Respiratory System

Nutrients connected to Respiratory System

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.

• LobeliaDocumented risk

  Higher amounts of lobeline depress breathing, and an injected dose caused a pause in breathing in healthy adults (MSK).

• Split gill mushroomDocumented risk

  Spore infections of the airways and allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis are documented, rarely.

• Ivory funnelDocumented risk

  Airway secretions, wheezing and, rarely, respiratory failure are described.

• Poison hemlockDocumented risk

  Paralysis of the breathing muscles can be fatal.

• 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.

• ElderberryPreliminary or mixed

  Studied for symptoms of colds, flu and other upper respiratory infections; evidence is preliminary and uncertain.

• EchinaceaPreliminary or mixed

  Studied for colds and other respiratory infections; benefit is small or unproven.

• Marshmallow rootPreliminary or mixed

  Used traditionally for throat irritation with dry cough; the EU committee accepts this on traditional use and says trial evidence is insufficient. Uncontrolled surveys and a narrative review are encouraging but not firm proof.

• Willow barkDocumented risk

  People with salicylate-sensitive asthma should not use it; case reports of breathing distress exist.

• AndrographisPreliminary or mixed

  Studied for cough and sore throat in acute respiratory infections; promising but limited evidence.

• Pelargonium (Umckaloabo)Preliminary or mixed

  Low-quality Cochrane evidence suggests the liquid extract may ease acute bronchitis symptoms; tablets did not show the same result. EU regulators accept use for cold symptoms on the basis of long-standing use, not trials.

• Ivy leafClinically supported

  Ivy leaf extracts are accepted in the EU as an expectorant for chesty cough, but a systematic review judged the benefit minimal and trial quality low.

• MulleinPreliminary or mixed

  Traditional use for sore throat with dry cough and cold; the EU committee noted the lack of clinical studies.

• NamekoDocumented risk

  Case reports link nameko spores to lung inflammation in growers. Occupational or home-growing exposure, not eating.

• Poke root (pokeweed)Documented risk

  Slow or difficult breathing is a listed symptom; Ohio State describes death from respiratory failure with large amounts.

• 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 damages the lungs of cattle, and roasted seed fumes have caused occupational asthma.

• 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.

• 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.

• Cowslip (primula)Preliminary or mixed

  Cowslip flower and root are traditional EU cough remedies based on long use only; EMA found no trials of cowslip alone, and a thyme-primula combination trial cannot be credited to it.

• Sweet violetPreliminary or mixed

  Violet flower syrup shortened cough time in one trial of children with asthma; folk use for cough is long but is not proof. Evidence is limited to that trial.

• PeanutsDocumented risk

  Allergic reactions can affect breathing, and whole nuts can be inhaled by young children.

• Nut & Seed Butters (overview)Documented risk

  Choking on thick spoonfuls blocks the airway in young children; allergic reactions can affect breathing.

• Poppy SeedsDocumented risk

  BfR names respiratory depression among the morphine effects to expect from highly contaminated seed batches.

• Peppermint OilDocumented risk

  Menthol near the faces of babies and small children may affect breathing (NCCIH); the EMA lists apnea and airway narrowing with inhaled oil in allergic patients.

• Thyme OilDocumented risk

  EFSA's panel describes thyme oil as a respiratory sensitizer for handlers.

• Oregano OilDocumented risk

  EFSA lists a potential respiratory sensitizer for users of the oil.

• Sweet Marjoram OilDocumented risk

  EFSA says marjoram oil is a respiratory sensitizer for users.

• Lemongrass OilDocumented risk

  EFSA lists lemongrass oil as a respiratory sensitizer.

• Thyme TeaPreliminary or mixed

  Same as above.

• Litsea (May Chang) OilDocumented risk

  Respiratory sensitizer per EFSA; asthma data not found.

• Diatomaceous EarthDocumented risk

  Breathing crystalline silica is linked with silicosis.

• Coconut Shell CharcoalDocumented risk

  Breathing the powder or mixture into the lungs (aspiration) is a documented hospital risk.

• Salt-Water Gargles and Nasal RinsesPreliminary or mixed

  Nose and sinus conditions: promising but limited evidence for saline rinses.

• Sulfur (Sulphur) BathsDocumented risk

  Hydrogen sulfide gas from sulfur water can irritate eyes, nose and throat and cause breathing problems at high levels.

