Asthma

Though conventional medicine deals with asthma with a combination of inhalers, medications and steroids, there are many limitations to these methods, as several side effects may occur in the patient who is receiving the treatment. Herbal asthma treatments can be very effective and they may even reduce your requirement of taking medication and inhalers. Here is a list of the common herbs that can prevent and control the onset of asthma in patients:

Adhatoda is an evergreen which bears large white flowers and is very effective in relieving the symptoms of asthma. This is due to the alkaloid vasicine which is found in the leaves and shown to have expectorant and antispasmodic properties. This herb also has an anti allergy action which is good news for those who have allergy induced asthma or broncho-spasms.

Euphorbia or ‘asthma weed’ has traditionally been used in Asia to manage asthmatic symptoms by relaxing the bronchioles. However it also seems to depress heart and general respiration. This herb is therefore not advised to be used unless under expert supervision.

• Bloodroot: This is an excellent expectorant that is used in very mild dosages. It should not be used at very high dosages.
• Mullein: An excellent herb for many respiratory disorders including whooping cough, hoarseness in breathing, hay fever, asthma and chest infection.

• Comfrey: It provides you a beneficial remedy for asthma related respiratory problems including incessant cough and breathlessness. Due to the controversy over pyrrozilidine alkaloids, some herbalists choose to use this herb externally only. Because it is a demulcent, comfrey is great for soothing imflamed surfaces such as the skin and in this case, the mucous membranes.
• Saw Palmetto: It provides a soothing and expectorant action on mucus membranes and is useful for colds, catarrh, bronchitis, and asthma, conditions accompanied by chronic catarrh.
• Wild Cherry Bark: It has a toning and sedative effect on the asthmatic respiratory system and it is used to treat cough, asthma, and other chest infections.
• Goldenseal: It offers you one of the most effective remedies for inflamed and asthmatic conditions of the mucus membranes. It has the unflinching ability to heal mucus membranes in your body.
• Lobelia: An anti-spasmodic agent, Lobelia has been known to be an excellent herb for treating asthma and other similar respiratory diseases.
• Peppermint: It is an aromatic plant whose extracts are quite useful in controlling chest infection and excessive mucus secretion in the lungs.
• Colt’s Foot: It is mainly used as an expectorant with its soothing and relaxing actions on the troubled respiratory system.

Apart from these herbs, you can also try out herbs like root of elecampane, thyme, and the seed of field larkspur. You can also make teas with herbs like white horehound leaves, chamomile flowers, anise seeds, coltsfoot leaves, blue hyssop flowers, and red clover flower.