Lungs

Nutrients connected to Lungs

A link means the body needs the nutrient for this, or that low intake is linked to it. It does not mean extra supplements help if your intake is already adequate; each link shows how strong the evidence is.

• Beta-caroteneDocumented risk

  High-dose beta-carotene pills raised lung cancer risk in smokers and asbestos-exposed workers in two large trials. This is a risk, not a benefit.

• Split gill mushroomDocumented risk

  Allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis, fungus ball and bronchopneumonia caused by the fungus are documented.

• Ivory funnelDocumented risk

  Excess airway secretions, cough and wheeze were reported; breathing trouble is a warning sign for emergency help.

• DunaliellaDocumented risk

  Beta-carotene pills raised lung cancer risk in smokers and asbestos-exposed workers (ATBC, CARET). Dunaliella itself was not tested in those trials; caution for high-risk people.

• N-acetylcysteinePreliminary or mixed

  Acetylcysteine is used as a medicine to thin mucus, and a Cochrane review of oral mucolytics (NAC among them) found a small benefit for flare-ups in chronic bronchitis and COPD, with smaller effects in newer studies. Not specific to supplements.

• ButterburDocumented risk

  NCCIH says pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the raw plant can damage the liver and lungs.

• LobeliaDocumented risk

  Lobeline can depress breathing at higher amounts; it is not an effective asthma treatment (MSK).

• BupleurumDocumented risk

  The formula Xiao Chai Hu Tang has been linked to interstitial pneumonitis, about 1 in 20,000 users.

• Oyster mushroomDocumented risk

  Spores can cause asthma and anaphylaxis in people who grow, pack or sell oyster mushroom (case reports).

• NamekoDocumented risk

  Breathing nameko spores in growing rooms caused hypersensitivity pneumonitis in several reported mushroom workers. This is an occupational risk, not a risk of eating the mushroom.

• Tiger milk mushroomLab or animal research only

  Traditionally used for cough and asthma. Animal studies show less allergic airway inflammation; human evidence is limited to one small hay fever trial and a single reported asthma study.

• Cs-4 and cultured Cordyceps myceliumPreliminary or mixed

  Pooled Chinese trials found better lung-function numbers with Jinshuibao added to COPD care, but the trials were low quality and the authors could not confirm efficacy and safety.

• Perilla (shiso)Documented risk

  Perilla ketone is a lung toxin in cattle; a review calls it potently pulmonary toxic. No human case found in the sources read.

• White sageDocumented risk

  Smoke from burning plants adds fine particles to indoor air; Health Canada says these are most harmful to people with breathing or heart conditions, and a case report linked regular burning of sage and oils with lung disease. No study measured sage bundle smoke itself.

• Sweet Potatoes, Carrots & Orange VegetablesDocumented risk

  Beta-carotene supplements raised lung cancer in smokers in the ATBC trial and a Cochrane review. This concerns supplements, not carrots or sweet potatoes.

• Poison hemlockDocumented risk

  Poisoning leads to breathing failure through muscle paralysis (the lungs are affected indirectly).

• Lemongrass OilDocumented risk

  EFSA lists lemongrass oil as a respiratory sensitizer. This is a regulatory finding, not a diffuser trial.

• Pine OilDocumented risk

  Chemical pneumonitis after swallowed pine-oil cleaner; mouse study urges caution when inhaled.

• Cajeput OilDocumented risk

  EFSA lists the oil as a respiratory sensitizer; no human diffuser study was found.

• Litsea (May Chang) OilDocumented risk

  EFSA says to treat the oil as a respiratory sensitizer (feed-additive assessment).

• Diatomaceous EarthDocumented risk

  Crystalline silica dust can cause silicosis.

• Fuller's EarthDocumented risk

  Inhalation toxicity in animals; occupational fibrosis and pneumoconiosis with related minerals.

• Attapulgite (Palygorskite)Documented risk

  Long fibers breathed in industrial dust: IARC Group 2B; short fibers Group 3.

• Zeolite (Clinoptilolite)Documented risk

  Respiratory sensitizer (EFSA); reported pulmonary fibrosis; erionite is a different fibrous zeolite.

• Coconut Shell CharcoalDocumented risk

  Aspiration into the lungs is a documented complication.

• Sulfur (Sulphur) BathsDocumented risk

  Breathing hydrogen sulfide at high levels can cause serious lung and breathing effects.

