My father is 72 and has emphysemea. He has smoked in his life though
is down now to 1-3 cigs per week. We need to slow the effects of his
lung condition and strengthen them as much as poss with a herbal
formula not hospital drugs. Our faithful doctor is scratching his head
as usual and can't see outside the realms of treating everything in
the world with pharmacy drugs and pills and is living in the dark
ages. My father breaths fine, with some shortness of breath
occasionally but is coughing up clear fluid daily. Herbal tabs or
tonic to help his condition and stop the coughing... what's the best
you can recommend? He is in New Zealand. I'll purchase overseas via
the net if necessary. Please let me know asap. Thank you so much.

This website:

http://www.healthy.net/scr/Article.asp?Id=1336

describes a possible prescription for Emphysema
    Sanguinaria canadensis
    Inula helenium 
 --- equal parts of tincture to 5ml. taken three times a day.
These herbs are both available at:

http://www.abchomeopathy.com

Alternatively Robert McDowell's Herbal Treatments will send you a
mixture that is purported to be efficacious in treatment of emphysema:

http://www.herbal-treatments.com.au/herbs_emphysema_support.html

I hope this information in useful to you.

My thoughts are with you and your family.

Please note that Inula helenium (Elecampane) can cause serious
interactions if mixed with drugs that lower blood pressure.

http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/HerbsSideEffects/0,3925,4099%7CInula+helenium,00.html

The notion that just because something is herbal means that it is safe
or beneficial has resulted in quite a few serious side-effects,
including death.

Please do not try to treat your dad's emphysema with unproven
substances from unverifiable sources.

...and Robert McDowell's Emphysema support mix should also be awoided
if using blood pressure lowering drugs. It also contains comfrey,
known to cause liver damage in higher doses.

http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dspltr06.html
http://www.cookiebabyinc.com/poisonousplants/commoncomfrey.html

Please take your dad to a professional herbalist, a professional
member* of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists (NZAMH). 
There are far too much unreliable, sometimes even dangerous,
information on herbs and herbal treatments on the net. Many herbs can
also have serious interactions with "hospital drugs", and an educated
herbalist will know this.

* - Make sure the herbalist you choose is a "professional member" of
the NZAMH, that way you can be sure your father will receive quality
treatment. You can read more about the requirements for "professional
members" on the NZAMH website: http://nzamh.org.nz/aboutus.asp

:-) As2O3

With no offence meant could I very respectfully suggest that you first
try to convince you Dad to *STOP* smoking. Even at his age and in his
present conditon it may well ad an extra year or two to his life. Best
from : bellboy