Herbs for Smoke Exposure

The image above, from a few summers ago, is our home under a smokey sky. Two days after this photo, we were evacuated for almost three weeks. By sheer grace, we did not burn. Literally, it was a miraculous change in wind that saved our little mountain village and the others towns near us. But, sadly, 1,000 other homes in our area, our friends and neighbors, were not so lucky.

I’m sharing this today because, as I watch the devastating wildfires burning across North America right now, the memory of that experience (chaos, fear, grief, guilt) is vividly unforgettable.

Many folks have been asking about herbal support for smoke exposure.
It is our prayer that you never need to know the answer... and you can just scroll right on by this post...that you and your loved ones are safe and secure and under blue skies.

If you are affected, here are some kitchen herb staples you probably have on hand, plus a few apothecary allies, for healing lungs, clearing smoke exposure, and supporting your nervous system. We can’t control the winds, but we can protect our internal landscape.

Here is how I think about tending to the body and home when the smoke rolls in:

Open and Soothe the Airways

When the throat gets scratchy and lungs feel hot, dry, and irritated by ash, we need to bring soothing, slippery moisture back to our tissues.

From the Grocery Store & Garden:
Put a big pot of water on the stove and gather the antimicrobial herbs sitting in your spice rack right now—sage, thyme, rosemary, oregano.

Or, pick up fresh bundles of these herbs from the produce aisle and add them to the pot. Just the aroma in the air will help clear your house and your airways.

Steep the herbs for a bit to make a simple herbal tea. If you’ve been outdoors, pour boiling water over these herbs in a bowl, put a towel over your head, and do a deep facial steam. And don't skimp on the honey in your cups this week—it’s one of the best throat-soothers we have.

From the Apothecary: If you have our Breathe Tea on hand, the marshmallow root, mullein leaf, and mint will coat and cool irritated lungs. I also lean heavily on our Mullein Leaf Tincture & Glycerite when smoke is in the air. It gives the respiratory tract deep, clearing, and detoxifying support.

Lymphatic Support

When we breathe in microscopic smoke particles, our body's filtering systems have to work overtime. Keeping your lymph moving is crucial for flushing out what we inhale.

From the Grocery Store: Juice fresh parsley or cilantro or eat it as a dense chimichurri. Buy fresh ginger root to slice into your teas (or simply steep fresh ginger slices in hot water with honey). Add fresh lemon or lime to deeply hydrate and flush the system. And don't forget to add that honey. If it's too hot for hot tea, pour this over ice. Lemon or lime-aid work well, too.

At-Home DIY: Try a simple lymphatic self-massage: using very light pressure—just the weight of your fingers—gently stroke from behind your ears down the sides of your neck toward your collarbones to manually pump and drain lymphatic fluid.

From the Apothecary: To support the body's natural drainage from the inside out, I lean heavily on our Cleavers Tincture to keep the lymph system flowing smoothly.

Protect & Soothe Your Nervous System

Reach for gentle, cooling backyard herbs like mint, lemon balm, and calendula to steep into calming iced or hot infusions.

California Poppy Tincture is beautiful for unwinding spiraling thoughts and promotes restful sleep. I'd also try chamomile tea.

Yarrow Flower Essence is the ultimate energetic shield, helping you settle into peace even when the news tries to tell you otherwise.

Take Action in Your Community

If you are feeling helpless and overwhelmed, yet wanting to do something, the antidote is service. Volunteering, moving our hands and hearts, and the simple yet powerful act of setting intentions for safety and healing are all things you can do right now.

In Your Community: If you have the capacity, reach out to local volunteer networks or disaster relief centers. Donate supplies, check on vulnerable neighbors, or give what you can to local fire funds. Taking care of each other is our ultimate protection. Give locally, as local groups direct your resources to local neighbors in need, quickly.

On the Land: Go outside, step away from the concrete, and stand barefoot directly on the earth. Pray, ask, visualize gentle, steady, dampening rains washing over the landscape and cooling the fire lines. Energetically holding space for the land is also healing medicine.

So, if you are able, get a pot of kitchen herbs simmering on the stove, protect your heart, and stay safe.  And, as one of my mentors used to say, "Be gentle with yourself."

With love, always 🌿
Leslie
LeeHouse.co