Herbs For A Steam Bath For Asthma

Asthma is a chronic health condition that causes your bronchial pathways to narrow and swell in response to factors like exercise, allergies or weather. The most common symptoms include coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Although asthmatics require medical treatments like bronchodilators and corticosteroids, an herbal steam bath may help ease the condition. Nonetheless, you should always follow the guidance of your health care provider.

Lavender

Lavender is one of the safest and most widely used herb in aromatherapy, according to Martha Libster in her book "Delmar's Integrative Herb Guide for Nurses." The steam helps open up the lungs while the analgesic properties of the lavender helps numb respiratory blockage and relax the muscles. Additionally, lavender is soothing to the senses and can help relieve the panic often associated with an asthma attack, which can also make the attack more severe. Libster recommends adding a handful of fresh lavender to a steam bath or using a couple of drops of lavender essential oil.

Peppermint

Peppermint, which is part of the mint family, is one of the most aromatic and useful plants in both cooking and aromatherapy, according to H. Panda in his book "Essential Oils Handbook." Both the peppermint herb itself or the essential oil helps reduce congestion present in asthmatics due to the presence of menthol, which relaxes bronchial spasms. Panda recommends using peppermint in a steam bath if you recognize the onset of an attack but not necessarily during the attack itself as it may increase irritation. Instead, the author suggests taking a peppermint steam bath to prevent congestion, particularly during the flu season.

Pine

Adding pine to a steam bath helps relieve breathing problems associated with both asthma and bronchitis. According to Dian Buchman, a pine bath has several therapeutic uses. It can help recovery from vigorous exercise, promote relaxation, ease fatigue and increase blood circulation. If breathing difficulty is the main focus for pine use, Buchman recommends taking a partial sit bath, which means sitting besides the water to inhale the steam as opposed to submerging yourself in the bath. You will still be able to benefit from the aromatic strength of the pine to open airways and soothe breathing. Buchman suggests using a couple of drops of pine extract in the water.