Smoke & Ash Support Guide
Smoke Signals: Recognizing the Symptoms of Forest Fire Inhalation
In times where the sky feels like it's falling down to earth, it's important to stay calm and take proper precautions. Focus your actions on the things within your control and accept those beyond it.
As the ashes of forest fires fall to ground level, many of the people we care about will experience burning lungs and eyes. Within those ashes are carcinogens such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants.
These may pose a significant health risk. Inhaling this smoke can irritate the respiratory system and exacerbate existing health conditions. The severity of symptoms depends on the concentration of smoke particles, the duration of exposure, and individual health. Here's a breakdown of common symptoms categorized by exposure level & at the bottom of this post are nutritional & herbal recommendations to support you and your family:
Understanding Common Smoke Exposure Issues
Smoke inhalation can lead to a variety of symptoms, including:
- Eye irritation: Burning, itching, or watering eyes are common.
- Dryness in the eyes, nose, and throat: Smoke can cause mild irritation in these areas.
- Cough: A dry cough or cough with phlegm is a common symptom.
- Headaches: Mild headaches may occur.
- Sore throat: Smoke irritates the throat, causing a scratchy or burning sensation.
- Runny or stuffy nose: Smoke can trigger congestion and a runny nose.
- Fatigue: Smoke inhalation can leave you feeling tired and lethargic.
- Skin issues: Hives, welts, acne, cysts
Harmful Chemicals and Metals in Wildfire Smoke
Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of gases and fine particles that can be harmful to human health. Some of the chemicals and heavy metals released into the air include
- Particulate matter: Tiny particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs.
- Carbon monoxide: A colorless, odorless gas that reduces oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood.
- Nitrogen oxides: Contribute to respiratory irritation and acid rain.
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): Known carcinogens.
- Heavy metals: Such as lead, mercury, and arsenic, which can accumulate in the body.
Forest Fires in the U.S.
The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights a critical fact: outdoor air pollution, largely driven by wildfires and chemical pollutants due to the manufacturing industry, are now the leading environmental cause of cancer deaths globally.
- Number of Wildfires Annually: On average, about 60,000 to 80,000 wildfires occur each year in the United States.
- Acres Burned Annually: Typically, these wildfires burn between 7 and 10 million acres annually. Some years have seen more extensive fires, especially during drought periods or in regions experiencing severe heat.
- Buildings and Homes Affected: Thousands of structures, including homes, are destroyed by wildfires each year. For example, in 2020 alone, over 17,000 structures were lost in U.S. wildfires, largely in California. The proximity of homes to forests and the spread of urban development into wildfire-prone areas (the wildland-urban interface) increase this risk.
Health Impacts on Organs and Body Systems
The toxic components of wildfire smoke can harm several major body systems:
- Respiratory System: Smoke inhalation can contribute to respiratory challenges.
- Cardiovascular System: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can enter the bloodstream, leading to inflammation within the muscles and heart.
- Runny or stuffy nose: Smoke can trigger congestion and a runny nose.
- Elimination and Detoxification organs: The liver and kidneys work to filter and eliminate toxins from the body. Exposure to chemicals like dioxins, heavy metals, and VOCs increases the burden on these organs, leading to potential damage and reduced efficiency.
Smoke & Ask Protection Goals
To minimize inhalation to smoke particulate, chemicals and heavy metals during wildfire events, consider the following methods:
Reducing Outdoor Exposure
- Limit outdoor activities: When air quality is poor due to smoke, reduce time spent outdoors.
- Exercise indoors: Opt for indoor workouts or exercise during cleaner air periods.
- Wear appropriate masks: For outdoor activities, wear a well-fitted N95 or KN95 respirator mask. These masks effectively filter out fine particulate matter. Avoid dust masks or bandanas, as they offer minimal protection.
Improving Indoor Air Quality
- Seal your home: Close windows and doors to prevent smoke from entering.
- Use air purifiers: High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are highly effective at capturing fine particles in smoke. Some air purifiers also incorporate activated charcoal filters to remove odors and certain gases.
