Which plants are used to decongest the respiratory tract?

Nasal congestion and upper airways can be caused by a viral cold that will take 7 to 10 days to complete its cycle, according to doctors on the official website Mayo Clinic in the United States. It can also be the effect of an allergy or the flu. But annoying anyway.

Mucus and rhinitis (runny nose) are consequences of inflammation that prevents correct breathing, and this affects the oxygenation of the body, producing tiredness and muscle pain, and alters good sleep, producing even more tiredness.

Adults usually suffer from two colds a year and it has been shown that the use of topical decongestants (nasal drops) can produce a rebound effect and repeat the infection in a short time.

If you continue to apply decongestants, you enter a vicious cycle that is difficult to break, says the Handbook of Global Medical Knowledge (MSD manuals). And, what’s worse, the use of oral decongestants (pseudoephedrine) alters blood pressure and heart rate, causing (with abuse over time) greater damage.

The Mayo Clinic, in an excellent article on colds, also gives us the keys to preventing them. But fortunately, nature offers safer ways to calm the effects of respiratory obstruction. Phytochemicals found in some plants help clean the upper respiratory tracti.e. nose, throat and bronchi.

Decongest the respiratory tract naturally

There are plants that contain essential oils that are very suitable for this function. The site Better with health It teaches us what they are and how to use them in a home remedy for this annoying symptom.

It is an ointment based on mint, eucalyptus and thymethree plants that have antihistamine, expectorant and emollient effects that relieve nasal obstruction, coughing, watery eyes, rhinitis and sneezing.

• Mint is refreshingantiseptic, expectorant and soothing of sore throat.
• Eucalyptus treats inflammation of the respiratory tract and contributes to the expulsion of mucus. It relieves asthma and colds, which is why it is widely used in vaporizer products.
• Thyme is a tonic and a good natural antibiotic that fights viruses and bacteria.

How to prepare a homemade ointment

• We will need:
• 2 dried eucalyptus leaves
• 2 dried mint leaves
• 6 tablespoons of olive oil
• 10 tablespoons beeswax (sold in pharmacies)
• 2 teaspoons of mint, eucalyptus and thyme essential oil (they are sold in health shops and you need to make sure they are one hundred percent natural).

• How to prepare it.
• Let’s start by heating the oil with the mint and eucalyptus leaves.
• Leave it to rest until it cools and place it in a bain-marie together with the beeswax until it melts.
• Mix to integrate well and remove from the heat.
• Leave to cool and add the essential oils. Keep in mind that essential oils should not be heated too much because they volatilize (evaporate).
• Mix everything with a spoon until the ingredients are integrated.
• Pour into a jar or can with a lid and wait for it to solidify, like an ointment.

• However long it lasts. If you add vitamin E oil along with your other essential oils, the product can last up to a year.
• Store the bottle in a dry, dark place.
• How to use it:
• With the ointment you can rub the lower area of ​​the nostrils to inhale decongestant odors.
• You can rub your chest and back at the level of your lungs.
• You can use the ointment to rub your skin when your head hurts.

This remedy calms the symptoms, but does not cure the disease, which will surely continue its course until its cycle is complete. If it persists, you should see a doctor.