The Best Supplements for Airways & Lungs at a Glance

Being able to breathe freely is a piece of quality of life that many only appreciate when the air becomes thinner – for example during cold season, with dry heated air or after a strenuous workout. Anyone who wants to consciously support their airways and lungs can, besides fresh air and exercise, also rely on targeted nutrients and traditionally used plants. In this guide you will learn what matters when your goal is healthy airways and which products from our range fit with that – with an honest look at composition and authorised functions, without promises of a cure.

The airways are a remarkable system: with every breath they filter, humidify and warm the air before it reaches the fine alveoli. Cilia and mucus transport foreign particles back up, and the immune system of the mucous membranes keeps pathogens in check. For this interplay to work well, an adequate fluid intake, a functioning immune defence and the protection of cells from oxidative stress work together. It is precisely at these levers that the nutrients and plants we present below take effect.

What matters when your goal is airways & lungs

The airways are exposed daily to irritants such as dry air, dust and pathogens. A well-functioning immune system plays a central role here. The most important nutrient with a clear EU claim is vitamin C: it contributes to the normal function of the immune system – also during and after intense physical exercise. In addition, vitamin C contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. This makes it an obvious building block around the topic of airways.

Besides vitamin C, there are plants traditionally used in connection with the airways. Common lungwort (Pulmonaria) does not bear its name without reason and is traditionally used in herbalism. Sulphur-containing amino acid compounds such as N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) are also consciously supplemented by many people; for NAC itself, however, there are no authorised health claims, which is why we describe it exclusively via its composition.

A further aspect is cell protection: the cells of the airways are particularly challenged by inhaled irritants and environmental burdens. Vitamin C contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress and is therefore a doubly sensible building block – once for the immune system, once for cell protection. The moisture of the mucous membranes also plays a role: well-moistened mucous membranes fulfil their natural barrier function better, which is why drinking enough and a pleasant indoor humidity are closely connected with the topic of airways.

The honest framework is important: food supplements cannot treat any respiratory disease. They support normal functions – such as that of the immune system via vitamin C – and complement a lifestyle with fresh air, adequate fluids and, if you smoke, giving up tobacco. Especially in the cooler season, when heated air is dry and time spent indoors is more frequent, targeted support of the normal immune function can be a sensible building block for many people.

Our product recommendations

In our selection we have put together those products that are either traditionally associated with the airways or support the normal immune function with functional vitamin C. This way you will find both a dedicated airway complex and complementary building blocks that fit well into a seasonal routine.

Lungenkraft – Lungwort Complex, 14-Fold Optimised with Vitamin C

This extensive complex places the traditionally used lungwort at its centre and combines it in a 14-fold formula with further plant extracts as well as with vitamin C. The vitamin C it contains contributes to the normal function of the immune system – a sensible building block especially in the cooler season. The plant components are traditionally used in connection with the airways. For everyone who is specifically looking for an airway-oriented complex, Lungenkraft is the most obvious starting point.

View Lungenkraft Lungwort Complex

N-Acetyl L-Cysteine (NAC) High-Dose, 750 mg Natural

This NAC preparation supplies 750 mg of stabilised, high-dose N-acetyl-L-cysteine from natural, plant-based fermentation per capsule and comes in a pack of 180 capsules of German manufacture. NAC is a sulphur-containing compound of the amino acid L-cysteine that is consciously supplemented by many people. We describe here exclusively the composition and origin, since there are no authorised health-related statements for NAC. Anyone who wants to add NAC to their routine will find here a high-dose, transparently declared product.

View N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine 750 mg

French Maritime Pine High-Dose 25:1 with 95% OPC and Vitamin C

This pine bark extract supplies 475 mg of OPC per capsule from a 25:1 concentrate and is combined with vitamin C. The vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system and to the protection of cells from oxidative stress – both fit well with the topic of airways in cold season. The OPC from maritime pine are traditionally valued for their plant origin. As a versatile vitamin C source, the extract complements an airway-oriented approach.

View French Maritime Pine with Vitamin C

Lion's Mane (Hericium Erinaceus) 1300 mg with Beta-Glucan

The medicinal mushroom Hericium erinaceus, also called bearded tooth fungus or lion's mane, supplies 1300 mg per dose in this product with standardised 30% polysaccharides and 5% beta-glucan of German manufacture. Medicinal mushrooms have long been valued in various traditions. For lion's mane there are no authorised health claims, which is why we describe it only via its composition. Anyone who wants to holistically accompany their wellbeing in the cooler season will find here a highly standardised mushroom extract.

View Lion's Mane 1300 mg

These four products can be used individually or in combination, depending on preference. Anyone looking for a clear entry point is best starting with the lungwort complex, which unites plant and functional vitamin C in one product. Anyone who already has experience with food supplements can specifically add a further building block such as NAC or the pine bark extract. In any case, pay attention to the recommended daily intake and to how your body reacts to the individual products.

Basics first

Before you reach for capsules, it is worth looking at the basics: regular airing, a pleasant indoor humidity, sufficient exercise in the fresh air and enough fluids keep the mucous membranes functional. Anyone who smokes does their airways the biggest favour by stopping – no food supplement can compensate for that. A balanced, vitamin-rich diet with plenty of vegetables and fruit already supplies a solid basic supply of vitamin C.

Diet also makes a contribution: colourful vegetables and fruit supply plenty of vitamin C and secondary plant substances, while enough water keeps the mucous membranes moist and functional. Warm drinks such as unsweetened herbal teas are perceived as soothing by many people in the cold season. Together, these simple habits form a solid basis.

Breathing exercises and exercise are also good for the airways: endurance sports, singing or targeted breathing techniques train the interplay of the respiratory muscles and lung volume. Anyone who additionally pays attention to a smoke-free environment, regular burst airing and, if necessary, a humidifier in winter creates good conditions for the mucous membranes. These basics cost little and work every day – they are the foundation on which targeted nutrients only sensibly build.

Food supplements come in where gaps arise in everyday life – for example with an increased need during cold season or with a one-sided diet. They support normal functions such as that of the immune system, but do not replace medical treatment. In the case of persistent cough, shortness of breath, fever or chronic respiratory complaints, the assessment belongs in medical hands – food supplements are then no substitute for a diagnosis and therapy. Regard the products presented as an accompaniment to a healthy lifestyle, not as medicine.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which nutrient supports the immune system around the airways?

Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system – also during and after intense physical exercise. That is why several of our recommendations, such as the lungwort complex and the pine bark extract, contain functional vitamin C.

What is lungwort and how is it used?

Lungwort (Pulmonaria) is a plant traditionally used in herbalism in connection with the airways. In the Lungenkraft complex it is combined 14-fold with further plants and vitamin C. No health-related curative claims are associated with it.

Does NAC have an authorised health claim?

No. For N-acetyl-L-cysteine there are no health-related statements authorised by the EU. We therefore describe it exclusively via its composition as a sulphur-containing compound of the amino acid L-cysteine.

Can these products treat a respiratory disease?

No. None of the products treats or cures a disease. They support normal functions – such as that of the immune system via vitamin C – and complement a healthy lifestyle. In the case of complaints, medical advice is the right way.

Can I combine the lungwort complex and NAC?

In principle the products can be combined. Pay attention to the respective recommended daily intake and observe tolerability. If you take medication or have pre-existing conditions, consult a doctor beforehand.