Herbal infusions for inhalation

I'm thinking of getting an inhaler, to help a relative recover from bronchitis. I think it may be useful also for me later on, when spring comes and I happen to have my seasonal hay fever / sinusitis.

A doctor once recommended me a salt water inhalation, and I know that sage is good for that too. And maybe some essential oils, like eucalyptus. What else can be used for that?

You're in Poland. Go to Wieliczka for the day.

Aside from that, I would actually be interested in Sharol's suggestions, for the same reasons, and because I am not living near a historically significant salt mine.

-CK

Her article here!
https://youarethehealer.org/herbal-medicine/making-herbal-products/herbal-steam-inhalation/
About mint and thyme... i am interested in knowing which thyme is the best, would it be thujanol type?

Thanks for the article!

As for Wieliczka... look at air pollution there! 150% of the WHO norm at the moment, and the nearest city (Kraków) has completely banned burning ANY fuel, even wood! So people are freezing over there and air isn't any cleaner.

However, there is another interesting thing: graduation tower. I visit one of those sometimes, in Ciechocinek, where air is a little bit cleaner: "only" 120% of the norm.

I'm not familiar with using an inhaler, especially with homemade ingredients. However herbal steam baths are something I've enjoyed. Typical herbs I've seen used for those include wormwood, lemonbalm/other mints, mugwort, eucalyptus, juniper and cedar. I'd imagine sage would be nice. Probably mullein also. The small scale way is put the herbs in a steamer on the stove and then lean over it with a towel covering your head and the steamer. If you have a sauna or access to one that is ok with your plans you can put the steamer and herbs on top of the sauna stove and make a full on herbal steam room. In Ecuador they just pile a heap of fresh herbs on top of a steam vent and crank it up and it felt really nice

Hi Flora,

People put all sorts of herbs into inhalers. Usually, very tiny amounts of essential oils, but in the old days people used tinctures too when things were not available as an essential. The issue is that you do not want to harm your lungs and other respiratory tissues. I have not used tinctures as I am concerned about respiratory damage. When you use essential oils in inhalers, start with the tiniest amount you can and go up from there. Some essential oils can burn your skin terribly, so imagine what they can do to your lungs. For instance Thyme used straight on the skin can cause what looks like a rug burn on the skin. This is why you usually mix something like thyme with a fixed oil before putting it on the skin. Never inhale a fixed oil into your lungs by the way. I actually suggest people use the old fashion steam inhalations as they are safer than an inhaler. The reason I list peppermint and thyme or peppermint and oregano often as essential oils to use for inhalations is that the peppermint opens up the nasal and sinus tissues while the thyme or orgegano are both highly antimicrobial and antifungal. Plus these are often in peoples kitchens. The essential oil will be easier to use than making a tea and much stronger, so please do look at the directions for using an inhalation that was posted up above. You need to follow the directions of starting with one drop and only add more as described to be safe and keep your lungs in good health.

When I was younger and had poorly controlled asthma triggered by allergies, the best and fastest remedy for me was to put a few drops of tea tree oil on a dry face cloth, then breath through the cloth. I also would use a humidifier, then put a few drops of tea tree oil in the water. Tea tree oil in the humidifier worked far better than just the humidifier.

Doing this was far more effective in restoring "deep breathing" than using doctor-prescribed ventolin alone.

I like the Olba’s inhalers and the active  ingredients are listed as follows:

Cajuput Oil.
Clove Oil.
Eucalyptus Oil.
Juniperberry Oil
Levomenthol.
Methyl salicylate.
Peppermint oil.

When inhaling steam I put drops of Clove Oil, Eucalyptus Oil and Peppermint oil that we always have bottles around.

We pretty regularly use the towel-and-bowl-of-hot-water method described above, using whole fresh or dried herbs (eucalyptus, sage, thyme, oregano).
If things are really bad, I will also add a few drops of an essential oil to the floor of the shower (corners) and run it on really hot before getting in, and maybe sit there for a while, but literally maybe only 2 drops total. (eucalyptus, cajeput, cedar, mint)