How to Support Your Lungs with Herbal Remedies After Quitting Smoking
Quit smoking? Let's heal them smokers' lungs.
With prolonged smoking, the lungs bear the brunt of the toxic cigarette fumes. Two issues can potentially trouble smokers: chronic bronchitis and emphysema, collectively known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Chronic bronchitis involves inflammation of the airways that lead to air sacs, and emphysema is the damage caused to these air sacs.
While a 'quick-fix' to help your erstwhile smoking lungs to become as healthy as before you took that first puff is implausible, there is much to hope for. You CAN help your lungs repair themselves after you quit. Think of your lungs as a sophisticated piece of machinery with the ability to fix itself. The moment you quit smoking, your lungs start healing themselves. So, what can you do to give your lungs that extra nudge? Check out our comprehensive list of herbal remedies to heal your lungs after you quit smoking.
Herbal Remedies to Support Your Lungs After Quitting Smoking
Smoking can lead to lung scarring and damage. The use of natural remedies supports healing and accelerates the process. With the help of simple, doable methods like eating right and exercising, you can support your lungs as they gradually get detoxified. And what's the best part about herbal remedies? Making them is no rocket science, and they can be whipped up from simple ingredients from our kitchens. Here are a few herbal remedies you can include in your khana-peena to support your lung health after you quit smoking.
1. Warm Fluids To Heal Smoking Lungs
Warm fluids help reduce the mucus lining the lungs. Something as simple as drinking around 2 litres of water daily will make it easier to expel the mucus when you cough. Sounds like drudgery? Consider making your fluid intake interesting by adding warm liquids such as vegetable broths and tea to the mix. Here are a few great examples of effective fluids to include in your diet.
- Green Tea
This healthy beverage is loaded with antioxidants and can help reduce lung inflammation. It may also protect your lung tissues from the harm caused by smoke inhalation and prevent certain types of lung disease. You can also opt for green teas infused with herbs like tulsi, mulethi, ginger, or turmeric for that extra boost to heal smoker's lungs.
- Mulethi
Mulethi, or liquorice, is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antioxidant. Tea made from mulethi helps combat coughs and colds. It is especially good for bronchial tubes as it reduces inflammation. Mulethi reduces bacterial growth in the lungs and reduces mucus production.
Warning: Some people could be allergic to mulethi. Consult a doctor before consuming it.
- Lemons
Is Life giving you lemons? Use them for Vitamin C! You can add lemon to a glass of warm water and drink it first thing in the morning for a lung cleanse. You can also add lemon to your ginger and honey tea to detoxify your lungs naturally.
- Ginger
A piping-hot adrak wali chai never goes out of fashion! Ginger is an excellent way to unclog the respiratory tract and remove toxins from the lungs. With its anti-inflammatory properties, ginger can ease your cough too. The best part: you can choose how you consume ginger. Use it in a delectable masala chai with cinnamon, pepper, and cardamom, or partner it with honey and lemon to soothe your lungs.
- Turmeric
Turmeric is one of the most magical elements in your kitchen. Remember haldi-wala doodh? Packed with curcumin, turmeric has anti-inflammatory, anti-toxic, and antioxidant properties. Consuming turmeric daily will strengthen your immunity, remove harmful toxins from your body, and cleanse your lungs naturally.
2. Steam Therapy To Clean Smoking Lungs
If warm beverages aren't your cup of tea (pun totally intended), you can consider steam therapy. Inhaling water vapour may help by thinning out the mucus and reducing inflammation in the airways. Steam inhalation also provides temporary relief from laboured breathing. You can also add some eucalyptus oil capsules(readily available in medical stores) to make steaming more effective.
3. Hot Baths With Essential Oils To Heal Smokers' Lungs
Turn your bath into a cleanse for your smoker's lungs too! A nice hot-water bath is a great way to eliminate toxins. Adding eucalyptus oil to your bath will help purify your lungs effortlessly, as eucalyptus oil is a great decongestant. You can also add ginger powder to your bath water. This promotes sweating and removes toxins. If you are a shower person, hang a few sprigs of eucalyptus leaves over your shower head. The steam, infused with the goodness of eucalyptus, will work wonders to decongest your lungs.
4. Diet Helps Heal Lungs After Quitting Smoking
Once you quit smoking, maintaining a balanced diet will also help your lungs heal after quitting smoking. Including a wide array of fruits, vegetables, and herbs in various forms will go a long way in supporting your lung health.
- Anti-inflammatory Foods
A smoker's lungs are very likely to be inflamed, making breathing slightly difficult. Though there is no concrete scientific evidence that anti-inflammatory foods prevent lung inflammation, some research does show that these foods help regain lung health. Food such as olives, spinach, blueberries, broccoli, turmeric, dark chocolate, and almonds are great additions to your diet. Not only do these foods help with healing smokers' lungs, but they are also loaded with essential vitamins and minerals to boost your overall health.
- Herbs To Heal Smoking Lungs
Include herbs like oregano, peppermint, or pudina in your diet. Oregano is an excellent decongestant and improves the functioning of the respiratory tract. Peppermint is also a great herb to enhance blood flow and clear the mucus deposit in a smoker's lungs. You can either drink a peppermint-infused tea or simply chew fresh peppermint leaves as part of your diet.
- Smoothies
Thinking of a fun diet? Think smoothies. They are a great way to add vegetables and fruits to your diet. Apples, carrots, spinach, blueberries, and many other fruits agree with smoothie concoctions. The nutrient boost these smoothies provide will help your lungs heal.
Conclusion
Yes, smoking is injurious to lung health, but they are a remarkably resilient organ. Smoking lungs begin healing the moment you give up the stick. And though gradually, they may slowly repair themselves. Once you quit smoking, you are already one step closer to cleaner lungs. A healthy lifestyle and the right kind of herbal remedies will support your lungs on their way to health. Try toh karo.