• Salt Therapy (Halotherapy)Preliminary or mixed

  The treatment is breathed in; evidence for benefit is limited.

• Zinc OxideDocumented risk

  Fume and spray inhalation hazards are documented.

• Royal JellyDocumented risk

  Asthma attacks after royal jelly are documented, mainly in people with allergy or asthma.

• Vitamin DDocumented risk

  Excess vitamin D can cause calcium deposits in soft tissues such as the lungs.

• Willow barkDocumented risk

  Risk of asthma-type reactions in salicylate-sensitive people.

• Pelargonium (Umckaloabo)Preliminary or mixed

  Studied for acute bronchitis and other airway infections, with low-quality evidence of symptom relief for the liquid extract.

• Chicory rootDocumented risk

  Asthma from inhaled chicory root dust was reported in one worker.

• HorseradishPreliminary or mixed

  Bronchitis symptom improvement was seen with the combination in one trial; this cannot be assigned to horseradish alone.

• Ivy leafClinically supported

  Used for chesty cough from airway infections; the effect on lung function itself has not been shown in the sources read.

• EucalyptusPreliminary or mixed

  The EMA accepts eucalyptus leaf for cough with a cold on long-standing use only; no clinical trial of the leaf was found. Trials of purified cineole capsules showed limited, short-term benefit.

• SarsaparillaDocumented risk

  RxList says root dust can cause a runny nose and asthma-like symptoms.

• ForsythiaLab or animal research only

  The COVID-19 formula trials concern lung illness, but they test whole formulas; forsythia alone has only lab evidence.

• Honeysuckle (Lonicera)Preliminary or mixed

  In COVID-19 add-on trials lung scan results were better; evidence is limited.

• HyssopPreliminary or mixed

  Only one small asthma trial; results split by cough type.

• ShiitakeDocumented risk

  Hypersensitivity pneumonitis after inhaling spores is reported in case reports.

• Isatis (ban lan gen)Documented risk

  Case reports link Qing Dai (indigo naturalis, a related product, not ban lan gen granules) with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

• KratomDocumented risk

  A 2026 systematic review of 24 case and forensic reports describes lung injury and breathing depression in kratom and 7-OH exposures; the findings are hypothesis-generating.

• ClovesDocumented risk

  Smoke from clove cigarettes was linked to severe lung injury in a few susceptible people.

• Caterpillar fungusPreliminary or mixed

  Same limited COPD evidence; MSK lists only laboratory lung data.

• Fritillaria (chuan bei mu)Lab or animal research only

  Alkaloids reduced lung inflammation and scarring in rat and cell experiments; not shown in people.

• Nasturtium (garden)Preliminary or mixed

  A 2023 placebo-controlled trial of the combination reported faster bronchitis symptom improvement; evidence is one trial of one product.

• SundewLab or animal research only

  Traditionally used for cough, but human evidence for sundew alone was not found. Lab studies in mouse airway tissue show muscle-relaxing and mucus-moving effects, which are not proof of benefit in people.

• Sweet violetPreliminary or mixed

  Traditionally used for chest complaints; the one trial measured cough in children with asthma, not lung function.

• Clubmoss (lycopodium)Documented risk

  One case report of lung inflammation after inhaling Lycopodium spores; frequency unknown.

• PeanutsDocumented risk

  Whole peanuts and nuts are a choking and airway-aspiration hazard for young children.

• Perilla SeedsDocumented risk

  One case of occupational asthma from roasting perilla seeds.

• Mixed Nuts & Trail MixDocumented risk

  Allergic reactions and sulfite sensitivity can affect breathing.

• Peppermint OilDocumented risk

  Breathing risk with menthol in infants and small children (NCCIH).

• Petitgrain OilDocumented risk

  EFSA says to consider the oil an irritant to the respiratory tract. A regulatory finding, not a diffuser trial.

• Patchouli OilDocumented risk

  EFSA user-safety point: respiratory sensitiser.

• Thyme TeaPreliminary or mixed

  Bronchial cough with mucus; extracts studied.

• Activated CharcoalDocumented risk

  Aspiration into the lungs is a documented risk.

• Rhassoul (Ghassoul) ClayDocumented risk

  Avoid breathing the dry powder; CIR found data insufficient for inhaled use and recorded occupational lung disease with related minerals.

• Potassium AlumDocumented risk

  One poison-center case of dizziness and nausea after breathing and swallowing alum dust.

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