Lower Respiratory Tract

Question 1

Achillea millefolium

Answer 1

diaphoretic, antipyretic,
peripheral vasodilator

Liquid Extract 1:1
(45%)
42-84mL / week Take up to three times per
day

Common colds, influenza – especially with fever –
particularly in earlier stages of a cold/flu

Cooling, drying & constricting

Question 2

Althaea officinalis

Answer 2

Leaf Primary: demulcent
(mucilage), expectorant (relaxing),
emollient;

Folia Tincture 1:2 (25%) 20-40 mL/ week Take up to three
times per day

alleviates local irritation of (mouth ulcers, pharyngitis, laryngitis) and associated dry, irritable
cough, bronchitis

Question 3

Hedera helix

Answer 3

expectorant (reflex),
anticatarrhal/mucolytic, antispasmodic, antiinflammatory/antiarthritic;

Tincture1:5 (60%) 7-35ml/week Take up to three times
per day

Catarrhs, chronic inflammatory bronchial conditions,Paediatric coughs, Whooping cough, spastic bronchitis and chronic catarrh. Topically for swollen glands and ulcers.

sweet, acrid, warming, drying.

Question 4

Marrubium vulgare

Answer 4

antispasmodic - relaxes the
smooth muscle of the bronchioles
(Hoffmann, 2003), expectorant, bitter tonic
(bitter principles), choleretic

Tincture1:2 (25%) 15-40 mL/week Take up to three times
per day

Acute bronchitis, common cold; dry, non-productive
coughs; catarrh of respiratory tract, thick phlegm that won’t shift; also good for laryngitis & pharyngitis.

Cooling & drying

Question 5

Plantago lanceolata

Answer 5

demulcent – affinity with
respiratory and GI systems,
anticatarrhal, astringent;

Tincture: 1:2 (25%), 20-40mL/week Take up to three times
per day

cooling, moistening, softening, astringent

All coughs, bronchitis, pneumonia, hoarseness,
haemoptysis. Middle ear catarrh & infections
(children). Cools & moistens inflamed mucosa, & also
astringes & draws up stagnant mucus

Question 6

Prunus serotina

Answer 6

antitussive (suppresses
cough reflex) – cyanogenic mild sedative;

Irritable, persistent cough – bronchitis, whooping
cough, pleurisy, pheumonia, tracheitis; where
respiratory mucosa is inflamed and irritated. Used
when cough is depleting vitality & exhausting the client

Tincture1:2 (25%) 15-30mL/ week Take up to three times
per day

: bitter, sweet, sour, cooling and drying

Question 7

Verbascum thapsus

Answer 7

expectorant (saponins,
volatile oils), demulcent (mucilage),
anticatarrhal, mucous membrane tonic

Tincture 1:2
(25%)
30-60mL/ week Take three times
per day

mucosa is dry (draws
moisture to dry tissues) - acute or chronic bronchitis, tracheitis,
common cold, influenza (has mild antibacterial and antiviral
activity), respiratory catarrh, tonsillitis, old long-standing coughs
where client hasn’t fully recovered and lower respiratory mucosa
is structurally and functionally weakened. Specifically for
bronchitis with hard dry cough. A tonic for restoring respiratory
mucosa in lungs, trachea.

Question 8

Euphorbia hirta

Answer 8

expectorant (relaxing),
spasmolytic, antiasthmatic;

Tincture1:2 (60%) 15-30mL / week Take up to three times
per day

asthma, bronchitis, upper respiratory catarrh
(hayfever), laryngeal spasm, emphysema.

Question 9

Grindelia camporum

Answer 9

expectorant (relaxing),
bronchospasmolytic, mucolytic (resins &
saponins);

Bronchitis – phlegm dried out and
sticky; asthma – where respiration is labored

Tincture1:2 (60%) 10-20ml / week Take up to three times per day

Irregular heart action – especially when accompanying chronic coughs
* Pneumonia & chronic coughs that often follow pneumonia

Question 10

Inula helenium

Answer 10

Bronchial & tracheal catarrh (thick, green/yellow) – good for infections of the throat & lungs – induces
sweating to break a fever & provides
antibacterial/bactericidal support; also a bitter, which promotes a tonic action systemically. Good as a
pulmonary tonic to promote recovery from a respiratory
infection; for those with constitutionally weak lungs.

Tincture 1:2 (60%) 20-40mL / week Take up to three times per
day

Warming & drying

Question 11

Thymus vulgaris

Answer 11

expectorant (relaxing),
bronchospasmolytic (saponins),
spasmolytic - GIT (carminative),
sedative effect via GABA
modulation; antibacterial;

Respiratory tract infections – colds, laryngitis,
pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, whooping cough

Tincture 1:2 (60%) 15-40mL / week Take up to three times
per day

Warming & drying