Pleurisy Root

Size: 1 oz Bag

(Latin Name: Asclepias tuberosa)
(Also known as: Butterfly Weed, Lung Root, Breath Opener)

Brief History & Origin

Pleurisy Root is the Herb of Breath and Release, a powerful plant medicine long used by Native American healers and early folk practitioners to clear the lungs, reduce inflammation, and break up congestion. Named for its traditional use in treating pleurisy—an inflammatory lung condition—this root is a sacred ally for the breath and spirit, teaching us the power of letting go, exhaling pain, and making space for new life.

In spiritual practice, Pleurisy Root is considered a wind medicine, working with the element of air to free the chest, unbind the breath, and clear stuck energy from the heart and lungs. Its bright orange flowers feed the butterflies, symbolizing transformation, lightness, and the renewal of life after heaviness.

Health & Healing Benefits

The Body’s Ally

• Acts as an expectorant, helping break up and expel mucus from the lungs

• Reduces inflammation in the pleura (the lining of the lungs) and chest wall

• Supports healing from bronchitis, pneumonia, and respiratory infections

• Relieves chest tightness, shallow breathing, and lung congestion

• Gently stimulates perspiration, aiding in fever management and detoxification

• Assists the lymphatic system, moving stagnant fluids and waste

Spiritual & Energetic Uses

The Soul’s Companion

• Clears grief, sorrow, and emotional stagnation stored in the lungs and chest

• Opens the throat and heart chakras, allowing breath, voice, and love to flow freely

• Used in breathwork rituals, energy clearing ceremonies, and spirit release practices

• Symbolizes transformation, lightness after grief, and the sacred exhale

• Invoked during periods of deep emotional healing, transition, or spiritual rebirth

Best Ways to Use Pleurisy Root

GlassWing Organics Notes

At GlassWing Organics, Pleurisy Root is used in lung-healing formulas, breath-clearing rituals, grief ceremonies, and spirit baths. We honor it as a plant of breath and transformation, teaching us that healing happens when we clear the chest, release the old, and let life flow freely again.

Safety & Precautions

• Use with respect and caution—Pleurisy Root is potent medicine

• Not for long-term or daily use—best reserved for acute respiratory healing

• Not recommended for pregnancy or in combination with heart medications

• Use under guidance if you have heart conditions—Pleurisy Root may gently affect heart rate

• Combine with Mullein, Lobelia, or Licorice Root for a complete lung healing blend

Reflection or Affirmation

"With Pleurisy Root, I release the grief held in my lungs. I open my chest, breathe freely, and transform heaviness into lightness."