| Waiting To Exhale: Natural Treatments For Asthma | ||
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Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways that results in shortness of breath, difficulty inhaling, and other symptoms. The airways become narrowed, even blocked, from swelling, muscular contractions and excessive mucous production. While these effects are generally transient, some asthma attacks are so severe they require emergency medical treatment to restore normal breathing. Cold air, exercise, allergens (e.g., mold, pollen, animal dander), and other factors can trigger asthma attacks. The number of people with asthma has been increasing steadily.. In the United States alone, an estimated 15 million people have asthma. Of these, five million are children. Asthma is responsible for nearly half a million hospital stays every year. And it can be fatal - it is estimated that 14 people die from asthma attacks every day. The causes of asthma aren't known, but it does tend to run in families. It is known that allergies can trigger asthma in some people, and those who develop allergies to certain substances have a higher risk of developing asthma. While there's no cure for asthma, it can be controlled, through preventive medicines and symptomatic treatments. Conventional treatments for asthma include bronchodilators to relax the bronchial muscles and anti-inflammatory medication to relieve tissue swelling. But many of these have side effects. A number of natural products for asthma are receiving some scientific attention. Three of the most promising are Coleus forskohlii, Boswellia serrata and tylophora. Other potential asthma support supplements include butterbur, vitamin C, ma huang and several more. Following is a summary of some of the major findings. Coleus forskohlii C. forskohlii is a member of the mint family native to India, Thailand and Nepal, historically used to treat asthma and bronchitis, chest pain, rashes and epilepsy, and to lower blood pressure and decrease muscle spasms. The roots of C. forskohlii contain a compound called forskolin, a diterpene that appears to be responsible for most of the plant's benefits. Forskolin is thought to treat asthma by helping to relax smooth muscles and preventing the release of inflammatory compounds. One animal study examined the effects of forskolin on smooth muscles in the airways and the release of leukotrienes and histamine. The study found that forskolin was nearly 100 times more potent in reversing bronchial spasms than aminophylline, a common drug used to treat asthma. Forskolin was also found to inhibit the release of leukotrienes and histamine. Other studies have noted similar results. Another small but compelling double-blind study of 16 people with asthma suggested that, when inhaled, forskolin is as effective as fenoterol-metered dose inhaler, a standard asthma treatment. Dosage and safety: Recommended dose is 50 mg two to three times a day. No long-term safety studies have been done on C. forskohlii or forskolin, but no serious side effects have been noted. People taking blood-pressure medications such as beta-blockers, clonidine, or hydralazine, or blood-thinning drugs such as Coumadin (warfarin), heparin, Plavix (clopidogrel), or Trental (pentoxifylline) should take Coleus forskohlii only under the supervision of a physician. Boswellia serrata This sticky resin from the Boswellia serrata tree, native to India, is also known as frankincense. In Ayurvedic medicine it is used to treat respiratory disorders, joint problems, arthritis and certain inflammatory disorders. It is thought to work in treating asthma by inhibiting inflammation. One double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 80 asthmatics examined the effect of boswellia on symptoms and frequency of asthma attacks. In the study, 70 percent of those who took 300 mg of boswellia three times a day significantly reduced the frequency of asthma attacks and improved breathing capacity after six weeks, compared to 23 percent of those in the control group. Animal and in vitro studies suggest boswellia blocks the production of certain inflammatory agents in the body and other research has suggested boswellia is useful for treating asthma by addressing the inflammatory component. Dosage and safety: Recommended dosage is 400 mg of boswellia three times a day. It appears to be safe when used as directed, though no long-term studies exist. Only a few mild side effects have been noted, including gastrointestinal distress and rare allergic reactions. Tylophora This climbing perennial is indigenous to India and is also known as T. asthmatica. It has long been used for asthma and other disorders, including bronchitis, colds, allergies and joint pain. It is thought to treat asthma by preventing an inflammatory response in the body. It probably acts by a direct stimulation of the adrenal cortex, in much the same way as pharmaceuticals are used to treat asthma. One double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 195 people found that those who took 40 mg of tylophora per day showed a significant improvement in symptoms of asthma after only six days, compared to those who took a placebo. Two more double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of more than 200 people with asthma noted similar results. Dosage and safety: Recommended dose is 200 mg twice a day. Some side effects have been noted, including nausea, vomiting and mouth soreness, but these seem to have occurred when people chewed whole leaves, rather than taking capsules or tablets. Animal studies have found tylophora to be safe. Butterbur Butterbur (Petasides hybridus) is a perennial shrub that grows throughout Europe and in parts of Asia and North America. It has a long history of medicinal use to treat fever, coughs, asthma and skin wounds. The primary modern