Throat
Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang
Pinellia & Magnolia Bark
Five herbs from Zhang Zhongjing's Han dynasty classic.
£24.50
Nose, throat & chest
Lung & Respiratory Supplements
Four lung supplements, each one a classic formula for a different part of the airways, from a stuffy nose to a dry, tickly chest. British winters being what they are, these get a lot of use round here. The little quiz below points you in the right direction.
5:1 strengthDaoDi herbsVegan & gluten-freeFree UK delivery £40+
Where's it bothering you?
Find your respiratory supplement
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Traditionally chosen
Bi Yan Pian
Magnolia flower bud and ten other herbs. Bi yan literally means nose. Our best seller in this range.
View formula
4 formulas
Shop lung and sinus supplements
Throat
Best seller
Bi Yan Pian
Nose Formula
4.9 · 8 reviews
Eleven herbs led by magnolia flower and chrysanthemum.
£24.50
Moistening
Mai Men Dong Tang
Ophiopogon Decoction
Ophiopogon, rice and ginseng, among others. Soft and soothing.
£24.50
Long-term
Mai Wei Di Huang Wan
Ophiopogon & Schisandra Rehmannia
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan with two herbs for the lungs.
£20.50
Side by side
Comparing our respiratory supplements
| Compare | Bi Yan Pian | Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang | Mai Men Dong Tang | Mai Wei Di Huang Wan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herbs | 11 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Best known for | Nose and sinuses | That lump-in-the-throat feeling | Dry, tickly chest | Lungs that need a long-term top-up |
| How it feels | Clearing | Settling | Moistening | Nourishing |
| First recorded | A modern recipe | Han, around 200 AD | Han, around 200 AD | A later variation |
The thinking behind it
Respiratory supplements, the traditional view
Herbalists thought of the lungs as the body's umbrella. They sit at the top, they're the first thing the weather hits, and they hate being too dry or too damp. Basically the lungs are British in October, then.
Herbal books are absolutely stuffed with recipes for runny noses, blocked sinuses, coughs and wheezy chests, and have been for centuries. Each formula here deals with a different part of the airway, from the nose right down to the chest.
What's inside
The herbs behind our lung supplements
A few stand-outs.
辛夷
Magnolia Flower Bud
Xin Yi
The furry little buds you'd see on a magnolia tree in early spring. The classic nose herb.
Found in: Bi Yan Pian
麦冬
Ophiopogon Root
Mai Dong
From a grassy plant you might have in your garden as edging. The roots are plump and juicy, which is the whole point.
Found in: Mai Men Dong Tang and Mai Wei Di Huang Wan
紫苏叶
Perilla Leaf
Zi Su Ye
The purple leaf that sometimes turns up with sushi. Fragrant and warming.
Found in: Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang
Just so we're clear, this is about how these herbs have traditionally been used. Our tablets are food supplements, mind. Not medicine.
Looking after your lungs
Habits your lungs will thank you for
Common sense, mostly. The herbalists would agree.
- 1Steam it outA bowl of hot water and a towel over your head. Your gran was right.
- 2Wrap your neckHerbalists always said the back of the neck is where the wind gets in. Scarf season.
- 3Stop smokingThe single biggest thing. The NHS has free help.
- 4Know the red flagsBreathless, coughing blood, or a cough over three weeks? See your GP.
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What our customers say
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Which one should I start with?
Go by where it bothers you. Nose and sinuses, Bi Yan Pian. Throat, Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang. Dry chest, Mai Men Dong Tang. The quiz above does the same thing.
What are the best herbs for lungs?
In Chinese tradition a few names keep coming up. Magnolia flower bud for the nose, pinellia and perilla for the throat, ophiopogon for a dry chest. Herbalists hardly ever use one on its own though, which is why ours come as full recipes rather than single herbs.
Can herbs help with sinus problems?
Sinus trouble, hay fever and stuffy noses are some of the oldest things people have taken to herbalists, and Bi Yan Pian was made with exactly that in mind. Ours are food supplements though, not a treatment. Bad, or keeps coming back? Get your GP to have a look.
What about my inhaler?
Keep using it exactly as prescribed, and ask your GP or pharmacist before you add anything new. Please don't cut back on an inhaler off your own bat.
How long will a bottle last me?
About ten days, at three in the morning and three at night.
Learn with Aura
More on lungs and breathing
Just so we're clear: food supplements aren't a replacement for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, and they aren't meant to diagnose, treat or cure anything.