Natural Support for Lung, Bronchial & Sinus Health

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Natural Support for Lung, Bronchial & Sinus Health

Dec 23, 2003 17:14 PST

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1:4:2003

Natural Support for Lung, Bronchial & Sinus Health

 

Introduction

Virtually all of us take the ability to get a good breath of air for

granted. However, for people suffering from chronic sinusitis,

asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive lung disease, and other

diseases of the

respiratory tract an effortless breath of air is greatly

appreciated.

 

One of most important features of healthy airways is the elasticity

and fluidity of the respiratory tract secretions. If the mucus is

too thick and viscous, it creates a scenario that fosters blocked

airways and difficulty in breathing.

 

Fortunately there are safe and effective natural products that can

improve these secretions and as a result lead to easier breathing.

 

 

N-acetylcysteine .......................................... 200 mg

Bromelain (1,000 GDU) ....................................100 mg

Marshmallow root extract ................................100 mg

Mullein extract ..............................................100 mg

Wild cherry bark extract ..... ............................100 mg

Horehound extract 50 mg Ivy ct .........................50 mg

Ivy extract ....................... .............................50

mg

 

 

N-acetylcysteine

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a derivative of the naturally occurring

amino acid, cysteine. NAC has an extensive history of use as a

mucolytic in the treatment of acute and chronic lung conditions such

as emphysema, bronchitis, chronic asthma, and cystic fibrosis. It

directly splits the sulfur linkages of mucoproteins thereby reducing

viscosity of bronchial

and lung secretions. As a result it improves bronchial and lung

function, reduces cough, and improves oxygen saturation in the

blood.

 

NAC is helpful in all lung and respiratory tract disorders,

especially chronic bronchitis and COPD. In detailed analysis of 39

trials it has been concluded that oral NAC reduces the risk of

exacerbations (severe

worsening) and improves symptoms in patients with chronic bronchitis

compared with a placebo.1,2

 

In addition to its effects as a mucolytic, NAC can increase the

manufacturer of glutathione - a major antioxidant for the entire

respiratory tract and lungs.

 

Although somewhat effective on its own, NAC works best when combined

with herbal expectorants like extracts of ivy,wild cherry bark,

mullein,

and horehound); the enzyme bromelain; and marshmallow extract a

soothing demulcent that soothes irritated mucous membranes.

 

Ivy extract

In addition to NAC, clinical studies have also shown extracts of ivy

leaf to produce meaningful improvements in lung and bronchial

conditions. Ivy leaf has a long history of use in asthma and COPD.

Its

mechanism based on recent clinical research is through its ability

to

reduce bronchial spasm and improve respiratory secretions. Several

double-blind studies have shown that ivy extract improves lung

function

and reduces asthma attacks.3,4 These studies included double-blind

studies in children. For example, in one double-blind study 25

children

aged 10-15 years with asthma demonstrated improvements in lung

capacity

after 10 days of treatment with ivy extract. Improvements were shown

to

be clinically relevant and statistically significant 3 hours after

administration of ivy extract on the 10th day of treatment. Results

from

this study and others indicates that ivy extract requires some time

to

work, but can produce clinical improvement in bronchial asthma and

COPD.

 

 

Bromelain

Bromelain refers to a group of sulfur-containing enzymes that digest

protein (proteolytic enzymes or proteases) obtained from the

pineapple

plant (Ananas comusus). Bromelain has been shown to exert several

effects of benefit in clearing the airways, suppressing coughs, and

reducing the viscosity of respiratory tract secretions. Patients

with

chronic bronchitis examined with a spirometer (a specialized

apparatus

for determining respiratory function) before and after bromelain

treatment showed increased lung capacity and function.5 These

favorable

effects were believed to be the results of a respiratory

decongesting

effect. Bromelain is also helpful in acute sinusitis.6

 

Dosage

The benefits of formulas like Lung, Bronchial & Sinus Health are

often

seen immediately. For adults and children over 12 years of age, the

dosage is one or two tablets three times daily. For children 6 to 12

years of age, one tablet up to three times daily. The formula is not

recommended for

children under six years of age unless recommended by a physician.

 

 

 

References:

 

Stey C, Steurer J, Bachmann S, Medici TC, Tramer MR. The effect of

oral

N-acetylcysteine in chronic bronchitis: a quantitative systematic

review. Eur Respir J 2000;16(2):253-62.

Grandjean EM, Berthet P, Ruffmann R, Leuenberger P. Efficacy of oral

long-term N-acetylcysteine in chronic bronchopulmonary disease: a

meta-analysis of published double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical

trials. Clin Ther 2000;22(2):209-21.

Mansfeld HJ, Hohre H, Repges R, et al. Therapy of bronchial asthma

with

dried ivy leaf. Münch Med Wschr 1998;140:26-30.

Gulyas A, Repges R, Dethlefsen U. Systematic therapy of chronic

obstructive respiratory disease in children. Atem Lungen 23:291-4,

1997.

 

Rimoldi R, Ginesu , Giura R. The use of bromelain in pneumological

therapy. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1978;4:55-66.

Ryan R. A double-blind clinical evaluation of bromelains in the

treatment of acute sinusitis. Headache 1967;7:13-7.

 

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