Herbs are a good source of many nutrients and contain active elements that may offer medicinal benefits and healing properties. Some contain compounds in their volatile oils which alleviate bronchial constriction, help ease symptoms of asthma and enhance overall lung health or breathability by blocking the inflammatory process.
Peppermint
Menthol is a substance found in abundance in peppermint oil. Menthol helps clear the respiratory tract. It acts as an effective expectorant, providing relief in respiratory problems such as nasal congestion, asthma and bronchitis. In a study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology in August 1997, guinea pigs were given a cumulative dose of menthol (1 to 3,000 microM) to see if it relaxed bronchoconstriction in vitro. Menthol inhalation caused a significant, dose-dependent relaxation of precontracted bronchi. Methol’s action could be, in part, explained by a direct action of relaxing the smooth muscles of the bronchial tubes. As a result, menthol is used in numerous cold rubs to alleviate chest congestion. While peppermint and peppermint oils may be ingested, the benefits of menthol are greatest as the vapors are inhaled.
Rosemary
Rosemary also contains anti-inflammatory compounds that make it useful for reducing the severity of asthma attacks, most importantly, the substance rosmarinic acid, after which this herb was named. According to research published in the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology in February 1999, rosmarinic acid (administered orally) was found to increase the production of prostaglandin E2 (anti-inflammatory mediators) and reduce the production of leukotriene B4 (pro-inflammatory mediators) in human white blood cells. The conclusion of this study was that rosemary and its constituents have the potential to treat a variety of inflammatory-related disorders, including bronchial asthma. Rosmarinic acid may be ingested; a dosage of 12.5 and 25 microg/ml is most effective according to findings published in Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry in September 2007.
Thyme
A beneficial compound in thyme, thymol, relaxes the bronchial tubes in people with asthma and bronchitis. A research study, published in Arzneimittel-Forschung in 2006, investigated the efficacy and tolerability of administering extracts of thyme herb and ivy leaves (thyme-ivy combination) compared with a placebo in 361 outpatients suffering from acute bronchitis. They were given an (oral) dosage of 5.4 ml three times daily. The mean reduction in coughing episodes on days seven to nine (compared to baseline) was 68.7 percent in those that took the thyme-ivy combination compared to 47.6 percent in those that took the placebo. Overall, in the thyme-ivy, a 50 percent reduction in coughing episodes was achieved two days earlier than the placebo group.
About this Author
Michele Turcotte is a registered, licensed dietitian, owner of A Perfect Plate, Inc., and a certified personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She has over 12 years of experience in clinical and corporate settings, and has extensive experience in one-on-one diet counseling and meal planning. She has written freelance food and nutrition articles for Trouve Publishing, Inc., since 2004.
