Herbs for asthma and breathing: uses, forms and cautions

Updated on 22 September 2026Published on 23 October 2019

Stone mortar and pestle with sprigs of lavender in it, ready for crushing to treat asthma

Some of the oldest herbal cabinets in Europe were built around the chest: soft flowers for evening calm, aromatic leaves for a warm brew, syrups for a dry winter cough. This page gathers those plants, says which part is used, how a cup is actually made, and where the firm lines are. Breathing trouble belongs with a doctor — the herbs sit alongside, never instead.

Breathing herbs at a glance
Item	Detail
Botanical names	Thymus vulgaris, Thymus serpyllum, Origanum majorana, Lavandula angustifolia, Tilia spp., Crataegus monogyna, Passiflora spp., Plantago major, Ribes nigrum, Rosa canina
Families	Lamiaceae (thyme, marjoram, lavender, hyssop), Malvaceae (lime), Rosaceae (hawthorn, dog rose), Plantaginaceae (plantain), Passifloraceae (passion flower)
Parts used	Flowers (lime, hawthorn, passion flower, poppy, lavender), leafy tops (thyme, marjoram, hyssop, melilot), leaves (plantain, blackcurrant), fruit (dog rose hips), cloves (garlic)
Forms of use	Infusion, decoction, syrup, tincture, culinary seasoning, warm chest compress
Harvest season	Hawthorn flowers in late spring; lime blossom and lavender in early summer; thyme, marjoram and hyssop from early to late summer; dog rose hips in mid-autumn
Taste	Lime and hawthorn honeyed and mild; passion flower grassy; thyme and marjoram warm and peppery; dog rose tart and fruity; licorice sweet

What it is credited with

All of the following is traditional reputation, and nothing more.

Traditional European herbalism grouped passion flower, valerian (including garden valerian), fleawort (Plantago major), blackcurrant, khella, lobelia, licorice, nigella, lime tree or basswood, ephedra, cinquefoil, dog rose, hawthorn, yerba santa and viburnum as plants with no essential oil that it associated with easing bronchial spasm and allergic irritation.
Among the plants that do harbour essential oil, the same tradition turned to marjoram, rosemary, pine, garlic, wild thyme, garden thyme and lavender for the same purpose.
Herbalists have long used lime blossom and hawthorn flowers as evening teas for restlessness and a tight, anxious chest.
Thyme and hyssop have an old reputation as warming winter herbs for a rattly cough and a stubborn, thick mucus.
Plantain leaf is a classic soothing herb of country medicine for a dry, scratchy throat.
Dog rose hips and blackcurrant leaves are credited in naturopathy with supporting the body through the cold, dry-air season.
Naturopathy also stresses the non-plant side: dust-free bedding, no smoking indoors, and calm, unhurried breathing practice.

How to use it

The evening cup

Choose one or two of: passion flower (flowers and leaves), hawthorn (flowers), poppy (flowers), Lotus strands, lime blossom.
Count a heaped teaspoon of dried plant per mug of just-boiled water.
Cover and steep 8 to 10 minutes — covering matters, it keeps the aromatics in the cup.
Traditionally taken once in the evening, as part of a wind-down rather than a cure.

The daytime aromatic infusion

Marjoram, hyssop tops, melilot strands, poppy flowers: a teaspoon per mug, steeped 5 to 7 minutes.
Herbal practice counts two or three cups across the day, not more, and not for weeks on end — two to three weeks, then a break.
Sweeten with a spoon of honey if the taste is too peppery.

Decoction, syrup and kitchen use

Decoction: for hips and tougher material, simmer gently 10 to 15 minutes, lid on, then strain.
Thyme syrup: a strong thyme infusion, strained, then stirred with honey and kept in the fridge in a clean jar for a couple of weeks.
Cooking: garlic, thyme, marjoram and rosemary in soups and roasts — the easiest and gentlest way to use them daily.

Steam and essential oils — the exception

Steam inhalations and essential oils are the one place where this family of plants turns risky for reactive airways.
Do not improvise them. See the cautions box below.

