The Green Pharmacy for Asthma

[Guest guest]

The Green Pharmacy for Asthma

 

Martha was one of my favorite people--a tall, pretty, free-spirited

woman in her thirties who worked as a technician with me in the

Medicinal Plants Research Laboratory of the U.S. Department of

Agriculture (USDA). We were both involved with the joint

USDA/National Cancer Institute plant-screening program, looking for

plants with anti-cancer potential.

 

Martha loved to hike in the woods, and we occasionally hiked

together. I can see her now, working happily in my ginseng patch in

big, tall cowboy boots. I would never have imagined that she would

become one of the thousands of Americans who die each year of

asthma.

 

Asthma Takes Your Breath Away

 

Asthma is a chronic respiratory ailment that causes wheezing,

coughing, chest congestion, shortness of breath and often tremendous

anxiety about being unable to breathe.

 

More than 4,000 people die each year from complications of serious

asthma attacks, a number that's increased over 30 percent since

1980. For reasons that remain unexplained, children are more likely

to die in summer, while people over 65 are more likely to die in

winter.

 

Many people consider asthma a childhood illness, and there's

certainly no shortage of kids with this disease. In 1995, some 3.7

million children and adolescents had it, up sharply from 2.4 million

in 1980. But asthma can develop at any age, and the fact is, most

people with asthma are adults. About 14 million Americans now have

asthma. The disease costs us more than $6 billion a year in medical

care and lost productivity.

 

Doctors say that they don't know what causes asthma or why the

number of people who have it keeps rising. Neither do I. But it

seems that the closer we get to chemical pollution and the farther

we stray from natural foods, the more asthma we see. I believe that

outdoor air pollution and " sick buildings " with indoor pollution are

a big part of the growing asthma problem.

 

The symptoms of asthma are caused by bronchial spasms

(bronchospasms), a sudden narrowing of the branching tubes that lead

into the lungs. While asthma and hay fever­type allergies are

distinct conditions, they overlap, especially among those under age

15. Ninety percent of children with asthma also have allergies, and

these allergies can trigger asthma attacks.

 

The reason that bronchospasms can be triggered by allergies is that

histamine, the chemical most responsible for allergy symptoms, seems

to play a role in asthma attacks as well. But many other things

besides histamine can trigger an attack: strenuous exercise,

cigarette smoke, respiratory infections, industrial chemicals,

aspirin, pet dander, indoor pollution and the sulfites added to many

foods.

 

Stress also plays a role in asthma. Severe anxiety can trigger

attacks, and stress generally aggravates asthma symptoms.

 

 

The Coltsfoot Controversy

 

Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) has been a folk favorite for asthma

and coughs for centuries. Its generic name, Tussilago, comes from

the Latin for " cough, " and this herb does indeed contain some

compounds proven effective against cough and asthma.

 

Coltsfoot has expectorant activity. In other words, it stimulates

the microscopic hairs that move mucus out of the air passages. And

like garlic and ginkgo, it suppresses the body's production of

platelet-activating factor, a protein in the blood that plays a role

in triggering

bronchospasms, the narrowing of the air passages that causes asthma

symptoms.

 

But in recent years, coltsfoot has become controversial. This herb

contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), chemicals that are toxic

and/or carcinogenic to the liver. Many herbalists, and more

botanists, wanting to err on the side of caution, recommend against

taking herbs that contain PAs. The primary herbs to be concerned

about are coltsfoot and comfrey.

 

On the other hand, data published in the journal Science by noted

biochemist Bruce Ames, Ph.D., of the University of California at

Berkeley, would indicate that comfrey leaf tea is less carcinogenic

than an equivalent amount of beer. Officially, I'd have to say don't

ingest coltsfoot or comfrey. But privately, I'll confess that I take

an occasional cup of comfrey or coltsfoot tea, just as I drink an

occasional beer.

 

 

 

Green Pharmacy for Asthma

 

Doctors treat asthma with a variety of drugs--among them,

theophylline (Aerolate, Theo-Dur)--that open up the bronchial tubes.

These drugs, known as bronchodilators, are often taken with an

inhaler.

 

If I had asthma, I'd certainly follow a physician's recommendations.

This is a potentially fatal illness. But for my treatment, if my

doctor suggested theophylline, I'd prefer to get it from its many

natural sources, chief among them the plants containing caffeine.

 

Coffee, tea, caffeinated cola drinks, cocoa and chocolate. All of

these popular beverages, as well as chocolate candy, are derived

from plants and count as herbal products. And all contain caffeine

as well as other compounds that may help fend off asthma.

