People with asthma find it difficult to breathe or control coughing because of lung inflammation, which blocks air from entering or leaving the lungs. Airways, rather than relaxing to allow for more oxygen in times of stress or exertion, tighten, making it difficult to catch your breath. Coughing is another symptom of asthma. In fact, some asthma patients only experience coughing during asthma attacks, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Wild cherry bark is a traditional cough remedy but ask your doctor for the best prescription or herbal medicines for your asthma symptoms.
Cherry Bark History
New York University's Langone Medical Center notes that colonial settlers began using wild cherry bark for the symptoms of lung infections and agitation after observing Native Americans using the herb for these maladies. Whether wild cherry bark's relaxing, "codeine-like" effect links it to use as an anxiety and respiratory treatment remains unclear, the medical center notes.
Current Recommendations
Wild cherry bark appears to work for coughing because of its antispasmodic properties, notes the UC San Diego Medical Center's Healthwise service. The herb's active compound, prunasin, relaxes bronchial muscles, theoretically making it a useful medicine for people with asthma, but no current research exists to verify that wild cherry bark benefits people with coughing and asthma symptoms, the Healthwise service warns. At the same time, small doses of wild cherry bark are considered safe for most people. Young children, pregnant and nursing women and people with liver and kidney disorders should avoid wild cherry bark. Overdosing on the herb might result in cyanide poisoning because wild cherry contains small amounts of cyanide.
Considerations
Even if you find wild cherry bark an effective treatment for your cough, keep in mind that the herb doesn't address other asthma symptoms. People taking wild cherry for asthma symptoms usually take it with other natural remedies to control the additional symptoms of asthma. Some asthma patients, however, suffer from a form known as cough-variant asthma, in which coughing might be the only symptom, notes UMMC. Ask your doctor if wild cherry bark is a suitable treatment for cough-variant asthma.
Dose
If your doctor suggests wild cherry bark as part of your treatment for asthma, look for it in prepared cough syrups or tinctures. Follow your doctor's advice for how much to take. The standard recommendation is three to four daily doses of 2 to 4 ml of wild cherry syrup or tincture.
Alternatives
The University of Maryland Medical Center's list of alternative therapies for asthma does not include wild cherry bark. Instead, UMMC suggest the ayurvedic herbs boswellia and coleus to improve lung function and control asthma symptoms. Another Indian herb, tylophora, is a traditional therapy for asthma, but UMMC notes that more research is needed. A pine bark extract known as pycnogenol also shows promise, as does the Japanese blend saiboku-to, which includes ginger, skullcap, licorice and ginseng.