uses for butterbur are to help alleviate migraines, chronic coughs and asthma. It is thought to work by acting as an antispasmodic and relaxing the bronchial tubes. Dosage and safety: The general dosage of butterbur is 50 mg twice daily. While no side effects have been noted, butterbur contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, compounds that are toxic to the liver and potentially carcinogenic. However, certain processing techniques are used to remove these compounds. Only butterbur extracts that have been processed to remove pyrrolizidine alkaloids should be used. Vitamin C Vitamin C is thought to help relieve asthma by virtue of its antioxidant capacity. Some studies have found that children with asthma produce an excessive amount of free radicals. In one clinical investigation, 210 asthmatic children aged 5 to 18 were studied during a severe episode of wheezing and after recovery. Researchers found asthmatic children had significantly more free radicals in their blood compared to a control group of 180 healthy children. Antioxidant levels were also significantly lower in the children with asthma, even during resting conditions. Other studies have noted a relationship between decreased vitamin C intake and increased rate of asthma. In one study of 102 children, those with asthma had significantly lower blood levels of ascorbic acid than healthy children in the control group. Researchers suggested that low blood levels of vitamin C are related to increased susceptibility to viral respiratory tract infections, and that the lower levels of vitamin C in asthmatic children could make them more prone to such infections, thus precipitating asthmatic attacks. Additionally, vitamin C levels in the lining of the lungs of patients with asthma are lower than normal, even though their blood levels are normal, suggesting that people with asthma are subject to increased oxidative stress. Several studies have noted that vitamin C supplementation helped to relieve the symptoms and frequency of asthma attacks. Other studies have suggested that vitamin C can help prevent bronchial spasms in people with asthma during exercise, and that vitamin C and vitamin E can reduce hypersensitivity to air pollutants. Dosage and safety: The RDAs for vitamin C are 90 mg for adult men and 75 mg for adult women, with varying requirements for infants, children, and pregnant and nursing women. Therapeutic doses range as high as 20,000 to 30,000 mg per day. Some research, however, suggests that doses above 200 mg a day may be superfluous. Vitamin C is safe at doses of 500 mg a day, and probably in higher doses for healthy adults. The government's tolerable upper intake levels (ULs) for vitamin C are 2,000 mg for adults, with varying ULs for children, pregnant women and nursing women. High doses of vitamin C may cause transient diarrhea, abdominal bloating and stomach cramps, and may reduce the blood-thinning effects of Coumadin (warfarin) and heparin.. Long-term, high doses of vitamin C may also increase the risk of kidney stones, so those with a history of kidney stones or kidney disorders should restrict vitamin C. Ma Huang Ma huang is a Chinese herb that has long been used to treat respiratory infections, bronchial disorders and asthma. Its active compounds, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, are thought to be responsible for most of its benefits, and pseudoephedrine is now used in over-the-counter decongestants like Sudafed. As a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, ephedra elevates heart rate, raises blood pressure and can cause nervousness, anxiety and insomnia. Because of these common symptoms, its use is somewhat controversial, though pseudoephedrine is commonly used in over-the-counter bronchodilators. Dosage and safety: Generally, the maximum recommended amount of ma huang is 25 mg in one dosage and 100 mg per day. Ma huang should not be taken in conjunction with MAO inhibitors. Other Supplements A few more supplements and herbs have less scientific evidence, but because they're traditionally used and generally regarded as safe, they may be worth consideration. • Vitamins B6 and B12. One double-blind study of 76 asthmatic children found that 200 mg per day of vitamin B6 reduced their symptoms significantly after two months, and the children were thus able to reduce their use of steroids and bronchodilators. Vitamin B12 is also said to be effective for asthma, but few double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have verified this effect. • Magnesium. Several small studies have suggested that magnesium taken via inhalation or injection can decrease bronchial spasms in people with asthma by relaxing smooth muscles. No studies have yet been done investigating magnesium supplements in asthma. • Quercetin. Because this bioflavonoid can inhibit the release of inflammatory compounds in the body, it is thought to be an effective treatment for asthma. A few test-tube studies have shown that quercetin does prevent immune cells from releasing histamine, but no human trials have studied its effect on asthma. (For more on quercetin, see Supplement Spotlight, p. 30). • Essential Fatty Acids. GLA, fish oil and flaxseed oil are thought to curb inflammatory responses and are often recommended for asthma, but no studies have yet been conducted. As potentially debilitating as it can be, asthma can be controlled-naturally, safely and without side effects. Carry at least two or three of the above remedies, in single and combination formulas, and in various forms, including capsules and tinctures. Make sure your staff is aware of the more compelling scientific findings on these natural remedies. Your customers will be glad to know they can stop holding their breath. VR 11-01 References available upon request. |
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