On March 7th, 2000, in San Diego According to information presented at a symposium of allergy and asthma experts here, alternative medications may genuinely offer advantages that can be proven in reliable laboratory trials, contrary to what doctors and mainstream scientists once mocked. However, other studies mentioned here show that these products have harmful side effects.
According to Xiu-Min Li, MD, of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, “the use of traditional Chinese medicines has been expanding in Western countries in the past few years given the [reputation for effectiveness], low cost, and relative absence of adverse effects.” She adds that there isn’t much evidence to support or contradict the claims made for Chinese medicines, nevertheless.
Li and colleagues at Mount Sinai and the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health in Baltimore created a mixture known as MTSD based on a well-known Chinese medicine to explore the effects of these herbal treatments on asthma. Their recipe differed slightly from the usual preparation. They put the recipe to the test on asthmatic mice and compared it to dexamethasone, a strong steroid medication occasionally used to treat asthma, as well as to ding-chan tang, another Chinese remedy.
When it came to lowering the lung’s excessive sensitivity to chemicals that triggered asthma attacks in the mice, MTSD was just as effective as dexamethasone. Although not as significant as the other two, DCT also had some impact. According to Li, MTSD also greatly reduced lung inflammation and mucus buildup, both of which can be lethal in the event of a severe asthma attack.
Dexamethasone reduced the immune system, while MTSD had a superior, more focused effect, according to her and her colleagues. Our findings imply that [MTSD] might have some therapeutic value in the management of allergic asthma, according to the author. This herbal remedy can be a suitable alternative.
The John James Medical Centre in Deakin, Australia’s Raymond J. Mullins, MB, cautions that alternative treatments should be used with care. According to him, echinacea can cause catastrophic, even fatal reactions in allergy sufferers.
Mullins looked into a database of adverse drug responses reported by Australian doctors and pharmacists after two of his patients experienced severe allergy and asthma episodes within 20 minutes of using echinacea products. Over 400 reports of herbal items were made to the database in the 1990s, 44 of which involved echinacea. The majority of those cases—more than half—were allergic reactions in people who were already known to have allergies to other things. There were hives, edoema, and shock among symptoms. Hospitalization was necessary for four patients.
According to Mullins, echinacea is a blooming plant related to ragweed and daisies. In those who have allergies to substances found in all of those plants, it may cause asthma or an allergic reaction. Due to claims that “it may stimulate white blood cells to gobble up germs more effectively,” echinacea’s popularity in Australia has surged in recent years. Mullins cautions that such assertions are founded on words that have been taken out of context from academic works.
However, it is believed that 200 million doses are taken annually by Australians. More than 10% of the negative complaints concerning alternative medicine in Australia are related to echinacea reactions. However, Mullins cautions that “minor responses such as transitory rashes or aggravation of existing asthma are likely to go unrecognised and recorded,” thus this may be an underestimation.
The idea that natural implies safe needs to be questioned, he argues. “Risk assessments for herbal medications have not been done thoroughly. I advise against taking echinacea if you suffer from allergies, such as asthma, eczema, or hay fever.”
Are asthmatics safe to take echinacea?
Treatments in herbal medicine are derived from plants and plant extracts. One of the earliest types of medicine still in use today is this one. There is some evidence that certain herbs help lessen the symptoms of asthma.
However, compared to the lowest dose of an inhaled corticosteroid preventer prescription, the advantages of utilising herbal medicine are significantly lower.
The absence of dosage and content standardisation, as well as the possibility of side effects, are the key issues with herbal medications. The following plants have been found to have a little advantage:
- Indica Tylophora (Indian ipecac)
- Ginger root
- a few traditional Chinese medications.
Before making a choice, always talk to your doctor about using herbal remedies. By doing so, you can prevent negative side effects or even aggravate your asthma. It is not advised to utilise herbal remedies when pregnant.
People who have asthma and other allergies may experience negative side effects from echinacea, royal jelly, bee pollen, propolis, and garlic. It has been shown that royal jelly can lead to fatal allergic responses, severe asthma episodes, and breathing problems.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration warns against giving royal jelly to children and cautions against giving it to anyone who have allergies or asthma.
What medications should someone with asthma not take?
A medication or dietary supplement may occasionally cause asthma symptoms. Tell your doctor about all of the medications, herbs, supplements, and vitamins you use.
Make sure every medical professional you visit is aware that you have asthma. Be sure to see your doctor before doing any of the following:
- Aspirin
- Nsaids, such as naproxen and ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil), can reduce inflammation (Aleve or Naprosyn)
- Beta-blockers, which are typically prescribed for migraines, high blood pressure, and heart conditions
(Brand name, generic name) As an illustration:
- nadolol, corgard
- Propanolol hydrochloride with Inderal
- Labetalol with Normodyne
- Pindolol, Visken
- Labetalol hydrochloride, trandate
ACE inhibitors, which are prescribed to treat heart disease and high blood pressure, might result in a cough that resembles an asthma attack.
