Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that according to the University of Maryland Medical Center affects 20 million Americans. When a person with asthma is exposed to a trigger such as pollution or pet dander, the airways become inflamed and narrowed, making it difficult to breath properly. It also causes wheezing and coughing. There is no cure for asthma, but anti-inflammatory medicines and drugs known as bronchodilators help to keep symptoms under control. An herb called pycnogenol may also help to relieve symptoms but evidence to prove it works is limited.
Properties and Dosing
Pycnogenol is an herb that comes from the bark of the French maritime pine tree and may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. UMMC adds that it may help to improve lung function in asthma patients and suggests taking 1 mg per pound of body weight, but no more than 200 mg, daily to alleviate asthma symptoms. However, this is only a guideline. Talk to your doctor about how much you should use and when to take it.
Efficacy
An article published in the April 2002 issue of the "International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics," notes that pycnogenol may decrease asthma symptom scores and levels of circulating leukotrienes, molecules that cause inflammation. The results of a study published in the Winter 2001 issue of the "Journal of Medicinal Food" show that all 22 patients that completed the study responded favorably to pycnogenol, compared to placebo. As such, the study's authors, S. Hosseini and colleagues, state that pycnogenol may be a valuable nutraceutical in the management of chronic asthma.
Safety Considerations
The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center notes that pycnogenol may cause irritability and lower energy levels. It may also cause a hypersensitivity reaction in some people. This herb may interfere with action of chemotherapeutic drugs so should be avoided by people undergoing chemotherapy. Do not take pycogenol if you are taking anticoagulants as it may increase the risk of bleeding. Also avoid this herb if you are taking immunosuppressants like cyclosporine and tacrolimus.
Other Herbal Options
Other herbs that may help to alleviate asthma symptoms include boswellia and Coleus forskohlii, according to UMMC. Boswellia, a traditional Ayurvedic medicine, may improve lung function and reduce the number of asthma attacks, while Coleus forskohlii, when inhaled, may help to reduce asthma symptoms. Herbs should not be used in place of drugs prescribed by your doctor. Get medical advice before using them. They may cause side effects or be unsuitable for you. For example, you should not use Coleus forskohli if you have blood pressure problems.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Asthma
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Pine Bark Extract
- PubMed: A Review of the French Maritime Pine Bark Extract (Pycnogenol), a Herbal Medication with a Diverse Clinical Pharmacology
- PubMed: Pycnogenol((R)) in the Management of Asthma
- RxList: Forskolin
