Difficulty with breathing can be caused be a simple cold or flu or a more serious disease process like an asthma attack or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Long before pharmaceutical medications stepped into the picture, healers like medicine men, shaman, doctors and traditional Chinese medicine used vitamins, poultices and herbs to treat a variety of lung ailments. Research continues to prove and disprove those herbs that are most helpful for the lungs.
Black Cherry Bark
The inner white part of the cherry bark may be used as a cough suppressant and sedative. The U.S. Department of Agriculture states the main ingredient in the bark is glycoside, which acts as a calming agent to the linings of the bronchioles. This leads to a decrease of mucus production and eventually a decrease in coughing. In addition to glycoside, black cherry also contains cyanide so large doses of the raw bark could lead to cyanide poisoning.
Pinellia Ternata and Citrus Reticulata
Pinellia ternata is a weed that grows in China and Japan, and Citrus reticulata is the mandarin orange tree. A study published in the "Mediators of Inflammation" journal on August 2nd 2009 looked at both of these herbs in the use of reducing inflammation in the lungs, particularly the kind of inflammation resulting from chronic asthma attacks. The combination of these two herbs allowed for suppression of several cytokines, which are responsible for inflammation, in the lungs. Research like this may lead to more helpful prescription medications when dealing with asthma related difficulties.
Black Licorice
In the United States, licorice is a common sweetener and snack all on its own. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this sweet treat is used to treat lung and stomach problems. Recent research is now supporting original medicinal claims. A study published in February of 2009 in the "Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemicals" found several active ingredients in licorice help to inhibit several inflammatory cells in the esophagus and lungs, which are more commonly found during an allergic asthmatic attack. The study only did laboratory testing but the positive results may lead to further research and testing in humans.
Pelargonium sidoides
Pelargonium sidoides is native to South Africa and has been used for hundreds of years for the treatments of cold and flu. Extracts are being studied by adults and children as a treatment for bronchitis. A study published in April of 2010, in "Acta Paediatrica" found preparation from the roots of the herb were most useful in higher doses versus the placebo in treatment of acute bronchitis. The treatment group were children ages 6 to 18 years old and those taking the higher doses of the herbs had less coughing, sputum, and bed rest time verses those taking a smaller dose of the herb or taking only the placebo.
References
- United States Department of Agriculture: Black Cherry
- "Mediators of Inflammation;" Pinellia ternata, Citrus reticulata, and their combinational prescription inhibit eosinophil infiltration and airway hyperresponsiveness
- "Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemicals;" Licorice Flavonoids Inhibit Eotaxin-1 Secretion by Human Fetal Lung Fibroblast in vitro.; Bolleddula Jayaprakasam et. al. February 11th 2009.
- "Acta Paediatrica" Efficacy and tolerability of EPs 7630 in patients (aged 6--18 years old) with acute bronchitis.; Kamin, W et. al.; April 2010.
