Asbestosis is caused by scar tissue in your lungs and is the result of prolonged exposure to asbestos, the name for a group of silicate compounds used in construction. When disturbed, these compounds emit fibrous materials that could be inhaled. Repeated exposure to asbestos can also lead to lung cancer and mesothelioma cancer. The Asbestos website states that asbestosis is irreversible, but symptoms can be controlled -- herbal therapy may be helpful. Consult your doctor before using herbs for abestosis.
Asbestosis Features
Asbestos, which was banned by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1989, was formerly used in the construction, shipping and automotive industries. The National Cancer Society notes that symptoms of abestosis are shortness of breath, coughing, and difficult or painful breathing. According to the Asbestos website, conventional medications to treat asbestosis may include pain medications, bronchodilators to relax airway muscles and antibiotics to prevent infections. Turmeric, mullein and green tea may also help relieve asbestosis symptoms.
Mullein
Mullein, botanically known as Verbascum thapsus, is a wooly-leafed biennial plant that grows throughout the United States. The yellow flowers and leaves have been used in traditional herbal remedies for asthma, coughs, tuberculosis, bronchitis and croup. The Drugs website, which provides peer-reviewed medical information to consumers, says that mullein has cough suppressant properties, and contains saponins, soap-like substances that have an expectorant effect. Mullein's high content of mucilage also gives it demulcent, or soothing, qualities. The usual dosage is 3 to 7 g a day. Ask your doctor before taking mullein.
Curcumin in Turmeric
Turmeric, botanically known as Curcuma longa, is a perennial plant related to the ginger family. It is called haldi in Ayurvedic medicine, where it is revered; its traditional uses include treatment of hepatitis, inflammatory conditions and skin disorders. One of turmeric's constituents, curcumin, is a potent antioxidant. The Drugs website states that curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties, and has been reported to inhibit cancer at multiple stages of development. The usual dosage of turmeric ranges from 500 mg to 3,000 mg a day. Turmeric may interact with prescription medications; ask your doctor before taking it.
Catechins in Green Tea
Green tea is produced from dried and cured leaves from the Camellia sinensis shrub, and has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for headaches, depression, to boost the immune system, detoxify the body, and prolong life. According to the Drugs website, green tea contains caffeine, tannins, essential oils, and several vitamins and minerals, including niacin and magnesium. It also contains antioxidant catechins, including EPGC, or epigallocatechin. Green tea has antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory capabilities, and may have chemoprotective effects, including inhibiting tumor development in lung cancer. The Drugs website says that 3 to 5 cups of green tea a day provides 250 mg of catechins. Ask your health care professional before using green tea for asbestosis.
Research
There is some scientific research suggesting that green tea may help fight lung cancer. In a clinical review conducted by Hirota Fujiki and colleagues and published in the September, 2001 issue of "Mutation Research," the authors concluded that EPGC in green tea inhibited the expression of a substance called hnRNP B1, a biomarker of lung cancer, and was shown to help prevent cancer over the course of a 10-year study. There is some clinical research supporting the belief in curcumin's ability to prevent and inhibit cancer as well. In a clinical study conducted by Y. J. Surh and K.S. Chun and published in the 2007 issue of "Advances in Experimental Medical Biology," researchers found that curcumin protected against various cancers, inhibited proliferation of cancer cells, and activated carcinogen-detoxifying enzymes.
Member Comments