Question: My name is David I have Cystic Fibrosis I need help I am looking for something that can clear My lungs and/or upper bronchial area, is there a product that can help me. I am scared. I have a very mild case of my disease but I want to do what it Takes to help me. Also maybe is there something for pancreases as well. My Doctor told me that my pancreases are deteriorating. I do not get all the Nutrients that I get out of the food I eat. I am taking pancreases pills Now before I eat. Are there herbs that might help clears mucus and maybe help? Me more to collect nutrients of the food I eat? Please help I am scared.

Answer: Dear David, I received your email and will attempt to give you some information. I am not a doctor and really cannot give you advice but I DO know what I would do and what various herbal authors recommend. I would take herbs internally as well as use them externally.

I found references to Cystic Fibrosis in just a few books. Here are the highlights of what I read:

“Prescription for Nutritional Healing” (revised & expanded) by James & Phyllis Balch recommends several supplements including Pancreatin, Proteolytic Enzymes, Vitamins B complex with extras of B2, B12 and also Vitamin C, K, A, E, & Zinc. Other supplements mentioned included Evening Primrose Oil, COQ10 and several more. They included herbal recommendations of Echinacea, Ginger, Goldenseal, Yarrow, & Alfalfa. Quite a lot of dietary advice was given and it might be very good for you to take a look at this book yourself.

“The Clinician’s Handbook of Natural Healing” by Gary Null, Ph.D. is comprised of information based only on scientific studies. One study showed a high lipase pancreatic enzyme preparation to be superior to a standard acid resistant microsphere for gastrointestinal symptoms, fat absorption and fecal fat output and energy loss. Several studies supported the use of Vitamin E and another one showed that 3 months of oral beta-carotene supplementation effectively normalized excess lipid peroxidation in Vitamin A deficient cystic fibrosis patients.

“Evening Primrose Oil” by Judy Graham describes how faulty immune response, faulty enzyme function are improved with Evening Primrose Oil. She also points out how people with cystic fibrosis should be careful with: trans fatty acids, catecholamines (hormones released by the adrenal glands during stress, alpha-linolenic acid (found in soy and linseed oils), simple carbohydrates which produce a rapid rise in blood glucose, and alcohol. She thinks children with this condition do not respond to treatment with safflower oil, which is rich in linoleic acid. There is a lot more information behind these statements in this book and I have just given you the briefest summary here.

“Aromatherapy An A-Z” by Patricia Davis gives many hopeful suggestions for the external use of essential oils for this condition. The essential oils she chooses to mention are described by her as mucolytic (breaks down mucus), expectorant and anti-infectious. Some of the oils she mentions include: Frankincense, Myrrh, Lavender, Niaouli, Tea Tree, Cedar, Eucalyptus, Pine and Sandalwood. Essential oils must be diluted before applying to the skin. If it were me, I would apply to the chest and upper back areas. She also recommends steam inhalations with essential oils and just inhaling in general. I would definitely do these things myself. Quite often my husband and I fragrance our house or bedroom with these healthful essential oils. Before using any essential oils on the skin be sure to read the safety information on our site about each oil you are considering using. Remember they need to be diluted as well. This author stresses the importance of rotating your essential oils when using for long periods of time. This is a really good suggestion.

There are many herbs I would consider using if I was in your situation. Many herbs are recommended by authorities and successfully used by people for relieving lung congestion. My favorites are our Cough Liquid Extract Combination and Cough Tea. I also externally apply Plantain Extract on my chest. You have so many good herbs to choose from for lung problems I feel you will surely find some good ones for you.

I haven’t found any direct reference connecting the herb Pfaffia (also called Suma) to Cystic Fibrosis but if it were me I would certainly use this herb for a couple of reasons. This herb is famous for having a beneficial effect on the pancreas and many diabetic people use it. It is a rainforest herb and the native people consider it a “cure for all things” Some people call it Brazilian Ginseng. It is high in germanium and author Balch of “Prescription for Nutritional Healing” recommends eating foods high in germanium for this condition so that makes me lean even more towards using Pfaffia.

David, I sincerely hope this helps you in some way. I have only given you a bit of what these authors offer and you may want to read these books yourself for more details. We sell some of these books and I think we can order the other ones. You may also be able to find them in your local library or bookstore.