Natural Remedies for Lung Health: What the Evidence Says

Updated 2026-10-08 · Plant Remedies Journal Editorial Team

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Search "natural remedies for lungs" and you will find long lists of herbs, teas and "detox" drinks. Some of those ingredients have real, if modest, research behind them. Many have only tradition. This guide sorts them into tiers so you can read any supplement label with clearer eyes.

Start with the remedies that are free and proven

Before any herb, three habits have the strongest backing:

• Stop smoking or vaping. According to the CDC, quitting lowers the chance of COPD, eases coughing, mucus and wheezing, and cuts the risk of bronchitis and pneumonia.
• Breathe on purpose. The American Lung Association recommends pursed-lip breathing (exhale through pursed lips for about twice as long as you inhale) and belly breathing, 5 to 10 minutes a day.
• Clean up indoor air. Keep smoke out, reduce dust, and test for radon, per the American Lung Association.

Everything below is optional by comparison.

Tier 1: herbs with some clinical research

Pelargonium sidoides (umckaloabo). A South African geranium root. A Cochrane review found it may relieve symptoms of acute bronchitis in adults and children, and of sinusitis and the common cold in adults, though evidence quality is low to very low. It is an ingredient in LungExpand Pro.

Ivy leaf (Hedera helix). Standardized ivy leaf extracts are common cough products in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. Studies are mainly small trials on short-term coughs, many in children, and results are mixed in quality.

These two have the most to show, and even their research is about short infections rather than long-term lung health.

Tier 2: ingredients with limited or indirect evidence

Bromelain. A pineapple enzyme. The NCCIH says only a few studies have tested it by mouth, mostly for sinusitis and post-dental swelling, and the evidence is not strong. Digestive upset is the most common side effect, and it can interact with some medicines.

Quercetin. A plant flavonoid in onions, apples and berries. Plenty of lab research on antioxidant activity; human data for breathing are thin.

Peppermint oil. The NCCIH says it appears safe orally at common doses, but its best evidence is for irritable bowel syndrome. The menthol "cool air" feeling is a sensation, not a change in airflow. NCCIH also warns not to apply menthol to the face of infants or young children.

Vitamin D. Important for bones; adults 19 to 70 need 600 IU a day, with an upper limit of 4,000 IU, according to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. If your levels are fine, extra vitamin D is unlikely to help your lungs.

Maritime pine bark, stinging nettle. Studied mostly for circulation and seasonal nasal symptoms respectively; respiratory research is preliminary.

Both Pulmo Balance and LungExpand Pro draw from this tier.

Tier 3: traditional remedies with little human research

Mullein. One of the most-searched lung herbs. Long traditional use for coughs, very few human trials. Our mullein for lungs guide covers it in detail.

Tiger milk mushroom. Traditional use in Southeast Asia for coughs and breathing troubles; human studies are few.

Coltsfoot. A traditional cough herb, but one that naturally contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can be toxic to the liver (PubMed). If you see coltsfoot on a label, ask whether the extract is certified PA-free.

Summary table: natural lung remedies

Foods that fit a lung-friendly routine

Several of the compounds in lung supplements also come from ordinary food, in smaller amounts and alongside fiber and other nutrients:

• Quercetin: onions, apples, capers, berries and kale.
• Bromelain: fresh pineapple, especially the core.
• Vitamin D: fatty fish, fortified milk and cereals, and sunlight on the skin (NIH ODS).
• Mint: fresh peppermint tea for comfort, without the concentrated oil.

Food will not deliver the same doses as an extract, but a varied diet is the base that supplements are meant to add to, not replace.

How to read a lung supplement label

When you look at any lung formula, check five lines on the Supplement Facts panel:

1. Serving size and servings per container, to work out days of supply.
2. Amount per ingredient. "Proprietary blend" totals hide the dose of each herb.
3. Extract type. For Pelargonium, ivy or coltsfoot, the standardization or PA-free statement matters.
4. Other ingredients such as fillers and capsule material, if you have allergies.
5. Warnings. Age limits, pregnancy and medication cautions should be visible.

How to use natural remedies safely

The NCCIH guide to using supplements wisely makes points worth repeating: "natural" does not always mean safe; supplements can interact with medicines and complicate surgery; many have not been tested in pregnancy or in children; and labels cannot legally claim to cure or treat disease. Tell your doctor about everything you take.

See a doctor rather than a supplement shelf if you have a cough lasting more than three weeks, wheezing, chest tightness, worsening breathlessness or blood in your mucus. MedlinePlus lists several of these as signs of COPD.

Putting the evidence into practice

If you have quit smoking and your doctor agrees, a formula with Tier 1 or Tier 2 ingredients and a clear label is a reasonable thing to try alongside breathing exercises and activity. Our home page comparison lines up the products we cover, and Pulmo Balance vs LungExpand Pro compares the two main capsule formulas.

See Pulmo Balance ingredients on the official site

Sources consulted: cdc.gov, lung.org, cochrane.org, nccih.nih.gov, ods.od.nih.gov, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, medlineplus.gov.