Congestion affects many folks this time of year, and although it may seem paradoxical, smoking particular herbal blends can clear mucus clogging the throat and sinuses. According to herbalist Dani Solorio, mullein is an effective herb that has been traditionally used for relieving respiratory issues and is a common ingredient in cough syrups and cough drops. Solorio has spent the past several years of their life working to bring Indigenous knowledge and accessible medicine to their community as the founder of Compton Health Bar in California. Born in Zacápu (located in Michoacán), Mexico, they aim to restore the connections between people and plants, as well as with ancestors.
"So many of us come from cultures that are very connected to the earth," Solorio said in an interview with POPSUGAR. "When we start using something as simple as making a tea for ourselves, it starts bringing back memories, whether the memory is my grandma or a family gathering or just chisme. It helps us reclaim that connection once you start feeling the connection with the plant itself. Plants are connected to us; we are one being. Reestablishing that connection to our ancestors through plants helps our psyche reconnect with our true essence, and I think it brings us into balance and into our best health when we discover and strengthen that connection."
Try Dani Solorio's mullein smoking blend remedy recipe here.
