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Herbal remedies to manage asthma

Dr James Martin provides advice on using herbal remedies to manage asthma.

Herbal and home remedies are increasingly finding more use today as more people go back to traditional healing methods to treat their ailments. When it comes to asthma, you will find various therapies that go beyond HomeSite. This includes the use of yoga, acupuncture, and breathing exercises. Suppose you are considering using these different forms of treatments. In that case, it is essential to know that no scientific studies are available to show the safety and effectiveness of some of these therapies. You will find many herbs and supplements to help relieve some asthma symptoms. However, before starting any treatment, you need to know the following.

Involve your doctor

If you decide to go the herbal way, find an expert herbalist that will guide you on the best herbs for your case. This is important as your doctor will have more knowledge of other therapies that are safe for you. He will also let you know what to expect with herbal use. He will also alert you on the interaction that the herbs have on any existing medication you are taking. Some herbs can hinder the work of the prescribed drugs you are taking. They can also cause the enhanced action of the prescribed drugs to be more than is safe for your body. Working with a doctor or specialist is therefore prudent.

Use it as a complementary therapy

Herbal therapies may be useful in reducing the incidences of asthma attacks and in helping you manage the symptoms. Sometimes the herbs help with some asthma symptoms, such as breathlessness. However, the prescribed medicine you take should remain the primary way of controlling the condition. This is because the herbal concoctions and supplements may not act as fast during an asthma attack. Secondly, the effectiveness of herbal therapies is not always known to be as effective as the prescribed medication that is specifically designed to prevent or stop an asthma attack.

Know the effects the herbs will have on your body

The herbs do alter the way your body functions. You should, therefore, use them under the advice of a professional therapist or your doctor. Some may cause other unwanted side effects that arise from their prolonged use. These herbs can reduce inflammation and soothe the lungs, among other benefits, but may also cause bleeding problems or increase blood pressure.

Can you use herbal products to manage your asthma? The answer to that question is yes, as long as any therapy you use complements the one endorsed by your doctor. It would help if you also did so under the supervision of your doctor or herbal expert. Where possible, use other therapies that do not involve mixing up your medication. Acupuncture, yoga, and breathing exercises are relatively safer alternatives that you can use over herbal treatment. The main important thing to remember is that while other therapies can help manage your symptoms, they may not be as effective as conventional treatments.


Page Reference

If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:

  • MARTIN, J. (2016) Herbal Remedies to Manage Asthma[WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article210.htm [Accessed

About the Author

A doctor by profession, James Martin, advocates the use of conventional medicine for the treatment of severe symptoms of asthma such as breathlessness.