The primary function of the respiratory system is to provide oxygen to blood so that it can be transported to the various parts of the body. Respiration is the same as breathing. The parts of the respiratory system are:

The lungs – These major organs take the oxygen that we breathe in and make it available to the blood (that flows through the lungs). The waste product delivered back to the lungs by the blood is carbon dioxide. That is what we breathe out.

The nose (and the mouth) – This is where it all begins. Oxygen is brought in to the nose and down to the trachea. When carbon dioxide is expelled, it comes back through the trachea to the nose.

The pharynx - The pharynx is part of the digestive system as well as the respiratory system because it carries both food and air.

The larynx – This is called the voice box. It’s actually at the beginning of the trachea. It is a short tube that contains a pair of vocal cords which vibrate to make sounds.

The trachea – This is like a filtering system.

The bronchi – These are air tubes that carry the oxygen/carbon dioxide to and from the lungs from the trachea.

The diaphragm – This muscle contracts when air is brought into the lungs and then expands to force the carbon dioxide to be expelled.

During a normal day, we breathe nearly 25,000 times, and take in (inhale) large amounts of air. The air we take in contains mostly oxygen and nitrogen. But air also has things in it that can hurt our lungs. There are two major things that cause problems with the respiratory system – pollution and smoking. Of course, there are diseases and other issues, too.

Here are a variety of respiratory problems and herbal treatments:

• Lung disease
• Tuberculosis
• Bronchitis
• Asthma
• Pneumonia
• Cough Remedy
• Common Cold and Flu
• Emphysema
• Pleurisy
• Collapsed lung
• Sleep apnea
• Snoring
• Cough: What is a cough?

According to WomensHealth.gov, "More than 35 million Americans have an ongoing (or chronic) lung disease like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If all types of lung disease are lumped together it is the number three killer in the United States. It causes 1 in 7 deaths in this country each year."

Herbal remedies for respiratory illnesses and diseases go back in time hundreds of years. They were used long before our current collection of medicines were available. Treating health issues with herbs is as natural as it gets. While it is not a substitute for professional medical care, it can provide relief and can assist in returning the body to its natural state of healing.

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