Lungwort Leaves 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Lungwort Leaves – 100 g ($18.99), 50 g ($12.99), 25 g ($8.99)

Benefits:
Phytonutrients  The most important reason for the different biological activities reported in Pulmonaria could be the phyto-constituents present in these plants. Typical phytochemicals found in lungwort are saponins, quercetin, tannic acid, kaempferol, flavonoids, catercholtannins, allantonin, silicic acid, tannins, ascorbic acid, silicic acid, rutin, carotene, vitamin C, alkaloids, and fatty acid. This powerful plant also contains antibiotics which act against bacteria responsible for chest infections.

Medicinal Properties of Lungwort
Antioxidant
Anti-irritant
Supplement for the lungs
Digestive
Diuretic
Antibiotic

Respiratory  High mucilage content of lungwort relieves the respiratory ailments like asthma and chronic bronchitis. Owing to its antibiotic properties it prevents and treats the pulmonary infections like tuberculosis, and other bacterial infections in the lungs. Cold, cough, catarrh (buildup of phlegm/mucus) can also be relieved by this herb. It possesses anti-irritant and soothing qualities which helps to treat irritation or irritating factor in the lungs. Other chest infections can also be treated by this herb. Lungwort not only prevent diseases of the respiratory tract but also act as a great natural supplement for lungs. This herb helps to maintain the health and functioning of the lungs.

Anti-Oxidants  Antioxidants are molecules that fight free radicals in your body. Antioxidants can donate an electron to a free radical without making themselves unstable. This causes the free radical to stabilize and become less reactive. As oxidation is a process that is constantly occurring due to numerous chemical reactions in the body, antioxidants must also regularly work to keep free radicals in balance. Therefore, regularly consuming antioxidant-rich foods is a great way to reduce oxidative stress and to maintain balance and health.

Due to number of phytochemicals in it, this plant is a good source of antioxidants. Hence its proper use can help in slowing the aging process and maintain overall wellness. Taking natural antioxidant help in making skin look healthy and younger.

Recent research on Lungwort shows that it also boosts antioxidants and scavenges free radicals in the whole body. Free radicals are oxygen-containing molecules with an uneven number of electrons. The uneven number allows them to easily react with other molecules. Free radicals can cause large chain chemical reactions in your body because they react so easily with other molecules. These reactions are called oxidation and can either be beneficial or harmful.

Essentially, oxidation is any chemical reaction that involves the moving of electrons. Specifically, it means the substance that gives away electrons is oxidized. Oxidation is a normal and necessary process that takes place in your body. However, oxidative stress occurs when there’s an imbalance between free radical activity and antioxidant activity. This can result in damaged cells and ultimately ill health.

Digestion  Having lungwort herb in the form of a tea can be soothing and help to treat many digestive troubles as well. It helps to relieve bloating, gas, acidity, indigestion and diarrhea. Bloating is relieved due to the diuretic activity of this herb which reduces the excessive water from the body.

Skin Health  Lungwort is a rich source of natural antioxidants and can play a very important role in helping your skin remain stronger and younger. Lungwort can also be applied topically to the skin to help treat minor wounds and cuts. It consists of a chemical compound called allantoin that is known for its ability to heal tissue damage and expedite wound healing.

Lungwort can also be applied to the skin topically. Lungwort is effective when applied to the skin because of its astringent and anti-inflammatory nature. It can be applied to the skin to treat a whole range of skin conditions including burns, ulcers, hemorrhoids, and eczema.

Wound Healing  Minor wounds and cuts can be treated by lungwort by applying its paste on the affected site.

In a study, P. officinalis extract was tested as a component of bioactive hydrogels for the dressing of wounds. The hydrogel was made from aqueous extract from the dried part of the plants, including P. officinalis, Agropyron repens, and Equisetum arvense. The same amount of extract was used from each of these plants and different concentrations of alginic acid were used to prepare the hydrogel. The dressing made from the hydrogel had unique absorbent properties. The hydrogels with alginic acid were able to absorb calcium ions intensively. The dressing of the prepared hydrogel was also able to decrease the level of collagen glycation in a spectrophotometry experiment. This reduction in collagen glycation may be considered the protective effect of the hydrogel in wound healing [71]. It was proposed to be used for the treatment of wounds with heavy and medium exudates.