- Quinapril, Accupril
- Perindopril and Aceon
- Ramipril with Altace
- Captopril with captoten
- Benazepril with lotensin
- Trandolapril and Mavik
- Fosinapril with monopril
- Lisinopril with Prinivil
- Avapro with moexipril
- Enalapril and Vasotec
- Lisinopril with Zestril
Never discontinue taking a medication without first consulting your doctor. Call your doctor to talk about the medication and your asthma if you presently take any of these medications.
It’s critical to understand asthma management for better health and quality of life. We provide a course called ASTHMA Care for Adults online. Everyone with asthma should be familiar with the themes covered in this in-depth training. This online self-paced course is delivered in a variety of formats, including videos, animations, handouts, and more.
Can certain plants cause asthma?
Although some people contend that these herbs can be helpful as an additional asthma medication, much more research is necessary to verify their advantages.
Before incorporating any herbs into your treatment plan, be sure to consult your doctor. Without seeing your doctor, using herbs could make your asthma worse or have other negative health effects.
Aerva lanta Linn (Amaranthaceae)
Aerva lanta (A. lanta) is a common wayside plant that is upright or prostrate and has white axillary bunches of tiny fuzzy flowers. In the warmer regions of India, it is in great abundance on the plains. In the isolated goat tracheal chain preparation paradigm and in mice with clonidine-induced catalepsy and mast cell degranulation, ethanol extract of aerial portions of A. lanata at doses of 30 and 60 mg/kg orally exhibits antiasthmatic activity[12].
Ageratum conyzoides L.
Ageratum conyzoides, also known as A. conyzoides, is an upright, herbaceous annual plant that is native to tropical America but has a distribution range throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world. By preventing the catalepsy that clonidine-induced in mice, a hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves of A. conyzoides at dosages of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg exhibits antihistaminic activity[13].
Argemone mexicana
In India, Argemone mexicana (A. mexicana) is widespread in fields and roadside. It has antiallergic and antistress properties when administered as an aqueous extract of A. mexicana stem at a dose of 50 mg/kg intravenously (i.v.)[14].
Cassia sophera (caesalpiniaceae)
Traditional uses of Cassia sophera (C. sophera) include the treatment of bronchitis and asthma. At doses of 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg, the chloroform, ethyl acetate, and ethanol fractions isolated from the ethanol extract of C. sophera leaves exhibit significant antiasthmatic activity in animal models of carrageenan-induced paw edoema, histamine-induced bronchoconstriction, clonidine and haloperidol-induced catalepsy, milk-induced leukocytosis, and
Casuarina equisetifolia Linn (Casuarinaceae)
Evergreen Casuarina equisetifolia (C. equisetifolia) trees are grown throughout coastal regions from Gujarat to Orissa, in some areas of West Bengal, and in the Andaman Islands. They often reach heights of up to 50 metres. The trachea’s constriction brought on by histamine (10–80 mcg/mL), catalepsy brought on by clonidine, and mast cell degranulation at doses of 100 mg/kg are all inhibited by the methanol extract of wood and bark extracts [18].
Clerodendrum Serratum Linn (Verbenaceae)
In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, Clerodendrum Serratum (C. serratum), also known as bharangi, is used to treat pain, inflammation, rheumatism, respiratory illnesses, and malarial fever. With isolated goat tracheal chains, clonidine-induced catalepsy, and milk-induced leucocytosis and eosinophilia in mice at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, ethanol extract of C. serratum roots shown antiasthmatic activity[19].
Crinum glaucum (Amaryllidaceae)
South West Nigeria’s Yoruba people are fond of Crinum glaucum (C. glaucum). Practitioners of traditional medicine said that it was a successful treatment for cough, asthma, and convulsions. At doses of 100–400 mg/kg, the aqueous extract of C. glaucum has antiallergic effect by reducing the region of dye leakage in passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction, shielding mast cell degranulation, and preventing histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in the guinea pig[21].
Curculigo orchioides Gaertn (Amaryllidaceae)
A little herbal plant known as Curculigo orchioides (C. orchioides) is found in abundance in India, China, Malaya, and Japan. Alcoholic extract of C. orchioides rhizomes exhibits antihistaminic and mast cell stabilising action on Compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis and mast cell degranulation[22]. Additionally, it prevented the histamine-induced contraction of the goat trachea, guinea pig ileum, and bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs. It also prevented the rat passive paw anaphylaxis caused by egg albumin, the mouse catalepsy caused by clonidine, and the leucocytosis and eosinophilia caused by milk.
Eclipta alba Linn (Asteraceae)
At doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg on compound 48/80-induced degranulation of mast cells, egg albumin-induced passive cutaneous and paw anaphylaxis, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) study on gunea pig trachea, and histamine determination, the 50% ethanol extract exhibits antianaphylactic and antihistaminic activity[24].