Forms of use compared
Form	How it is prepared	What tradition uses it for
Infusion	A teaspoon of dried flowers or leafy tops per mug of just-boiled water, covered, 5 to 10 minutes	The everyday form: evening calm with lime and hawthorn, warming brews with thyme and marjoram
Decoction	Plant material simmered 10 to 15 minutes under a lid, then strained	Hips, bark and tough stems, where a simple steep gets nothing out
Syrup	Strong strained infusion stirred into honey, bottled and refrigerated	The traditional winter form for a dry, tickly cough, and the one children accept
Culinary seasoning	Fresh or dried herb added to soups, broths and roasts	Garlic, thyme and rosemary used as food rather than as a remedy
Essential oil / steam	Concentrated distillate; only under professional guidance	Not a self-use form where breathing is reactive — see cautions

Cautions — read before anything else

Breathing difficulty is medical territory. Anything to do with asthma calls for caution and for working together with a qualified doctor. Herbs never replace prescribed inhalers or tablets, and nothing here is a reason to reduce or stop them.
There are different clinical types: allergy-related asthma, chronic asthma, and asthma that appears after physical exercise. Their symptoms are very similar and only a clinician can tell them apart. Some even believe this respiratory tract disease is hereditary, just like dermatitis or allergic rhinitis.
Known triggers to watch and avoid: physical exertion; allergens (animal fur, certain food items, dust, pollen); physical stimuli (cold or dry air, cigarette smoke); virus- or bacteria-caused inflammation of the respiratory tracts.
Some plants are not recommended in certain situations, such as pregnancy — and certain inhalations and essential oils are actually dangerous. Do not use steam inhalations or essential oils on reactive airways without professional guidance.
Prescription-only territory: even with allergy-induced asthma, a prescription issued by your consulting physician is important before any use of mucus-regulating (mucolytic), bronchodilator, anti-allergy or anti-inflammatory agents.
Not for self-use: ephedra, lobelia and khella are potent plants, restricted or prohibited in several countries, and belong only in professional hands. Licorice is traditionally avoided by anyone with blood pressure concerns, kidney issues, or on diuretics and heart medication.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: skip these herbs, including thyme and hyssop in medicinal amounts, unless a midwife or doctor has cleared them. Culinary seasoning is a different matter.
Children: no essential oils, no inhalations, no potent plants. Mild, well-diluted lime blossom only, and after asking a health professional.
Medication and interactions: passion flower and valerian may add to sedatives and antihistamines; hawthorn interacts with heart medication; garlic and nigella with blood thinners. Tell your pharmacist what you are drinking.
Allergy risk: if pollen sets you off, treat flower-based teas (lime, hawthorn, poppy) with care and start with a small amount.
Stop and seek help if breathing worsens, if a rescue inhaler is needed more often, or if wheezing wakes you at night.

Frequently Asked Questions

The one thing to remember: keep your prescribed treatment exactly as it is, and use these plants only as a mild, pleasant extra — an evening cup of lime blossom or a thyme syrup in winter.

Dried lime blossom in a jar beside a covered mug of pale golden infusion — *Lime blossom: a teaspoon per mug, covered, steeped 8 to 10 minutes*

Can herbal teas replace my inhaler?

No. Breathing difficulty is medical territory and calls for working together with a qualified doctor. Herbs are a comfort measure around the edges, and prescribed mucolytic, bronchodilator, anti-allergy or anti-inflammatory agents stay in the hands of your physician.

Which plant is the gentlest to start with?

Lime tree or basswood blossom, harvested in early summer, is the mildest and best-tasting of the group. A teaspoon per mug, covered, steeped 8 to 10 minutes, once in the evening. Hawthorn flowers make a similar honeyed cup.

Are steam inhalations and essential oils a good idea?

This is the one part of the list to leave alone. Certain inhalations and essential oils are actually dangerous on reactive airways, and they are never suitable for young children. Use the aromatic plants as infusions or as kitchen seasoning instead.

Which of these plants should never be self-prescribed?

Ephedra, lobelia and khella. They appear in old herbal lists but they are potent, restricted in several countries, and belong only with a qualified practitioner. Licorice also needs care with blood pressure, kidney concerns and several medications.

How long can I drink a chest infusion?

Herbal practice keeps these to two or three cups a day for two to three weeks, then takes a break. If symptoms are the reason you are drinking it at all, that is the signal to speak to a doctor rather than to carry on longer.

Image credits (edits Gaspard Lorthiois): Pixabay: Michele De Vivo

This information is provided for general interest and reflects the traditional use of plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice. If you are on medication, pregnant, or in any doubt, ask a healthcare professional.

Written by Gaspard Lorthiois | Loves helping out, especially when it comes to growing things. Worked in herbal medicine, runs a farm, and dabbles in tech. Master's degree and engineer.

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