Herbal Remedies: Steam Inhilations for Sinus and Lung Issues

Last weekend, I came down with some kind of nasal bug; it was exasperated by the presence of a dog which I turned out to have a pretty bad allergic reaction to.  For this kind of ailment, a home remedy for lung and nasal congestion is a simple herbal steam inhalation. Most aromatic herbs will work well for this, and I particularly like thyme and sage for their anti-microbial activity.

I decided to try out the steam inhalation this week to help get some of the crud out of the lungs and clear up the sinuses. I can’t believe how effective it was. I chose two herbs–garden sage (Salvia officinalis), as Jim recommended, dried and saved from my garden and mullein (also known as lamb’s ear, Verbascum thapsus) which is a herb that I use a lot for healing of the lungs. Mullen grows wild in many places–I’ll do a post devoted to it later in the year when I can take some good photos.  You want to make sure that these are herbs you have used before and that you know well.

Dried sage - beautiful smell and color
Dried sage – beautiful smell and color
Mullein from the jar
Mullein dried from last year!  I’ve already gone through a jar of this just this past winter.

The steam inhalation is very simple. You get a pot and put some water onto boil.  I use my filtered well water….if I had city water with chlorine, I’d probably buy distilled instead, because there is no way I want that in my lungs.

Get a lid for your pot, and bring your herbs and water to a boil.  The lid is important–most of the healing action of the herbs is in the volatile oils, which can escape through steam.  The volatile oils in the steam are exactly what we want, but not till we are ready for them!

Pot slightly cooling
Pot slightly cooling

As soon as the pot boils, remove it from the heat and get a towel ready. Be very careful because the steam is hot. I have found that waiting a few minutes before breathing it in is much more comfortable or you can stay a little further away from the pot. You put the towel over your head, drape the towel down around the pot,  lift the lid, and breathe in.  I think pictures illustrate this well.

Lift the lid off of the pot
Lift the lid off of the pot
Carefully put your head over the pot with the towel
Carefully put your head over the pot with the towel

And finally, when the steam is comfortable enough….

Put your towel fully over the pot and breathe in deeply
Put your towel fully over the pot and breathe in deeply

This worked AWESOMELY well.  My nasal passages are much improved, the sinus pressure has lessened, and the mullein did wonders on the nasty gunk in my lungs. I’ll do this several times each day until my lungs are clearer.  I’ll follow this up with regular doses of New England Aster (which I have been using to control my asthma) and will hopefully be much on the mend soon.

Dana O'Driscoll

Dana O’Driscoll has been an animist druid for 20 years, and currently serves as Grand Archdruid in the Ancient Order of Druids in America (www.aoda.org). She is a druid-grade member of the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids and is the OBOD’s 2018 Mount Haemus Scholar. She is the author of Sacred Actions: Living the Wheel of the Year through Earth-Centered Spiritual Practice (REDFeather, 2021), the Sacred Actions Journal (REDFeather, 2022), and Land Healing: Physical, Metaphysical, and Ritual Approaches for Healing the Earth (REDFeather, 2024). She is also the author/illustrator of the Tarot of Trees, Plant Spirit Oracle, and Treelore Oracle. Dana is an herbalist, certified permaculture designer, and permaculture teacher who teaches about reconnection, regeneration, and land healing through herbalism, wild food foraging, and sustainable living. In 2024, she co-founded the Pennsylvania School of Herbalism with her sister and fellow herbalist, Briel Beaty. Dana lives at a 5-acre homestead in rural western Pennsylvania with her partner and a host of feathered and furred friends. She writes at the Druids Garden blog and is on Instagram as @druidsgardenart. She also regularly writes for Plant Healer Quarterly and Spirituality and Health magazine.

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14 Comments

  1. I’m glad you’re feeling better! I have a little Berggarten sage among my pots of culinary herbs. It’s a Salvia officinalis that has been bred to emphasize leaf production over flowering. I like it a lot, for a Tuscan bean dish that I make, and also sometimes as a tisane. I probably should grow more than one container of that.

    1. Great! Thanks!

  2. This is interesting to me because I have asthma and sinus problems. I’ve never used sage medicinally, but we have it on hand. Since you say these should be herbs you’ve used before, do you think I should not try doing this steam treatment?

    1. Karen, its possible that you’d react to a new herb (like mullein). If you’ve eaten sage before or had sage tea, you know you won’t react and it will be fine :). With any new herb, you just want to take it easy till you are sure it will work for you!

  3. Reblogged this on Travels with Mary and commented:
    Fabulous post! TY for all the great info!

    1. Thank you for the reblog! Glad you like it 🙂

      1. You are most welcome!

  4. This actually works. The vapors really induces the mucus swelling. I have sinus as well and I have tried using neti pot but they said that it has its negative effects due to hygiene purposes. Great article. -Howard Long

    1. Indeed, it works well! 🙂 Thanks for commenting, Howard!

      1. I love this herbs with no bad side effects

        1. Yes, many don’t have side effects! They are healing medicine for all. Thanks for your comment 🙂

  5. I thought i was the only person that was into this sort of thing I have made the most wonderful violet jelly and wine.Foraging and using plants and herbs is fun and saves lots of money.I’m sooo hooked on it.

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