Ask Dr. Doug - Herbal Remedies for Asthma

By Dr. Doug Kuramoto

What is asthma?
A condition characterized by spasm of the bronchial tubes and excessive excretion of a viscous mucus in the lungs that can lead to just mild wheezing to life threatening inability to breath.

What causes asthma?
There are many things that cause the bronchioles to spasm. One is allergies.

Any specific things?
Many studies have identified food allergies. Double blind food challenges in children have shown that immediate onset sensitivities are due (in decreasing order) eggs, shellfish, nuts, and peanuts. Foods which are associated with delayed allergic reactions (in decreasing frequency) milk, chocolate, wheat, citrus,and food coloring. Also pay close attention to food additives. Tartrazine (FD&C yellow dye # 5) benzoates, sulphur dioxide, and especially sulfites trigger asthma attacks in sensitive people. Attained is found in most processed foods and even in vitamin preparations and some drugs (theophyline).

What should asthmatics eat?
One long term trial had a 92% improvement (23 out of 25 patients). A great result.They ate a vegan diet which is the elimination of all animal products. This was published in Journal of Asthma 22: 45-55 in 1985. These researchers also found a increased reduction in infectious disease. Your Naturopathic physician can guide you in your specific type of diet as children need to insure adequate nutrition while on this type of diet.

Any other things which can trigger asthma?
Some children can have exercise induced asthma. That is the bronchiole spasm as a result of cold air or increased respiration. In these kids by eliminating other triggers (such as allergies) exercise tolerance can be increased. Another trigger I see in practice is latent infection. These folks experience periodic wheezing after a bad flu or long upper respiratory infection. In these cases recurrent respiratory conditions become more common. There are specific immune boosters which work well in these asthmatics. In fact these specific formulas I find work the best in treating asthma as one can adjust the formula to fit the type of asthma.

Any vitamins for asthma?
Vitamin C is a mild antihistamine as well as an antioxidant which protects the mucous lincing of the bronchioles.Both treated and untreated asthmatics have lower levels of ascorbic acid in their serum and white blood cells. Jonathan Wright, M.D. one of the great nutrition doctors states "B12 therapy is the mainstay in childhood asthma." It seems to be especially effective in sulfite sensative patients as B12 will bind to the sufites and therefore block its effect.

What herbs are good for asthma?
Old time remedies include ephedra plants in combination with expectorant herbs. Expectorant herbs modify the quality and quantity of secretions of the respiratory
tract and also help expel them. Commonly used expectorants are lobelia (Lobelia inflata), licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), and grindelia (Grindelia camporum).

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