• Salt Therapy (Halotherapy)Documented risk

  Lung organizations advise discussing it with a doctor; room hygiene and dust are concerns.

• Neti Pot and Saline Nasal RinseDocumented risk

  Tap water in the nose has caused fatal infection; clean devices and safe water are essential.

• Zinc OxideDocumented risk

  Breathing zinc oxide fume causes metal fume fever; nano zinc oxide sprays are not considered safe by the EU committee.

• HoneyClinically supported

  Same evidence as for cough in children: a modest, short-term symptom effect, not a treatment of the infection.

• Bee PollenDocumented risk

  Breathing trouble is a symptom in anaphylaxis case reports, and one report describes allergic asthma after taking bee pollen.

• Immune Support FormulasPreliminary or mixed

  Colds are upper respiratory infections; trials are small or mixed.

• Chicory rootDocumented risk

  Inhaled dry chicory root dust caused asthma in one factory worker; a single case.

• HorseradishPreliminary or mixed

  One trial of a nasturtium-horseradish combination reported faster relief of acute bronchitis symptoms. It did not test horseradish alone.

• 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.

• ForsythiaPreliminary or mixed

  One small trial of a formula containing forsythia lowered cold symptom scores; not tested for forsythia alone.

• HyssopPreliminary or mixed

  One small 2024 trial of hyssop syrup in asthma showed benefit in some people and harm in others; it needs confirming.

• ShiitakeDocumented risk

  Lung inflammation from inhaled shiitake spores is listed as a case report by Memorial Sloan Kettering.

• KratomDocumented risk

  Leaf and mitragynine generally do not seem to suppress breathing like opioids, but 7-OH can in lab models and lung problems are reported in case reports.

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

  Traditionally used for cough and breathlessness; evidence is from animal and cell experiments only.

• Vervain (European)Preliminary or mixed

  Same evidence: a five-herb extract containing verbena herb helped sinus-infection symptoms in adults; vervain alone has not been tested.

• Iceland mossPreliminary or mixed

  Accepted in the EU as a traditional soothing product for mouth and throat irritation with dry cough; the studies are small and have no placebo group.

• 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.

• Common sorrelPreliminary or mixed

  Same as above: evidence is for the five-herb mix in sinus infection, not for sorrel alone.

• Clubmoss (lycopodium)Documented risk

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

• Perilla SeedsDocumented risk

  One case of occupational asthma from roasting perilla seeds.

• Mixed Nuts & Trail MixDocumented risk

  Sulfites in dried fruit can trigger symptoms in sulfite-sensitive people with asthma; allergy can cause breathing trouble.

• Clary Sage OilDocumented risk

  EFSA classifies the oil as a respiratory sensitizer for people handling it.

• Lime OilDocumented risk

  An EU panel called lime oil a respiratory-tract irritant; no diffuser or asthma trial was found.

• Petitgrain OilDocumented risk

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

• Wintergreen OilDocumented risk

  Laryngeal swelling reported after accidental swallowing; salicylate poisoning can include fast breathing (case report).

• Camphor Oil (Dangers)Documented risk

  EFSA calls camphor white oil a respiratory sensitiser; apnea is described in severe poisoning.

• Mullein TeaPreliminary or mixed

  Traditional use only for throat and cough symptoms (EU regulatory category); not shown in trials of the tea.

• Licorice Root TeaPreliminary or mixed

  EU traditional use as an expectorant in cough with a cold, based on long use alone; no trial of the tea was found.

• Marshmallow Root TeaPreliminary or mixed

  Same EU traditional use for oral and throat irritation with dry cough.

• Coriander OilDocumented risk

  EFSA lists the oil as an irritant of the respiratory tract and a respiratory sensitizer for people handling it.

• Anise TeaPreliminary or mixed

  Traditional expectorant use only.

• Activated CharcoalDocumented risk

  Breathing in charcoal powder or slurry is a documented risk.

• Borax (Sodium Borate)Documented risk

  Workers breathing borax dust reported dry mouth, nose and throat, cough and nosebleeds.

• Clover HoneyPreliminary or mixed

  Same cough evidence as above; honey types in trials were not clover.

• PropolisDocumented risk

  Respiratory symptoms were reported in allergic reactions and asthmatic people may be at higher risk.

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