Herbal Remedies for Asthma

Asthma (derived from Greek ásthma, panting) is a chronic respiratory condition that inflames and narrows the airways leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing. The cause of asthma is not fully understood, but heredity and environment are said to be the major culprits. Other common triggers such as animal fur, pollen, house dust mites, tobacco smoke, cold air and chest infections can also cause asthma. The severity of the symptoms varies from person to person but can be controlled well in most people most of the time.

It’s been 6 months since Emmy was diagnosed with Asthma and taking her 2 inhalers a day has fast become the norm for her, although it took some getting used to in the beginning, and she would try her hardest to forget/not do them.

While the inhalers have helped her and she’s not been wheezy or had that awful cough since starting these, there are a few other natural remedies which can also help releive the symptoms too:

Herbal Remedies for Asthma

Since time immemorial, herbal remedies and natural cures are being practiced by mankind in their day to day lives to stay fit and healthy. It is due to the fact that herbal remedies are inexpensive, simple and safe and also have no side effects on the body.

Here are a few natural remedies which are used to relieve the symptoms of Asthma.

1. A spoonful of a mixture of basil (Ocimum sanctum) leaves extract with ginger (Zingiber officinale) and honey is useful for asthmatic patients. This formulation should be taken at bedtime for a month.
2. Prepare a paste of 1/4 tsp each of turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder and black pepper (Piper nigrum) in clarified butter. Massage it over the chest to relieve congestion due to asthma.
3. A teaspoonful of basil leaves juice taken with equal amounts of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) juice, taken for a month before going to bed is also said to relieve asthma and bronchitis.
4. For asthma, a tsp of lemon (Citrus limon) juice with ginger daily is an effective remedy.
5. For asthma, boil two cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) buds and five or six black pepper with a few basil leaves in water. Filter and to it, add honey to taste. Give the preparation to the patient twice daily.
6. Prepare a decoction by boiling a tbsp of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds in a cup of water. Add a tsp of ginger juice and take it twice daily with honey. This formulation is said to act as an effective expectorant.
7. Take about 5 ml of betel (Piper betel) leaves juice and mix it with a paste prepared from mint (Mentha arvensis), basil and ginger. To it, add 2–4 powdered black pepper. Take ½ tsp of this formulation with honey twice daily.
8. Drinking a warm glass of milk or water with a tsp of turmeric powder (twice daily) it’s another effective remedy for asthma.
9. Prepare a mixture of powdered long pepper (Piper longum), ginger and black pepper in equal proportions. Take a tsp of the same with warm water, twice daily to treat spasms due to asthma.
10. To get relief from the phlegm, soak two to three figs (Ficus carica) overnight and eat these next morning on an empty stomach.
11. Boil about a handful of drumstick (Moringa oleifera) leaves in 200 ml of water. When cool, add to it salt, black pepper and lemon juice to taste. Asthmatic patients should take this preparation once daily.
12. Boil about two cloves of garlic (Allium sativum) in a glass of milk and drink it hot once in a day.
13. Mix 5 ml each of ginger and mint leaves juice and have it with honey twice daily. This formulation is believed to give relief from phlegm.
14. Boil about a tsp of carom (Trachyspermum copticum) seeds in water and inhale its fumes to relieve chest congestion. It is an effective remedy for those suffering from asthma.
15. Mix about ½ tsp of cinnamon (Cinnamomun zeylanicum) powder with a tsp of honey and take it before going to bed.
16. To treat bronchial asthma, burn asafetida (Ferula asafoetida) and inhale the smoke coming out of it for some time.

Diet and Exercise

A healthy diet has a positive impact on people suffering from asthma as it helps reduce the hyperactivity of the immune cells; the latter becomes less reactive to allergens and pollution. The diet of an asthma patient should comprise fresh green vegetables, fruits, sprouts and grains. Include in your diet foods rich in vitamin A (found in carrots, tomatoes, spinach, apricots, strawberries), Vitamin C (grapes, tomato, pineapple, watermelon, citrus fruits, kiwi fruits, green mustard leaves, cauliflower, raw cabbage and spinach), and Vitamin E (found in mustard, turnip, sunflower seeds).

Consumption of these vitamins helps lower the risk of asthma attacks. Another nutrient, lycopene (found in tomatoes, guava, apricots, watermelon and papaya) is also an excellent antioxidant useful for those suffering from asthma. Rosmarinic acid found in certain spices (such as rosemary, basil, fenugreek, sage, coriander, oregano) is found to be helpful in suppressing pro-inflammatory chemicals in the body that tend to trigger asthmatic attacks.

Food items that are known to produce an allergic reaction should be strictly avoided. The patient should avoid all mucus-forming foods which tend to produce phlegm. Foods such as rice, lentils, refined white flour, bread, cakes, chocolates, white sugar, milk and other dairy products, are known to aggravate asthma. Intake of excess salt, tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages, sauces, pickles, and all refined and processed foods should be limited. Smoking and tobacco consumption in any other form can increase the severity of asthmatic symptoms.

Drink plenty of water every day. Learn to cope up with day to day stress and anxiety. Maintaining an active lifestyle is important for both physical and mental health. Any form of mild exercise such as brisk walking and yogic breathing exercises go a long way in treating the ailment.