Formula No. 2 – A Botanical Respiratory Tea
From The Botanical Physician’s Cabinet
“To soothe the lungs, warm the chest, and comfort the breath.”
Ventus Pulmonaria is an herbal tea blend inspired by traditional respiratory formulas used by 19th-century country doctors, Civil War-era field physicians, and early American botanical practitioners. Crafted with wildcrafted and apothecary-grade herbs, this formula offers warm, moistening, and clearing support for the lungs and respiratory passages.
🌿 Herbs Featured in This Formula:
- Mullein Leaf (Verbascum thapsus) – Known as the “lung herb” of the field and forest. Supports healthy respiratory function and gentle expectoration.
- Coltsfoot Leaf (Tussilago farfara) – A traditional remedy for dry, spasmodic coughs, praised for its soothing, moistening action on irritated airways.
- Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) – A sweet harmonizer that calms inflammation and enhances the effects of other herbs.
- Elecampane Root (Inula helenium) – Deep-acting and clearing, elecampane was a favorite of Eclectic physicians for wet or stubborn coughs.
- Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) – A warming aromatic often used in historic “plague waters,” known for opening the chest and easing congestion.
🫖 To Use:
Steep 1–2 teaspoons in 8 oz of hot water for 10–15 minutes, covered.
Sip warm up to 3 times daily as needed during cold season or to support the lungs after exposure to smoke, dust, or dry air.
⚠️ Cautions:
Not recommended during pregnancy. For short-term use only. Coltsfoot contains naturally occurring pyrrolizidine alkaloids and is best used seasonally.
📜 Historical Inspiration
Formulated in the spirit of the Botanical Physicians of the 1800s, this blend reflects how herbs were selected not only for their effects, but for how they worked together as a whole. Each ingredient in Ventus Pulmonaria would have been familiar to frontier herb-wives, Eclectics, and home practitioners during the Civil War era.
Learn More from The Botanical Physician
Somnus Botanica is part of our historical Apothecary Line by The Herb Peddler, handcrafted with herbs ethically sources, grown or wildcrafted at Horse -n- Bear Ranch in the Appalachian mountains of Virginia.
For deeper learning visit our full collection of traditional herbal formulas, educational demonstrations, and botanical medicine resources at www.HerbLibrarian.com.
Handcrafted by Drs. Charlotte & Timothy Test
Traditional Naturopaths & Master Herbalists
Keeping the legacy of the Botanical Physician alive—one remedy at a time.