Euphorbia hirta (Euphorbiaceae)
Euphorbia hirta, a herbaceous wild plant that grows in India’s hotter regions, is sometimes referred to as asthma weed. At dosages (100-1000 mg/kg), an ethanol extract of the entire aerial section of the plant exhibits antihistaminic and antiallergic efficacy by preventing mast cell degranulation and suppressing passive cutaneous and paw anaphylactic reactions[25].
Ficus bengalensis Linn (Moraceae)
The enormous Ficus bengalensis (F. bengalensis) tree grows to a height of around 30 m and spreads out many aerial roots from its branches. When given to mice at a dose of 50 mg/kg of clonidine, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and aqueous extracts of the bark of F. bengalensis exhibit antihistaminic efficacy by decreasing the catalepsy that drug causes. These effects could be a result of flavonoids[26],[27].
Gakani
Gakani is a polyherbal medication that includes Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr, Securidaca iongipedunculata Tresen, Piper guineense schum Thonn, Gramineae Olax subscorpioidea Oliv., and Gramineae Gramineae Olax subscorpioidea Oliv (Myrtaceae). Gakani, a well-known herbal remedy, was tested for its ability to treat asthma using rat stomach strips, guinea pig ileum preparations, and egg albumin-induced paw edoema. According to the results, the extract prevented histamine and isoprenaline from having an effect on the guinea pig tracheal chain. It demonstrates how histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine decrease the contraction of an isolated guinea pig ileum and a rat stomach strip (5-HT). Rats exposed to the extract showed good anti-inflammatory effects[28].
Amburana cearensis (Fabaceae)
The Brazilian Northeastern “caatinga” (savannah) is home to the medicinal plant Amburana cearensis (A. cearensis), which is widely used to treat respiratory tract conditions including asthma. The guinea pig trachea’s KCl-induced contraction was significantly relaxed by the flavonoid isokaempferide that was isolated from the trunk barks of A. cearensis[30].
Lepidium sativum Linn (Cruciferae)
It is a glabrous, annual herb commonly referred to as “Asaliyo” that is grown as a salad plant all over India. Histamine and acetylcholine-induced bronchospasm is inhibited by the ethanol extract and its fractions of ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and methanol[32].
Mentha spicata L
By suppressing antigen-stimulated rat basophile, the four novel flavonoids and three novel glycosides from M. spicata leaves exhibit antihistaminic activity[33].
Momordica dioica
Momordica dioica is a creeping plant that climbs. Its fruits and leaves are traditionally used as a treatment for bronchitis, fever, tridosha, leprosy, and asthma. By preventing the 50 mg/kg clonidine-induced catalepsy in mice, methanol and an aqueous pulp extract exhibit antihistaminic effect, which may be attributed to polar constituents[34].
Mucuna pruriens
At doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, the L-DOPA extracted from the methanol extract of the seed has antihistaminic action by reducing clonidine-induced catalepsy and mast cell degranulation in mice[35].
Nyctanthes arbortristis
It has a long history of usage in the management of asthma. At a dose of 50 mg/kg, the petroleum ether extract inhibits the catalepsy that clonidine causes in mice, demonstrating antihistaminic activity[38].
Olea europea (Oleaceae)
It is a little evergreen tree that grows to a height of 12 to 20 feet, has aged, inflexible limbs, and a grey bark. By preventing histamine-induced contraction of the goat trachea and the guinea pig ileum at concentrations of 100 g/mL and 4 and 8 mg/kg/kg/kg, respectively, as well as catalepsy in mice, aqueous extract of ripe olives exhibits antiasthmatic activity[39].
Piper betel Linn
Traditionally, piper betel has been used to treat rheumatism, asthma, pruritis, cough, and colds. When histamine causes bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs, as well as histamine-induced contraction of the guinea pig tracheal chain that is dose dependent as well as isolated guinea pig ileum preparation, ethanol and an aqueous extract of the leaves at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg have antiasthmatic activity[41].
Striga orobanchioides Benth (Scrophulariaceae)
A parasitic plant called Striga orobanchioides inhabits the roots of several plants. The guinea-pig ileum’s histamine-induced contractions are inhibited by ethanol and aqueous extracts of the whole plant at concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 25 g/mL in a dose-related manner, and mast cell degranulation is inhibited at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg[42][49].
Sphaeranthus indicus Kurz (Asteraceae)
A significant plant used in folk medicine is called Sphaeranthus indicus. In comparison to the common medication ketotifen, the ethanol extract at doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg and its ethyl acetate extract at doses of 100, 150, and 300 mg/kg demonstrated marginally superior protection against sheep serum and Compound 48/80-induced mast cell degranulation[50].
Cynodon dactylon (Poaceae)
One of the perennial grasses most frequently seen in India is Cynodon dactylon, also known as dhub. The whole plant extracts in petroleum ether, chloroform, and methanol as well as fractions isolated from chloroform extract have antianaphylactic activity, but fractions isolated have more potent activity at doses of 10, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg when used to induce mast cell degranulation, measure the level of nitric acid in the blood, and induce anaphylaxis using compound 48/80[51].