The Herbal Library

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Browse every herb in the database by name, category, or the body system it's traditionally associated with.

All categories Aromatic Culinary Medicinal

Filtered by body system:RespiratoryClear

Get emergency help for severe breathlessness, chest pain or blue lips. Don't use herbs in place of asthma inhalers or other prescribed medicines. These herbs are listed because of traditional use or research, not because they're proven treatments.

Results

8 herbs

No. 001Culinary

Aojiso

Perilla frutescens

Green shiso leaf, a Japanese herb and an official medicine in the Chinese and Japanese pharmacopoeias, used for colds, nausea and allergies. Perilla extracts eased hay fever in human studies.

Colds and Nasal Congestion · Hay Fever

No. 002Culinary

Garlic

Allium sativum

A pungent kitchen bulb traditionally used for heart and circulation health. Research suggests garlic supplements may lower blood pressure and cholesterol a little.

Colds and Nasal Congestion

No. 003Culinary

Osmanthus Fragrans

Osmanthus fragrans

Sweet osmanthus, a plant from southwestern China, Japan and Korea traditionally used for cough and asthma, bad breath, toothache, stomach ache, diarrhoea and rheumatism.

Cough

No. 004Culinary

Purslane

Portulaca oleracea

A leafy plant eaten as a vegetable and used as a folk medicine, called pussley in Trinidad. Reviews of trials found it may lower fasting blood sugar a little and improve cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes.

Asthma and Wheezing

No. 005Culinary

Sage

Salvia officinalis

A silvery-leaved kitchen herb with a savory, slightly peppery flavor, traditionally used for sore throats and indigestion.

Sore Throat

No. 006Culinary

Spearmint

Mentha spicata

A mint grown worldwide as a flavoring and tea, traditionally used for colds, coughs and digestive problems. Small trials suggest spearmint tea may lower testosterone in women with PCOS, and an extract may slightly help memory and attention.

Cough · Asthma and Wheezing · Colds and Nasal Congestion

No. 007Culinary

Susumber

Solanum torvum

Turkey berry, a small berry from the nightshade family cooked in Jamaican dishes and used in traditional medicine in Asia, Africa and South America. Some batches of berries have caused serious poisoning.

Cough · Asthma and Wheezing

No. 008Culinary

Thyme

Thymus vulgaris

A small-leaved, earthy herb used widely in savory cooking and traditionally in cough remedies.

Cough · Chest Congestion and Bronchitis