Prepping for Fire Season using Herbal Medicine
What is Fire Season?
Fire Season spans from June through November and is a period of time marked by higher risk and presence of wildfires. These fires are influenced by our climate crisis which effects include earlier spring snowmelt and higher temperatures in the spring and summer. When these effect take place, an abundance of lush spring vegetation dries over the heat of the summer and early fall months, creating the conditions for intense and long burning fires.
What is the impact of fire season?
Wildfires have a huge impact on our respiratory systems. The fires carry emissions like particle pollutants, tiny solid and liquid particles that are suspended in the air. Exposure to these emissions over time at high concentrations can cause respiratory irritation. Often, this will look like a cough that won't go away or difficulty breathing or coughing up mucus. When our respiratory system is irritated and inflamed, we’re at a greater risk of contracting respiratory infections. Children, Elders, and folks with pre-existing respiratory debilities like asthma and chronic bronchitis are at especially high risk during these times of contracting infection.
So what can we do?
There are certain herbs that can be useful for us during these moments. And this is because these herbs have particular properties– or herbal actions– that lend themselves well to what we are experiencing during fire season. Herbal actions describe a particular effect that an herb is known to have on the human body. Some of these effects are well known, like something being antibacterial or antiviral, others less known, like demulcents or expectorants. A few herbal actions I like to rely on includes:
Stimulating Expectorants: These encourage the liquefaction and expulsion of mucus from the airway. It's great for someone who has a wet cough. The characteristic phlegm-ness of a wet cough is caused by the presence of mucus, which the body is producing to remove the irritant or infecting material (viruses, bacteria, ect.). Expectorants will help the body to carry this mucus up and out of the airway.
Relaxing Expectorants: Sometimes, we may have a hard time coughing up the phlegm our bodies are creating, particularly if this phlegm is very sticky or thick. Relaxing expectorants support us here. They encourage the body to produce a thinner, runnier mucus that lubricates the space in between thick mucus and the lining of the respiratory tract. Once the hardened, sticky mucus is freed up by the lubrication, it is much easier for us to cough out.
Demulcents: These soothe inflamed, irritated, or stressed tissues. They cool and moisten the tissues as well. When our respiratory tract is exposed to the harsh particulate matter and dry air from fire season, this herbal action can be of great help to us, especially because there are no pharmaceutical drugs that offer this capability.
Liver tonics: I love liver supporting herbs, or hepatics, during fire season. The liver is one of our 5 eliminative organs and works alongside the lungs to help remove substances not needed in the body. When we are exposed to these particulates, anything that the lungs are unable to filter is absorbed into our body. Our liver is going to support the removal of those things. It’s safe to say, the worse the air quality is, the more work our liver is taking on. We want to support our liver’s functioning here and hepatics are a great way to do this. Hepatics act as liver tonics. Strengthening, toning, and revitalizing the liver so that it can do its best work.
Nervines: Nervines can be very supportive during fire season. Dealing with fire seasons can take a toll on anyone's mental health– restricted access to nature, irritating and painful coughing fits, collective grief because of the climate crisis– for any of these reasons and more, our nervous systems can use a boost. Nervines that help us to remain calm, stable, and grounded through times of intensity are excellent resources for fire season.
5 Herbs that support us during fire season
Mullein: Mullein leaf helps end dry, unproductive coughs. It will stop the cough, relax the bronchioles, relieve congestion, soothe the tissues, deal with the underlying issue, and will liquify and draw out phlegm.
Elecampane: Elecampane root supports in the healing of wet, mucousy coughs by treating the issue, soothing the tissue, getting rid of the mucus, sanitizing the lungs, and reducing any unproductive coughs.
Marshmallow: Marshmallow is great for the immune and respiratory system. It was traditionally used to sustain the immune system against seasonal treats. It promotes optimal respiratory function by encouraging the creation of healthy mucous membranes. It is excellent for conditions like asthma, allergies and it is incredibly demulcent and soothing which makes it very helpful for experiences of sore throat and dry coughs.
Burdock: Burdock supports the liver and any skin issues caused by disruption in the liver including toxic buildup in the body and smoke exposure.
Skullcap: Skullcap provides nervous system support in times of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. It helps you to stay grounded while the world is spinning.