 

Joe Graedon, the pharmacist and syndicated newspaper columnist, once

wrote in his column that in a pinch, if caught without their

medication, people with asthma could drink a few cups of coffee,

which is a potent bronchodilator. Some months later he received a

thank-you note from a newlywed woman with asthma who forgot her

medication on her Hawaiian honeymoon. At one point she started

wheezing, realized she'd forgotten her drugs and became panicky,

which made her wheezing worse. Then she remembered the column

advocating coffee as a workable substitute. She quickly drank three

cups. Her wheezing subsided, saving her honeymoon and possibly her

life.

 

Actually, coffee, tea, caffeinated cola drinks, cocoa and chocolate

have more than caffeine. All reportedly contain two other major

natural anti-asthmatic compounds, theobromine and theophylline,

which, along with caffeine, belong to a family of chemicals called

xanthines. These chemicals help stop bronchospasms and open

constricted bronchial passages.

 

Levels of these anti-asthmatic compounds vary, depending on the

strength of the brew and other factors. But in general, a cup of

coffee has the highest levels (about 100 milligrams of caffeine per

cup), while a cup of tea or cocoa or a 12-ounce can of cola has

about half that amount. A 11Ž2-ounce chocolate bar has a little less

than a can of cola.

 

Of course, caffeine and the other anti-asthmatic xanthines are not

entirely risk-free. As any java junkie knows, caffeine can cause

insomnia and the jitters. But in their natural state, the anti-

asthmatic compounds actually cause fewer side effects than

pharmaceutical theophylline.

 

In one survey, 81 percent of pediatricians said that parents had

expressed concerns about the side effects of their children's asthma

medication, particularly the restlessness and difficulty

concentrating that many children experience. At high doses,

pharmaceutical asthma medications may also cause headache, insomnia,

irritability, nausea, poor appetite, stomachache and even seizures.

 

At this point, though, I'd like to make myself crystal clear: If I

were plagued by life-threatening asthma, I'd listen to my physician

and take pharmaceuticals, and I'd use natural approaches only as

supplemental treatments.

 

Ephedra (Ephedra sinica). Many medical botanists say that ephedra

is one of the world's oldest medicines. The Chinese, who call it ma

huang, have used this herb for thousands of years to treat asthma

and other respiratory ailments.

 

Scientists isolated its active chemical constituents, ephedrine and

pseudoephedrine, in 1887. It wasn't until after World War I,

however, that American doctors started prescribing these substances.

At that time, doctors became aware of the chemicals' effects as

bronchodilators, nasal decongestants and central nervous system

stimulants. Pseudoephedrine has since become a common over-the-

counter decongestant. The chemical inspired the brand name Sudafed.

 

Whole ephedra--as well as its chemical components ephedrine and

pseudoephedrine--has side effects such as insomnia, anxiety,

restlessness and possibly aggravation of high blood pressure. So you

have to be careful with this herb. In fact, if you take really high

doses, very strange things can happen. The medical literature

contains 20 case reports of ephedrine psychosis, and the Food and

Drug Administration has taken steps to curb the distribution and

sale of ephedrine supplements.

 

Still, if you are careful, this herb is very useful in managing

asthma. You might consider making a tea with the dried herb instead

of taking the over-the-counter drugs that contain the active

compounds. To make a tea, use a level teaspoon of ephedra or a half-

teaspoon to one teaspoon of tincture from a health food store or

pharmacy.

 

Because of ephedra's stimulant effect, some ephedra/ma huang

products are sold as " energy formulas. " In fact, over the last few

years, several people have died as a result of abusing this herb.

Because it does have stimulant properties, I would advise against

using ephedra to treat asthma in children unless you first discuss

it with the child's pediatrician.

 

stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). Four hundred years ago, the

British herbalist Nicholas Culpeper claimed that nettle roots or

leaves, used in juice or tea, were " safe and sure medicines to open

the pipes and passages of the lungs. "

 

For many years, Australians have viewed nettle as a good treatment

for asthma. Aussies drink the juice of the roots and leaves mixed

with honey or sugar, and they firmly believe that it relieves

bronchial troubles. But Americans didn't catch on until a little

more than five years ago, when a scientific study was published

showing that nettle is a potent antihistamine. Now nettle is

increasingly recommended for hay fever and asthma. Friends with

allergies and asthma visit my garden regularly to dig up my nettle

patch. (You'll need to wear gloves when harvesting stinging nettle

leaves, but the stinging hairs lose their sting when the leaves are

cooked.)

 

Anise (Pimpinella anisum) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). The

Greeks use teas made from these herbs for asthma and other

respiratory ailments. They both contain helpful chemicals--creosol

and alpha-pinene--that help loosen bronchial secretions. Fennel

seeds (actually fruits) can contain as much as 8,800 parts per

million (ppm) of alpha-pinene. Ironically,

despite its traditional use for respiratory problems, anise is no

superstar. It has only 360 ppm of alpha-pinene.

 

Many other plants are good sources and could be expected to provide

asthma relief. In descending order, they are parsley seed,

coriander, juniper berries, sweet Annie, cardamom, sassafras,

horsebalm, ginger, Chinese angelica (also known as dong-quai), dill,

tarragon and yarrow. You could mix up a pretty good Asthma Tea with

any or several of these, especially if you added a little licorice.

