The LA Fires Have Been Contained, What Now?
Why Am I Writing This?
To be honest, I almost didn’t. Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen many calls for folks in LA to lean on herbal medicine as they navigate the public health crisis caused by the fires onset in January and I originally felt the internet was saturated with ideas. However, as an herbalist with a public health focus, I decided to share my thoughts on this topic because although I appreciate the desire to turn to herbal remedies during times of crisis, I have some concerns with some of the guidance circulating online. While a lot of it has been amazing and insightful (I especially loved this post by Bad School Bad School which pointed me to the Coalition for Clean Air’s webinar) and it’s heartening to see an interest in herbal medicine, I want to offer some clarifications and considerations that can ensure its safe and effective use.
Here are a few key areas where I’ve found that more nuance is needed:
Lack of Information on Dosing and Preparation Methods
Many shared recommendations do not specify how to properly prepare and dose herbs. This information is essential for their efficacy.Use of At-Risk Herbs
Some posts recommend herbs that are on the United Plant Savers’ At-Risk list without mentioning their conservation status. It’s important to ensure sustainable sourcing of our herbs and to work mindfully with herbs that are threatened by disease or poaching, like Slippery Elm for example.Misuse of Bronchodilating Herbs Like Eucalyptus
While bronchodilators can be helpful in some cases, working with them while living in environments with high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) requires caution.In cases of chronic inflammation, bronchodilation can help open the airways. However, in a polluted environment, this can also increase exposure to harmful particles by allowing more of them into the lungs and bloodstream.
Symptoms of VOC exposure can mimic chronic respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD, making it essential to assess the root cause before using bronchodilators, especially as we enter the “disaster after the disaster” where more community members are returning to their homes with closer proximity to burn sites.
One-Size-Fits-All Herbal Advice
Herbal medicine is not a blanket remedy and not every herb is appropriate for every symptom. The same herb can have different effects depending on the specific symptom presentation. For example:Mullein is a relaxing expectorant, meaning it helps loosen hardened or sticky mucus. This makes it effective for dry coughs, but for wet coughs, it may not be appropriate and could even be counterproductive.
This is my perspective as an herbalist on how to respond to acute respiratory distress from air toxics.
Addressing the Root Issue
The real concern here is not just lung capacity but overall exposure to air toxins, which affect not only the lungs but also the blood, brain, central nervous system, liver, and kidneys. This is a complex issue requiring more than just lung support. Public health experts have indicated that the impact of these fires may last for up to two years as the city works to clear the lingering ash.
Because of this, herbal medicine should not be the first or only line of defense. Public health experts have noted the best way folks who must stay in LA can protect themself is:
Using proper personal protective equipment (PPE), such as N100 masks which can filter VOCs
Creating “clean rooms” in homes, schools, or offices to minimize exposure
Investing in high-quality air filtration systems
In this context, herbal medicine can serve as a complementary tool to help mitigate the effects of exposure—not a replacement for essential protective measures.
What Herbs and Protocols May Be Supportive?
(Note: This is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.)
For folks experiencing mild respiratory irritation (no chronic conditions)
Recognize Exposure
Irritation is a sign that the body is detecting an environmental threat. It’s important to act quickly, even if air quality reports indicate normal levels, as AQI measurements do not account for VOCs nor all PMs.
Create a Clean Room
Choose a space with minimal smoke sources
Close windows and doors
Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter (approved by the California Air Resources Board: CARB-certified list)
Keep air conditioning on recirculation mode to prevent outdoor air from entering
Herbal Supports (based on symptom)
Throat irritation: Oatstraw, Marshmallow Root (demulcent properties help soothe irritated tissues)
Okay, you might be thinking “Oatstraw?? That’s not a respiratory system herb!” True, but hear me out. Oatstraw’s strength here lies in its demulcent property, allowing it to support folks who are experiencing dry, irritated, or inflamed tissues in their respiratory tract. I like Oatstraw in this application because the underlying problem is not a malfunctioning of the body, but rather the body being within an unsuitable environment. Once we’ve removed this as a factor, we can focus on simply treating what is emerging– irritation.
Eye irritation: Chamomile eye compress (anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties)
You can utilize the chamomile tea bags you might have sitting at home for this. Simply pour 1 cup of hot water over a few tea bags (around 3 Tbsp worth) – and let them steep for 15 minutes. Once the time has elapsed, test them to ensure they are cooled and once cooled, you can either use the tea bags themselves or a clean cloth. Soak up the strong tea and then squeeze out any excess. Place the tea bag or cloth over your closed eyelids for 15 minutes at a time, repeating as needed. Chamomile is excellent for pain and inflammation in the eye. It is an anodyne (pain relieving), and an anti-inflammatory.
Headaches: Linden, Skullcap (support relaxation and circulation)
These both make a lovely herbal tea. You can work with them in their tincture as well.
Nausea: Spearmint (gentle digestive support)
I love working with spearmint here as opposed to peppermint as spearmint is gentler for younger ones as well as folks experiencing acid reflux.
Wheezing/shortness of breath: Folks may also experience these symptoms as a result of VOC exposure and they are serious. Seek medical attention from a physician first prior to engaging with herbal applications.