Diuretic  Its natural diuretic activity helps to treat recurrent urinary tract infections and other kidney complaints. Owing to the diuretic activity of the herbs the accumulated toxins from the body can be removed.

Anti-Inflammatory  Chronic inflammation may increase the risk of various diseases; even low-grade inflammatory conditions may be correlated with various diseases and/or conditions such as cancer, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases [33,34,35,36]. Like antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory activity can also result in positive outcomes in different diseases such as cancer, arthritis, obesity, and diabetes, and in neuroprotection.

Identifying the active compounds responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity present revealed 10 probable compounds (menisdaurin, globoidnan A, globoidnan B, quercetin 3-O-(6″-O-malonyl)-β-glucoside, 2-O-E-caffeoyl-L-threonic acid, chlorogenic acid, monardic acid, rosmarinic acid, lithospermic acid A, and salvianolic acid H) for the COX-2 inhibition activity of the extracts. Among these compounds, menisdaurin and salvianolic acid H were more abundant in P. officinalis that may be potent inhibitors for COX-2 [11].

Neurodegenerative Disorder: Acetylcholinesterase Reduction  Acetylcholinesterase reduction is an important strategy used to treat neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) [38]. Neurodegenerative disorders are an important cause of sickness and death worldwide [39]. Among the neurodegenerative disorders, AD is the most common, becoming the sixth leading cause of death in the United States [40]. Medicinal plants and their important constituents can be considered as potential treatments for neurodegenerative disorders according to earlier literature [41,42].

Research showed the acetylcholinesterase reducing potential of P. officinalis by 72.2 – 87.7% [10].

Skin Dark Spot Whitening  Plants have been used in cosmetics since ancient times and their importance has been maintained in the modern world [9,43]. Tyrosinase inhibition is considered one of the most important approaches for skin whitening or reducing skin pigmentation through cosmetics [44]. Tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1) is the main enzyme for melanin biosynthesis, which is responsible for normal pigmentation of skin, but its hyperactivity or/and hyperexpression have been linked to dysfunctions of skin pigmentation, such as melisma associated with age, freckling, age spots, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. A study showed that Lungwort inhibited tyrosinase by 57 – 72% that reduces the hyperactivity leading to reduction in the skin pigmentation [10].

Anticoagulant  Anticoagulants can be beneficial in different diseases/conditions such as atrial fibrillation [46], coronary artery disease [47], ischemic stroke [48], myocardial infarction [49], pulmonary embolism [50], restenosis from stents [51], cardiopulmonary bypass surgeries [52], and heart failure [53]. Stroke and cardiovascular diseases are among the diseases responsible for the highest number of deaths globally [54]. Some herbal remedies have been known for their anticoagulant properties that can be developed further for anticoagulant medication. The anticoagulant activity of P. officinalis and P. mollis was studied in earlier in vivo experiments [12,13,55]. They were able to reduce the fatality rate of animals by inhibiting the coagulation activity of platelets.

Antibacterial – Cystic Fibrosis  Considering the Doctrine of Signatures, Pulmonaria has been used in lung infections; hence, an important pathogen of the bronchial region, Staphylococcus aureus, isolated from clinical samples of cystic fibrosis patients, has been used to study its antimicrobial activity.

The strong inhibition of staphylococcal sortase A activity of up to 70% means that P. officinalis can be considered as an anti-virulent against staphylococcus according to in vitro studies, such as the inhibition of microbial adhesion, sortase A activity, and α-toxin secretion. These properties may be beneficial to cystic fibrosis patients.

Anemia  Anemia is a serious public health problem globally that affects people of all age groups, especially young children and pregnant women [57]. The total cases of anemia worldwide increased from 1.42 billion in 1990 to 1.74 billion in 2019 [58]. Iron deficiency is the most common reason for anemia, as iron is an integral part of hemoglobin, which is an important protein in red blood cells [59]. Herbal supplements or/and medication have shown the potential to treat anemia in different studies [60,61,62]. The presence of hemopoietic microelements (such as Fe, Mn, Cu, and Co) in lungwort may be associated with the anti-anemic activity of lungwort [63]. In a preliminary study, the anti-anemic effect of P. mollis was studied in comparison with a synthetic drug (Fe³⁺ hydroxide polymaltose complex) in rats (Figure 3). Extracts from the floral shoot (PMEFS) and rosellate leaves (PMERL) were used to explore the anti-anemic effect on rats with iron-deficiency anemia. The PMEFS restored the level of hemoglobin in the rats in 8–9 days in a similar manner to the synthetic drug (Table 1) [27].

