Respiratory Tea ingredients:
Elder Flowers, Mullen, Raspberry leaf, Marshmallow, Wild Lettuce, Red Clover, Colts Foot, Lemon Balm, Calendula, Spearmint, Maca.
ElderBerry and Flower:
Parts Used: Most commonly the flowers or berries. Dried fruits are less bitter than fresh. The branches and leaves are poisonous. The small stem which is sometimes left on the berry is safe.
Summary: Elderflower is used for swollen sinuses, colds, influenza, swine flu, bronchitis, diabetes, and constipation. It is also used to increase urine production and to increase sweating. Elderflower is also used as a gargle and mouthwash for coughs, colds, hoarseness and shortness of breath.
Precautions: None for flowers. the unripe and raw fruit, seeds, bark and leaves contain a component, sambunigrin, which may cause vomiting or severe diarrhea if ingested.
Mullen Leaf:
Summery: cough, congestion, bronchitis, asthma, constipation, pain, inflammation, migraine, sleep, gout.
Precautions:
Small hairs on mullein leaf may cause mechanical irritation in the mouth and throat if not filtered out of extracts prior to consumption. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
Raspberry Leaf:
Parts Used: Dried leaf. Raspberry leaves gathered in spring before the plant flowers have the highest antioxidant content.
Summary: Red raspberry leaf is used for gastrointestinal tract disorders, including diarrhea; for respiratory system disorders, including flu and swine flu; and for heart problems, fever, diabetes, and vitamin deficiency. It is also used to promote sweating, urination, and bile production. Some people use it for general purification of skin and blood.
Precautions: Safe dosages for children under the age of 6 and for persons with liver or kidney disease have not been established.
Marshmallow Root:
Parts Used: The dried root.
Summary: Marshmallow leaf and root are used for pain and swelling of the mucous membranes that line the respiratory tract. They are also used for dry cough, inflammation of the lining of the stomach, diarrhea, stomach ulcers, constipation, urinary tract inflammation, and stones in the urinary tract.
Precautions: Marshmallow root is completely non-toxic, but its mucilage can interfere with the absorption of other medicines if taken at the same time. The asparagine in the root can cause a mild odor in the urine, but has no other physiological effect.
Calendula Flower:
Parts Used: Dried flowers:
Summary: Calendula flower is used to prevent muscle spasms, start menstrual periods, and reduce fever. It is also used for treating sore throat and mouth, menstrual cramps, cancer, and stomach and duodenal ulcers.
Precautions: None.
Colts Foot Herb:
Parts Used: Leaves, and sometimes the buds and flowers
Summary: Despite safety concerns, people take colts foot for lung problems such as bronchitis, asthma, and whooping cough. Also great for upper respiratory tract complaints including sore mouth and throat, cough, and hoarseness.
Precautions: Colts foot should not be used by pregnant women, as it may be an abortifacient, and the alkaloids seem to have a particularly harmful effect on the liver of the developing infant. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids present in the plant are potentially toxic in large doses, but have not proven toxic in the doses usually used to treat coughs. Still, it is recommended that colts foot tea or syrup not be used for more than 4-6 weeks at a time.
Spearmint Leaf:
Parts Used: The leaf, dried and cut.
Summary: is used for sore throat, colds, headaches, toothaches, cramps, cancer and inflammation of respiratory tract. Some people use it as a stimulant, germ-killer, local pain-killer, and anti-spasm medication.
Precautions: Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of spearmint during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Wild Lettuce:
Parts Used: leaf and stem
Summary: Wild lettuce is used for whooping cough, asthma, urinary tract problems, cough, trouble sleeping (insomnia), restlessness, excitability in children, painful menstrual periods, excessive sex drive in women (nymphomania), muscular or joint pains, poor circulation, swollen genitals in men (priapism), and as an opium substitute in cough preparations.
Precautions: None
Red Clover:
Parts Used: Flowers and sometimes the leaf
Summary: Red clover is used for cancer prevention, indigestion, high cholesterol, whooping cough, cough, asthma, bronchitis, and sexually transmitted diseases.
Precautions: Red clover should not be taken by pregnant or nursing women, as the effects on developing fetus and infants is not determined. There are some studies that suggest taking red clover may affect fetal development. It is also recommended that you do not take red Clover while on blood thinning medication.
Lemon Balm:
Parts Used: The leaf, dried and cut
Summary: lemon balm is for supporting a calm and healthy sleep. It has also been approved in supporting the gastrointestinal tract. Lemon balm has been shown in clinical trials to support healthy memory and cognitive function, as well as to increase self-reported calmness.
Precautions: Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of lemon balm during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Maca Root:
Parts Used: The whole root powdered.
Summary: High in minerals (calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc), sterols (6 found), up to 20 essential fatty acids, lipids, fiber, carbohydrates, protein, and amino acids.
Precautions: To date no record of any contraindications, adverse effects, or toxicity have been found.
For educational purposes only This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.