Botanical Herbs For Asthma

Asthma is a respiratory disorder that can be life threatening. During an asthma attack, the muscles in your airways constrict, and the mucus membranes produce excessive mucus, making breathing difficult. Inhaled bronchodilators can save your life during an acute attack, but you also need to control asthma over the long term. Botanical herbs may help you do that, but check with your health care provider before starting herbal therapy for asthma.

Butterbur

Butterbur, or Petasites hybridus, is a perennial plant with clusters of purple flowers, native to Europe. Traditional healers use the leaves and rhizomes to treat asthma, kidney and bladder stones and migraines. MayoClinic.com and mskcc.org report that butterbur shows promise in treating asthma due to the chemical known as petasin, which blocks histamine and leukotriene, two molecules involved in the inflammatory response during asthma attacks. In a study published in the March 2004 issue of "Alternative Medicine Review," Ulrich Danesch, PhD, from the University of Heidelberg, Germany, found that the number of asthma attacks decreased by half in patients using a butterbur extract for a minimum of two months, and the duration and severity of attacks decreased by 80 to 90 percent. Do not replace your current medication with butterbur, and consult your doctor before using it for your asthma symptoms.

Coleus

Coleus, Plectranthus barbatus and Coleus forskohlii, is a perennial plant in the mint family. Indian Ayurvedic healers use the leaves and roots to treat a range of diseases, including asthma, chronic cough, respiratory disorders, epilepsy, colic and heart problems. In their book, "The Herbal Drugstore," Dr. Linda B. White and medicinal plant expert Steven Foster state that the active ingredient is a chemical known as forskolin, which is a component of asthma inhalers used in Europe. Forskolin inhibits inflammation, relaxes bronchial muscles and eases breathing. You can also use capsules containing forskolin. Consult a qualified health care practitioner for advice about dosage and long-term use and if you are taking blood thinners or medication for hypertension or heart disease.

Ginkgo

Ginkgo, or Ginkgo biloba, is a deciduous tree with fan-shaped leaves, native to China. In traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, practitioners use the leaves and seeds to strengthen the heart and lungs and treat cerebral and respiratory diseases. In his 2006 book, "Medicinal Plants: Chemistry and Properties," botanist M. Daniel states that ginkgo's flavonoids and a terpenoid called ginkgolide B inhibit a chemical in your body called platelet-activating factor, or PAF, which is involved in asthma inflammation. Dr. Linda B. White and Steven Foster say that ginkgo standardized extracts may protect against asthma attacks triggered by allergens and exercise. Check with your doctor first if you are taking blood thinners or daily aspirin.