 

 

Fennel

Also known as finocchio, this herb is in the same plant family as

carrots and parsley.

 

 

 

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Licorice tea soothes the throat and

is often recommended for sore throat, cough and asthma. Licorice and

its extracts are safe for normal use in moderate amounts--up to

about three cups a day. However, long-term use or ingestion of

excessive amounts can produce headache, lethargy, sodium and water

retention, excessive loss of potassium and high blood pressure.

 

If you decide to use licorice steadily to manage asthma, opt for

deglycyrrhizinated licorice extracts (DGLE), which cause fewer

problems. There are many over-the-counter preparations of DGLE,

especially overseas. You can find them in America, however. I use

licorice (modestly), especially during severe episodes of stress, by

using a piece of dried root to stir my herb teas.

 

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba). Asian healers have used extracts of ginkgo

leaves for thousands of years to treat asthma, allergies, bronchitis

and coughs. Ginkgo has become popular in the West because of its

benefits for the elderly: increased blood flow to the brain and

treatment of stroke and other infirmities of old age. But in China,

it's still widely used for asthma.

 

Ginkgo works because it interferes with platelet-activating factor,

a protein in the blood that plays a role in triggering

bronchospasms.

 

Unfortunately, the active constituents in ginkgo--ginkgolides--are

pres-ent in very low concentrations in the tree's leaves. To get one

reasonable dose of medicine, a person with asthma would have to eat

about 50 fresh leaves. I eat a lot of plants that most people

wouldn't touch, but not even I would eat that many ginkgo leaves.

 

The best way to take this herb is to buy a 50:1 extract (50 pounds

of leaves yields 1 pound of extract). Health food stores and some

pharmacies carry ginkgo extracts. Follow the package directions. You

can try 60 to 240 milligrams of standardized extract a day, but

don't go any higher than that. In large amounts, ginkgo may cause

diarrhea, irritability and restlessness.

 

Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum), citrus fruits and other foods

containing vitamin C. A review of some 40 good studies revealed that

vitamin C--about 1,000 milligrams a day--helps prevent asthma

attacks, bronchospasms, wheezing, respiratory infections, nasal

congestion, watery eyes and other allergy symptoms. Why? Vitamin C

inhibits the release of histamine.

 

I advise eating more plants that are high in vitamin C--not just

citrus fruits and tomatoes but also bell peppers and strawberries.

You can also take a supplement. The beauty of eating citrus fruits,

however, is that in addition to vitamin C, they also contain

flavonoids. These are substances that also block the release of

histamine, in turn curbing allergy symptoms and allergy-related

asthma.

 

Assorted herbs. I searched my database for anti-asthmatic compounds

and came up with quite a few herbs worth mentioning. I found at

least six anti-asthmatic substances in tea, fennel and cayenne.

Onion, coriander and bell pepper had five. And a large group

contained four: cabbage, cacao, carrot, cranberry, currant,

eggplant, grapefruit, orange, oregano, sage and tomato.

 

Looking for herbs with the largest amounts of anti-asthma compounds,

I found that licorice and tea were the big winners. Cacao, cardamom,

coffee, cola, onion and purslane looked relatively rich.

 

You could whip up some interesting anti-asthma dishes with these

herbs. How about orange-grapefruit-cranberry fruit salad with

fennel? Or eggplant with onion, tomato and sage?

 

Finally, Japanese wasabi is worth a try. The Japanese enjoy wasabi

just as Americans and Europeans enjoy horseradish. It certainly

clears the sinuses. There's some research suggesting that a spoonful

a day can relieve allergies, especially hay fever. This tells me

that it should be good for managing asthma as well.

 

If I had asthma, I'd try wasabi. You can buy it at any grocery store

that carries a specialty line of Oriental products. You can use it

just as you would horseradish. Try spreading it on crackers or

mixing it in a dip, or have it with sushi, as the Japanese do.

 

You should be aware, however, that wasabi is extremely hot. If you

don't enjoy hot foods, don't even consider using this as an asthma

treatment.

 

Vitamin B6. Melvyn Werbach, M.D., assistant clinical professor of

psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of

Medicine and author of several books on alternative medicine, cites

cases of children with asthma who reduced their dosages of anti-

asthma medications--bronchodilators and steroids--by taking a daily

dose of 200 milligrams of vitamin B6 in addition to their

medication. Adults have experienced decreased frequency and

intensity of asthma attacks by taking 50 milligrams of vitamin B6

twice daily.

 

The Daily Value for B6 is only 2 milligrams, and unusually large

doses may damage the nervous system. If I had asthma, I'd probably

try B6, but if you want to take B6 supplements or give them to your

child, discuss it with your doctor.

 

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