Pouring aromatic lemon balm tea into cup on wooden tableShutterstock Right now, more than ever, caring for your respiratory health is top of mind. Thanks to pollution and smog, as well as bacteria and viruses swirling around, your lungs, nose and throat could be going through the wringer. Here are the herbs and plants that you can add to your diet to bolster it now. 1. Vasaka Vasaka has been considered very therapeutic in Ayurveda for respiratory health, says nutrition consultant Sangeeta Khanna. Vasaka, also known as Malabar Nut, is a potent plant revered in ancient wellness texts for its curative properties. “The leaves are rich in phytochemicals such as tannins, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids and have anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and expectorant benefits which soothe sore throat, clear nasal congestion and sinusitis, control asthma triggers, relieve upper respiratory throat disorder,” says Khanna. It works to soothe bronchial inflammation, loosening phlegm and thinning bronchial secretions. You can look for vasaka supplements or prepare a tisane by brewing vasaka leaves in hot water to ease respiratory infections.