Anticonvulsant  Epilepsy is an important cause of disability and death worldwide. In 2016, there were more than 45 million people suffering from active epilepsy globally, which makes epilepsy one of the most prevalent neurological disorders [64]. The development of plant-based treatment for epilepsy gains momentum because of the side effect and high cost of the antiepileptic drugs [65]. Further, drug resistance has been reported in one-third of patients suffering from epilepsy [66]. An aqueous extract from P. obscura was studied for its anticonvulsant effect on Wistar–Albino–Glaxo from Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rats, the genetic model of generalized absence epilepsy. The aqueous extract of P. obscura was orally administered for 21 days to rats (Table 1). The brain activity of the rats was detected through an electroencephalogram (EEG) which showed that long-term use of the extract had a positive effect on the brain activity of rats with the absence of epilepsy (Table 1 and Figure 3). The presence of anthocyanins, flavonoids, and ascorbic and rosmarinic acids is speculated to be responsible [14].

Respiratory  Lungwort’s high mucilage content is known to be useful in respiratory conditions, namely asthma and, in particular, chronic bronchitis. While there isn’t a ton of research currently available, it is widely accepted that lungwort can be used by people with these conditions–in conjunction with doctor recommendations–as a complementary approach.

In traditional medicine, Lungwort was used to treat lung diseases such as cough, grippe, catarrh, hoarseness, cold, asthma and even tuberculosis. It is said that the herb has anti-biotic effect against chest infections. Some also believe that Lungwort can be used internally for treating bleeding of the lungs as well.

The University of North Carolina classifies lungwort as a plant helpful for reducing irritation and providing soothing qualities. It is supposed that these beneficial properties, based mainly on significant anecdotal support, are thought as a respiratory aid.

Digestion  When it comes to our overall health and well-being, digestive health is of supreme importance. Many people suffer from digestive troubles such as bloating, constipation, stomach pain and dyspepsia but there are many good, effective remedies to be found in nature. Drinking a soothing cup of lungwort tea is one of these natural remedies, and can help relieve a number of digestive and gastrointestinal problems including indigestion and diarrhea. Lungwort has mild diuretic properties which may help relieve the discomfort of bloating from excess water build-up while its astringent properties may also be responsible for treating attacks of diarrhea.

Urinary Tract Infections  Lungwort has also been used traditionally to treat infections of the urinary tract like cystitis. Because of its natural diuretic ability, it has also been used to treat kidney complaints. Diuretics are often recommended for urinary tract conditions because they help promote the production of fluids in the body and increase the frequency of urination. This can help expel toxins and relieve infection.

Botanical Name: Pulmonaria officinalis
English: Lungwort
Also, known as: Spotted Lungwort, Common lungwort, Mary’s tears, Blue lungwort, Maple Lungwort, Jerusalem Cowslip, Our Lady’s milk drops, Jerusalem-sage, Spotted Comfrey, Soldiers & Sailors, and Spotted Dog
Habitat: Europe
Origin: Serbia
Harvested: Wild or cultivated
Parts Used: The leaves

General Information:
Pulmonaria officinalis, is herbaceous or semi-evergreen rhizomatous perennials of the borage family. Genus name comes from the Latin pulmo meaning lung. This rough-hairy perennial that reach up to 12 inches in height and 18 inches wide. It is native to forested areas in Europe. The basal leaves are green, cordate, elongated and pointed and always with rounded and often sharply defined white or pale green patches with upper surface of the leaves has tiny bumps and it is quite hairy. The leaves of this host plant are eaten by the caterpillars. In spring, the plant produces small bunches of flowers. Funnel-shaped, five-petaled flowers, about 1 inch long, bloom in forked clusters, opening pink and soon changing to blue, in spring. Different colored flowers may be seen on the plant at the same time. As a matter of fact, the flowers contain a dye that belongs to the anthocyanins and change the color from red, acidic to blue, alkaline.

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How Much To Use
It is common that 10g of a fresh herb = 1g when dehydrated.
Recommended daily amount: 1-2 tsp lungwort leaves (2-4 g)/use up to 3 times/day. This can be added to food or to make tea.