- Check your HVAC system: Ensure your HVAC system has a high-efficiency filter (MERV 13 or higher) to capture smoke particles.
Supplementing for Lung & Smoke Exposure Support
Emphaplex by Standard Process contains bovine lung PMG extract, which is one of several ingredients that may support lung health. Emphaplex also contains other ingredients like nutritional yeast and organic carrot.
Fenugreek may also help with lung health by clearing congestion, acting as a throat cleanser, and easing the urge to cough.
The combination of nutritional yeast, organic carrot, bovine lung PMG™ extract, and other ingredients further enhance the health benefits of Emphaplex®. These ingredients can support lung health, provide antioxidants, promote healthy skin, and more.
PulmaCo contains Chinese Skullcap, Malabar Nut Tree leaf, Grindelia, Turmeric, Ginkgo and Fennel to support healthy respiratory tract function.*
These herbs have been traditionally used in herbal preparations to:
Support the body’s normal cough reflex*
Support the body’s natural ability to break up and expel respiratory secretions*
Support healthy respiratory tract function*
Provide antioxidant activity*
The combination of herbs in PulmaCo contain many compounds including alkaloids (such as vasicine), flavonoids, terpene lactones, sesquiterpene ketones, curcuminoids, diterpenoid acids, phenolic acids, anethole and fenchone.
Parotid PMG®: This product helps pull dental mercury amalgams and chemicals out of the body. It is considered a natural chelator to help clean the arteries.
SP Cleanse combines 20 unique whole food and botanical ingredients designed to support the body's normal toxin-removal processes.*
Herbs such as juniper berry, milk thistle, red clover, burdock root, fenugreek, orgon grape, spanish black radish and more ensure your liver detoxification pathways remain open. An overall liver, lymph, kidney & bowel support formula to keep you protected from environmental toxins.
Immuplex® provides daily support for a healthy immune system response with a blend of essential micronutrients and minerals, and with specialized protein extracts.*
Immuplex® is a daily supplement supporting a healthy immune system response through a blend of essential micronutrients & minerals, & contains specialized extracts.*
Supports the immune system*
Supports a healthy immune system response function*
Helps maintain normal white blood cell activity already within a normal range*
Contains Protomorphogen™ & Cytosol™ extracts
Supports the body’s normal inflammatory response function*
Provides ingredients with antioxidant activity
Excellent source of zinc, iron, copper, chromium, folate and vitamins A, B6, and B12 and antioxidant vitamins C and E
Good source of selenium
The Benefits of Immune System Support
Maintaining a healthy immune system helps the body defend itself when faced with challenges. Inflammation is a key part of the immune response by reacting to stimuli and responding accordingly. Increased cytokine production is part of a normal inflammatory response. However, consistently elevated cytokines in the absence of a trigger can lead to an overactivated immune response.*
In cell culture studies, Immuplex® was shown to affect cytokine production, including IL-8, IL-10, TNFα, and IFNy, indicating its role in mediating T-lymphocyte inflammation.1
Helpful Links and References
1. World Health Organization. Ambient (outdoor) air pollution [invalid URL removed]. Accessed July 23, 2024.
2. Dennekamp, Paul, et al. "High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration for particulate matter removal from indoor air." The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2019). [PUBMED 30879321]
3. Reid, Celia A., et al. "Health effects of wildfire smoke: evaluation of the evidence for the update of the 2008 consensus statement." Environmental health perspectives 124.8 (2016): 1033-1044. [PUBMED 27298679]
4. Shafiei, Ehsan, et al. "Wildfire smoke exposure and respiratory and cardiovascular emergency department visits in the Pacific Northwest, 2008–2015." Environmental health perspectives 125.1 (2017): 010701. [PUBMED 27890333]
5. Sinclair, Daniel M., et al. "The global burden of disease attributable to second-hand smoke in 2015: a combined analysis of respiratory, cardiovascular, and cancer deaths." The Lancet Global Health 5.12 (2017):
