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| supports the entire body. Brew as an infusion for tea. When heated, nettles lose their sting. |
| Oatgrass (Avena sativa). The grass of the common oat is a nutritive tonic for the nervous system and is recommended for nervous exhaustion, irritability, stress and general debility. It can play an important role in the treatment of all respiratory illnesses because it helps the mind and body relax. In addition, oatgrass can help smokers. In 1971, a report by C. Anand, published in the science journal, Nature, showed that a tincture of oatgrass significantly reduced the craving for cigarettes in those studied. Oatgrass tincture can be added to any tea or liquid, or it can be placed directly on the tongue. For smokers, the recommended dosage is half a dropperful whenever you crave a cigarette; for other conditions, take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon 3 to 4 times daily. |
| Osha (Ligusticum spp.). |
| Although osha is also called lovage, it should not be confused with the garden plant that resembles celery. Native to the American Southwest, Osha's sharply pungent dried root has a long history of use in the treatment of bronchial coughs. The root can be chewed, brewed as a decoction or used as a tincture. In his Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West,, Michael Moore recommended osha root "for dry, irritative cough; acute chest cold with dry membranes and fever; and obstinate respiratory virus that doesn't peak properly." |
| Plantain (Plantago major). |
| A familiar lawn and garden weed, plantain is a close cousin of the popular bulking agent, psyllium. A cooling, emollient, mildly astringent, antiseptic and decongestant herb, plantain can be valuable in the treatment of bronchitis and other respiratory complaints. Plantain syrups, made with sugar or honey, are popular European cough treatments. |
| Pleurisy Root (Asclepias tuberosa). |
| As its name implies, pleurisy root is a specific for the lungs and all chest complaints. A bright orange flowering plant popularly known |
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