Smoke decreases the moisture in the air and causes irritation to our mucous membranes. Working with demulcent herbs that have an affinity for the lungs can help soothe that inflammation and increase resiliency.
My favorite way of working with mucilaginous herbs is in a cold infusion. Add 1 tablespoon of herbs to 1 cup of cold/room temp water. Let it sit for at least 20 min. Strain and enjoy.
For a stronger infusion, let the mixture sit overnight. You can make a quart of tea and sip throughout the day, slowly building your lung resiliency.
In addition to drinking tea throughout the day and having an herbal steam going for your house, you can also do facial steams. Put your herbs in a pot, bring to a low simmer for a minute. Turn the heat off and inhale the steam with a towel over your head.
Demulcent herbs to consider:
-Mullein
-Marshmallow
-Chamomile
-Linden
-Violet
Supportive herbs to add in:
-Western Red Cedar
-Sage
-Rosemary
-Thyme
-Self Heal
-Lavender
-Plantain