For Those with Underlying Respiratory Conditions
This is another complex issue. Following the onset of previous large scale fires, public health officials noticed an uptick in the cases of chronic respiratory conditions like asthma. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by experiences of “wheezing, chest tightness, coughing exacerbations, and difficulty breathing” though the symptoms someone experiences can vary from person to person. (Medical Herbalism, 330). Airborne irritants can exacerbate the experience of asthma, triggering asthma attacks.
Asthma Considerations
Large-scale fires have been linked to increased asthma cases. While herbal medicine can be supportive, it is not a replacement for emergency care during a severe asthma attack (represented by Stages 3 and 4 below).
Stages of an Acute Asthma Attack. (Medical Herbalism, page 332)
I would consider this caution worthy of consideration across the board. While herbal medicine can support many impacts of experiencing chronic respiratory conditions, close partnership with medical professionals and trained clinical herbalists is necessary in order to ensure proper care is administered.
Supportive practices for folks with chronic respiratory conditions include:
Staying indoors as much as possible
Wearing N100 masks
Using HEPA air purifiers
Regularly changing filter cartridges
There are herbs I am curious about for this population, and I feel that’s an area where more research is needed here as various chronic respiratory diseases have different presentations. For example, Marshmallow Root can be very supportive for someone with asthma, but for someone with COPD it may be counterproductive.
When a person experiences COPD, the airways produce more mucus than usual. Marshmallow tends to increase moisture in the body and so I wouldn’t say it works well across the board for all chronic issues.
I even have my eyes on astragalus, which tonifies the lungs and the immune system and supports the kidneys and liver in detoxification, but I have my concerns here, too as astragalus has been shown to have bronchodialating effects. The possibility of relying on it in cases where folks are exclusively spending time in “clean rooms” or for folks who are using N-100 masks with regularly replaced filtering cartridges is a space I feel could use further exploration.
How to Work with the Herbs in this Article
Marshmallow, Althaea officinalis
Related Indications: promotes healthy mucous membranes, asthma, allergies, bronchial infections, catarrh, sore throat, dry cough, emphysema, whooping cough.
Contraindications: Prolonged use decreases the absorption of drugs taken orally due to its mucilaginous property. Caution is needed for use of this if you are taking antidiabetic drugs– consult your physician and a trained herbalist as marshmallow has been shown to have hypoglycemic effects. Avoid use if you usually experience mucus buildup.
Methods of Preparation and Dosage: Nutritive cool infusion of the root (1 Tbsp → 1/4c herb : 8 ounces room temperature water, left overnight or at least for 4 hours). Make 3 cups per day. After symptoms cease, stop taking this to prevent the risk of it decreasing absorption of orally-taken medications.
Additional Notes: The leaf is medicinal and can be worked with as well.
Spearmint, Mentha Spicata
Related Indications: nausea, sore throat
Contraindications: none
Methods of Preparation and Dosage: Standard infusion (2 tsp : 8 ounces of boiled water, pour over and let steep for 20-40 minutes (note: TCM formulas with mint may actually be different)), the dose is 3 cups/day.
Oatstraw, Avena Sativa
Related Indications: irritation in mucus membranes in the throat, stress, nervous system resilience
Contraindications: caution if you have gluten sensitivity
Methods of Preparation and Dosage: Nutritive infusion (1 Tbsp → ¼ cup : 8 ounces cool water, leave overnight to consume the next day) dose is 3 cups/day
Linden, Tilia spp.
Related Indications: headaches (specifically migraines)
Contraindications: None known
Methods of Preparation and Dosage: Standard infusion (2 tsp: 8 ounces boiled water, steep for 20-40 minutes) dose is 3 cups/day
Skullcap, Scutellaria Lateriflora
Related Indications: headaches
Contraindications: use caution if taking medications for mental health as well as if you are pregnant as skullcap acts on the nervous system in similar ways to mental health medications and can stimulate menstrual flow. This herb can also have a hypnotic (sleep inducing) effect, so use it with caution and do not work with it if you’re intending to operate heavy machinery
Methods of Preparation and Dosage: Standard infusion (2 tsp : 8 ounces of boiled water, pour over and let it steep for 20-40 minutes). To support the liver, you can add in other nervines like chamomile. For deeper focus on nervous system support, you can combine it with oatstraw.
Final Thoughts
Herbal medicine is a valuable tool, but thoughtful application is key. Here are three takeaways:
Match herbs to symptoms appropriately. Not all herbs work the same way; consider whether symptoms are acute or chronic, induced by irritation or longstanding, in order to best discern the course of action needed for your unique experience.
Seek medical care when needed. Herbalists and physicians have distinct but complementary roles. Symptoms should be evaluated by a doctor to receive diagnosis, and it is at this point that herbalists can be best informed to provide care, matching symptoms and diagnosis with proper herbal protocols.
Support local herbalists and apothecaries in LA. Many are providing resources at reduced costs or for free. If you can, consider supporting their work. One that I know of is
Anima Mundi
Has been offering free respiratory system support classes for folks in the LA area
Created this directory of practitioners who are providing support to folks in LA
I want to note there are other orgs doing amazing work! Just out of respect, as I haven’t contacted them directly to ask for permission to share, I haven’t noted them here. As conversation around this continues, if I recieve permission, I’ll amplify on this post.
In future work, I hope to explore how herbal medicine can support other affected body systems, including detoxification pathways and immune resilience.
