-IBIS-1.7.6-
tx
respiratory system
asthma
Botanicals

primary herbs

Aloe spp.: oral administration of Aloe over a six month period can be effective in the treatment of chronic bronchial asthma; the extract must first be kept refrigerated (4° C) and in the dark for seven days before administration in order to produce a change in the glycoproteins and polysaccharides (Shida, T, et al. 1980, pp. 47-51; Shih, T, et al. Plant Medica. 273-275, 1985)
Ammi visnaga: (Weiss, p. 221)
Brassica spp. (mustard): chest compress for accompanying bronchitis or as foot bath (Husemann, p. 393)
Commiphora myrrha: profuse secretion expelled with difficulty, restrains mucus discharge (Felter and Lloyd, p. 1300)
Convallaria majalis (toxic): cardiac asthma, combines well with Leonurus cardiaca and Selenicereus grandiflorus (toxic) in heart disease (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 74)
Datura stramonium (toxic): chronic, purely asthma (Weiss, p. 219)
Drosera rotundifolia: with dry, irritable, persistent cough or spasmodic, hoarse, explosive cough. Combines well with Euphorbia hirta, Grindelia robusta, Polygala senega (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 80; Ellingwood, p. 251)
Ephedra vulgaris: relieves bronchial spasm, see contraindications. Combines well with Lobelia inflata, Grindelia robusta (Weiss, p. 218; British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 83)
Eriodictyon californicum (yerba santa): weak, dissipative cough (Wood).
Euphorbia hirta: bronchitic asthma, with Grindelia robusta (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, pp. 88-89)
Gecko: traditional Chinese materia medica; indicated in "Kidney asthma," when the lungs close up from below, patient grasps for breath; usually no congestion. Make a tincture by soaking 1 gecko in a half quart of vodka (Wood)
Ginkgo biloba
Grindelia robusta: with dry cough, sense of soreness, rawness. May be best as fresh plant preparation (Felter, p. 397); dried out, tenacious mucus (Wood)
Lobelia inflata (toxic): spasmodic asthma with secondary bronchitis. Combines well with Capsicum frutescens, Grindelia robusta, Drosera rotundifolia, Euphorbia hirta, Ephedra vulgaris in asthma (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 153)
Marrubium vulgare: with moist expectoration, aphonia and dyspnea (Priest and Priest, p. 93)
Polygala senega: bronchitic asthma; combines well with Euphorbia hirta and Grindelia robusta in asthma (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 196)
Sanguinaria canadensis (toxic): spasmolytic; combines well with Lobelia inflata (toxic) in asthma (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 188)
Selenicereus grandiflorus (toxic): with cardiac symptoms (Ellingwood, p. 212)
Sticta pulmonaria: chronic (Priest and Priest, p. 95)
Symplocarpus foetidus: antispasmodic, antitussive, traditional remedy (Anderson Geller)
Thymus vulgaris: bronchiolytic (Weiss, p. 209)
Urginea maritima (toxic): asthma with bronchitis (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 224)
Verbascum thapsus: inhaled, soothing (Felter and Lloyd, p. 2055)
Viburnum opulus: antispasmodic (Felter and Lloyd, p. 2059)


complementary herbs

paroxysmal cough and dry mucous membrane: Eriodictyon californicum + Grindelia robusta (Sherman)
severe attack, pressed for breath and wheezing: Gelsemium sempervirens (toxic) + Ferula sumbul (Harper-Shove, p. 118)
Verbascum thapsus + Grindelia robusta (Priest and Priest, p. 95)


footnotes

British Herbal Medicine Association. British Herbal Pharmacopeia. West Yorks, England: BHMA, 1983.

Ellingwood F. American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, 11th ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1919, 1998, 235-242.

Felter HW, Lloyd JU. King’s American Dispensatory, 18th ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1898, 1983, 1199-1205.

Li M, Yang B, Yu H, Zhang H. Clinical observation of the therapeutic effect of ginkgo leaf concentrated oral liquor on bronchial asthma. Chinese J Integrative and Western Med 1997;3:264-267.

Shida T, et al. Proceeding of Wakananyaku Symposium 13, 1980, 47-51.

Shih T, et al. Effect of aloe extract on peripheral phagocytosis in adult bronchial asthma. Plant Medica. 1985;273-275, 1985.