Asthma and Herbal Remedies

Asthma Is A Serious Medical Condition

Before I talk about asthma and herbal remedies, I want to just generally talk about asthma.

The word asthma comes from the Greek "asthma" and means breathlessness or difficult breathing. Asthma is a chronic disorder but includes acute attacks with shortness of breath, and a feeling as if the sufferer cannot get enough air; it may include coughing, a feeling of tightness across the chest, rapid heart rate, and thick, stringy mucus. Acute attacks are usually followed by a period of abnormal breathing and wheezing.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses in the United States, roughly 7% of the population are affected. The incidence of asthma is on the rise. Air pollution, poor eating habits, and stress are all thought to contribute to the rise in asthma cases.

Asthma is a serious medical condition, and should be treated under a doctor's supervision. The herbal remedies I will discuss here may help prevent or reduce the severity of asthma attacks, but they should not be used to treat an acute attack. You should also discuss these herbal remedies with your doctor before you begin using them. Never stop taking prescribed medication without discussing it with your doctor. Never change the amount of prescribed medication you take without discussing it with your doctor.

How Does Asthma Affect the Body?

Asthma seems to be a protective response gone bad. Some evolutionary biologists believe asthma and allergies developed to protect the body from parasitic organisms, and toxic substances. The sneezing and coughing were intended to expel the toxins or parasites, and the constriction of the airways and release of fluid and mucus, meant to slow or stop penetration by either parasites or toxins.

In asthmatics, a part of the immune system called humoral or anti-body based immunity, is overactive or hypersensitive; while the cell-mediated immunity is less active. When the hypersensitive part of the immune system (mast cells and basophils) come into contact with irritant substances (allergens, such as pollen, or air pollutants, for example) they respond by causing inflammation and constriction of the airways through the release of histamine. This also results in the production of leukotrienes, which are many times stronger than histamine in constricting the airways. Asthmatics often make less of the hormones that relax the muscles around the airways.

Herbal Remedies for Asthma

Since the word "asthma" comes from the greeks, I thought I would talk about a traditional Greek herbal remedy first.Fennel seeds and anise seeds were brewed as a tea, to treat asthma and other respiratory ailments. (A heaping tablespoonful of each, preferably cracked in a mortar and pestle, or with the back of a spoon, steeped in a pint of freshly boiled water for 10-15 minutes, and sipped warm.) This tea has a calming, antispasmodic effect on coughs and bronchitis, and is rich in a chemical called alpha-pinene, which helps loosen bronchial secretions. (Adding caraway seds to the mixture makes it my favorite remedy for any digestive upset, such as nausea, indigestion, flatulence.)

Tea, green or black, is also a helpful remedy for asthma. Both types of tea contain theophylline, a chemical which helps relax the smooth muscles of the bronchial tubes. Either type of tea has a sufficient dose to be effective.

Licorice root contains some helpful compounds. In Chinese medicine, licorice is considered the "Great Detoxifier" and is used in many preparations to decrease side effects of other stronger herbs. (licorice has anti-diuretic properties, and should not be used if you have high blood pressure.) Compounds in licorice seem to increase the effectiveness of cortisol in the body, which allows steroids (which are a common treatment for asthma) to be used at lower dosages. The drug prednisolone (used to treat asthma and lupus) is also supplemented by glycrrhizin, one of the compounds naturally occurring in licorice root, and can be taken at lower doses with licorice root.

Ginger is a natural antiinflammatory, and can be helpful in decreasing the inflammatory processes which are a common occurrence with asthma (and allergies). Curcumin (contained in turmeric) and silybin (from milk thistle) also seem helpful in some cases.

Yerba Mate is a very helpful herbal remedy for asthma. It helps stimulate the adrenal glands to release corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation, as well as hyperactive immune responses to irritants. It also helps relax the airways, and dilate the bronchial passages.

A long used remedy for asthma is the herb ephedra; which has been the subject of much bad publicity, as it has been misused as a diet drug and stimulant. It can elevate blood pressure and heart rate, and should not be used by anyone with high blood pressure, or heart problems. Ephedra was the herbal remedy of choice for asthma for centuries, because it was effective. It contains ephedrine and pseudoephidrene, which stimulste the sympathetic nervous system, relieving symptoms of colds, allergies and asthma. (Synthetic approximations of this herbal remedy's active ingredients are widely used in over the counter cold remedies.)

These herbal remedies may be helpful in reducing the frequency and severity of asthma attacks, but, please discuss them with your doctor before you use them.

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