herbalism

Recipe for Onion Poultice:

1-2 onions, steamed

½ cup flour or cornmeal

2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or any vinegar except distilled white vinegar)

Mix together to form paste, spread onto a cheesecloth, wrap in plastic. Place on chest and cover with a towel to keep warm. Keep on chest for at least 30 minutes.

---Deepest gratitude to Andrea Klunder, my podcast boss. Find her at thecreativeimposter.com.

Original music by Dylan Rice

---

Please send me your comments, requests, or feedback. Send me a message, voice or write an email, my email is [e-mail].

I look forward to hearing from you!

To get herb inspired recipes, plant profiles and read more about herbal medicine, visit my website at: theherbalbakeshoppe.com

Join me on Patreon

Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode, please SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW where ever you like to listen to podcasts! And if you have time, kindly leave me a rating and review.

---

ABOUT DINA

---

Dina Ranade is a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild and a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. She is also a mom of three - two daughters and one son all now in college. Dina loves cooking for her family despite the challenges that this creates. She passionately loves exploring culinary herbalism and has been working on stocking her home kitchen apothecary or medicine cabinet.