Beep beep, friends. It is a smoke world out there. I got about 20 texts today from friends and family asking about herbal support for these smoke-filled times so I figured I’d compile some thoughts here and send them out. I will just begin by saying that this sucks and I feel a lot of grief and fear and “what the fuck is going on!” despite having experienced many fire seasons at this point. It hasn’t gotten any easier emotionally over the years. I don’t have one particular protocol that I turn to - I use what I have and what feels accessible to me at the time. Rather than getting into specific herbs, here is how I am thinking about the medicinal actions I am calling upon.

 

I have inhaled my fair share of particulate matter and smoke over the years and as soon as I see a hazy orange sky with zero shadows on the ground, I almost immediately get a low-grade headache and scratchy throat. Hello latent pathogens! You are no joke! So I begin simply with simmering a big pot of water on the stove. I start with antimicrobial herbs, calling upon many of the herbs that are already in my pantry: sage, thyme, rosemary, oregano, etc. Evergreens are great here too: pine, cedar, juniper, etc. Bonus points if you can do a facial steam by placing these herbs in a big bowl, pouring boiling water over the herbs and covering your head with a towel while you inhale the steam — getting a direct hit of medicine to your lungs, yes! But getting a pot going on the stove is always helpful and the scent of the herbs also helps soothe my nervous system, which is an added bonus. For the friends who work outside all day, the steam is soooo helpful at the end of the day! 

 

Next! Teas! Infusions! Water! Our lungs are hot, dry and irritated which means that most of the tissues of the body are going to be hot, dry and irritated as well. So we want demulcent herbs, herbs that soothe and bring moisture to the mucosa. Some options here include: mallow, plantain, fenugreek, licorice, seaweeds, violet. I will also add respiratory tonics into the mix, herbs that support the lungs doing what they do: red clover, mullein, nettle, aralia, horehound, hawthorn, passionflower. All lovely. If I am making a tea, I make sure to not skimp on the honey as honey is one of the best demulcents we have.

 

I am also thinking about lymph movers, herbs that are helping us clear out toxins that we have inhaled via the particulate matter in the air. I love calendula, mullein, red root, chickweed, cleavers, violet, dandelion, burdock, etc. I will double up on tinctures of these plants during smoke days. You can also of course, add to tea. You will notice here that I mention some herbs more than once; we are lucky to have plants that are dynamic and can cover many desired medicinal actions! 

 

Anti-inflammatories. Our tissues and minds and hearts are inflamed! So I reach for rose, turmeric, reishi, yarrow, sage, mallow, seaweeds, etc. Consider how you are supporting your nervous system! I hit the milky oat glycerin hard yesterday when I caught myself spiraling about baby in smoke. The oats reminded me of my other herbal allies: “you have the agency to practice harm reduction!" and I got off my butt and started to simmer herbs on the stove. It helped! Thank you oats! Other nervines I love: rose, motherwort, hawthorn, albizia, skullcap, vervain, passionflower, etc.

 

Lastly, don’t forget about the herbs you love for building deep immunity. Elderberry, astragalus, reishi, tulsi, etc. Use what you have. Pair them with some of the anti-microbial herbs I mentioned in the beginning of this missive, but you can also add others: bee balm, rose, aralia, clove, etc. If any of these herbs feel too drying/warming, add a demulcent, cooling herb to the mix!

 

Ok. I am off to bed. Sending signal through the smoke. 

xx liz