Herbs for Asthma

About author :
P. Jaya Preethi*
Department of Pharmacy, Nandha College of Pharmacy and Research Institute,
Koorapalayam Piruvu, Erode, TamilNadu, India.
*E-mail: [email protected]

Introduction:
The term “asthma” comes from the Greek meaning, “to breathe hard.” Asthma is an inflammatory disease associated with airway hypo-responsiveness leading to recurring episodes of wheezing, chest tightness and cough. Allopathic medicines give quick relief, but produce a lot of side effects. Herbs are meant for preventive and long term therapy with minimal side effects.
Key words: asthma, allergens, wheezing, Aloe vera, Allium cepa.
Description:
Causes of asthma: The most common reasons that trigger asthma are exercise, allergens, irritants and viral infections.
Pathophysiology of Asthma:
Bronchial asthma is characterized pathologically by an infiltration of eosinophils into the airway submucosa. Eosinophil activation results in the secretion of an array of highly charged cytotoxic cationic proteins such as major basic protein, and is believed to play a central role in the etiology of this disease by inducing damage to the airway epithelium. The pathophysiology of asthma involves the development of acute and chronic inflammation in airway narrowing by producing increased vascular permeability, edema, and airway smooth muscle contraction.
Anti-asthmatic herbs :
Allium cepa
Aloe vera
Boerhavia diffusa
Calotropis procera
Cannabis sativa
Curcuma longa
Datura stramonium
Eclipta alba
Eucalyptus globules
Ficus bengalensis
Ginkgo biloba
Lobelia inflate
Inula racemosa
Justicia procumbens
Conclusion: 
Many synthetic drugs are used to treat asthma, but they are not completely safe for long term use. Nature has bestowed our country with an enormous wealth of medicinal plants used for treatment of asthma.