If you suffer from chronic respiratory ailments such as asthma, bronchitis or emphysema, you may have tried any number of over-the-counter and prescription remedies to gain some relief and improve your breathing. Inhalers, corticosteroids and breathing treatments can be costly, and can sometimes have undesirable side effects, especially after long-term use. As an alternative you may want to try some of the herbal remedies available to you.
Expectorants and Bronchodilators
The benefits of the plant ephedra sinica (Chinese ma huang) are well-known. Over-the-counter and prescription decongestants have included the active ingredient, ephedrine, for years. Lately, ephedrine has come under fire as it has been linked to raised blood pressure. However, according to Dr. Yong Ping Jiang, chair of the Department of Oriental Medicine at Northwestern Health Sciences University, if ma huang is used correctly it will not cause adverse effects. He says the plant should be decocted rather than simply added to remedies in full strength powdered form. If prescribed by a qualified herbalist, or if used according to package directions in over-the-counter remedies, ephedra can bring quick relief of congestion and bronchial swelling.
Mullein (Latin name verbascum) is a fine expectorant with a long history of use among Native Americans. As a tonic during hay fever season, you can brew the leaves as a tea, making sure to strain it because the leaves have fine hairs. The best way to use mullein, however, is to inhale the smoke as you burn the leaves. Purchase dried mullein, or you can dry it yourself if you are careful to dry it at a constant temperature to avoid mildew or over-drying. Crush the dried leaves in a fireproof bowl and light to make a smudge of smoke. Besides helping you get rid of phlegm, mullein is also considered to be a bronchodilator and may provide some pain relief. For convenience, you may want to roll the leaves in cigarette papers along with mint leaves, which contain menthol, another good breathing remedy. Since these herbs do not contain tar or nicotine, there is no concern for lung cancer from smoking them this way.
Tissue Regeneration
A plant-based remedy that is being widely researched is grape seed extract. One study done at the Ohio State University's Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute in 2002 shows that constituents in grape seed extract may help to speed up the recovery of damaged tissue. In 2009, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a research team found that grape seed proanthocyanidins (a chemical extracted from grape seeds) inhibit the growth of non-small cell cancers, such as lung cancer. In fact, one of the researchers, Santosh Katiyar, Ph.D., of UAB, stated, "This preclinical study suggests that the regular consumption of GSP-supplemented diet should have strong translational relevance in terms of prevention and treatment of lung-cancer risk in human patients."
Tags: grape seed, grape seed extract, lung cancer, seed extract