Herbal medicine for respiratory health -
Further examination in mice suggested that melatonin may help relieve chronic inflammation from COPD. Long used in traditional Asian medicine, curcumin has been shown to help reduce airway inflammation in animals as well as humans. Curcumin may help fight the oxidative stress believed to underlie COPD while also blocking inflammation at the molecular level.
A review of human studies looked at the effect of curcuminoids on oxidative stress. It found that curcumin supplementation significantly increased superoxide dismutase, a powerful antioxidant against oxidative stress. So far, experts have found that curcumin may have significant antiviral, anti-inflammatory , and antioxidant effects.
Curcumin is believed to be safe and well tolerated, even at high doses. Discover other benefits of turmeric and curcumin.
Widely used in traditional medications, licorice root contains glycyrrhizic acid along with flavonoids that may help treat respiratory tract infections and COPD. Research suggests that these active compounds have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may help ease COPD symptoms.
Experts also believe that saponins, another type of compound, may help loosen mucus so it can be more easily expelled from your lungs. In a study , mice were given isoliquiritigenin ISL , a flavonoid derived from licorice root, before being exposed to cigarette smoke for 2-hour periods of time twice daily for 4 weeks.
ISL helped protect the mice from cigarette smoke-induced COPD by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays important roles in bone metabolism, mineral metabolism, and many other physiological functions. Researchers believe it may also be involved in the progression and treatment of respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD.
COPD is associated with vitamin D deficiency. A literature review found that people with COPD had lower levels of vitamin D than people without the condition. Notably, people with vitamin D deficiency were at an increased risk of COPD and more severe COPD. In addition, vitamin D status in people with COPD is directly associated with their lung function, inflammatory factors, and outlook.
Vitamin D deficiency is also linked to increased rates of exacerbation and hospitalization in people with COPD. One promising literature review from looked at the effects of vitamin D supplementation on people with COPD. The researchers found that supplementing with vitamin D can:.
A study of people with COPD and vitamin D deficiency found that vitamin D supplementation had no effect on COPD symptoms. Participants were given either 16, international units IU of vitamin D3 or a placebo once a week for 1 year. There was no difference in exacerbation rate, lung function, muscle strength, systemic inflammation, or other secondary outcomes between those who took vitamin D and those who took the placebo.
Derived from the amino acid L-cysteine, N-acetylcysteine NAC is an antioxidant that helps loosen thick mucus and may slow or prevent worsening of COPD symptoms. A literature review looked at the impact of both low and high doses of NAC on the frequency of exacerbations in thousands of people with COPD.
Treatment time ranged from 4 to 36 months. The researchers found that those who took NAC had significantly fewer exacerbations of chronic bronchitis or COPD. One study divided people with COPD into two groups. One group took a total of 1, mg of NAC daily along with traditional bronchidilator medications.
The other group took placebos and practiced conventional airway expansion therapy. Over the months-long study period, markers of immune status in blood tests showed that the group who took medications and NAC improved their inflammatory status.
Herbs and supplements provide a natural alternative to medications, sometimes with fewer side effects. Research on their effectiveness against COPD continues to grow. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
VIEW ALL HISTORY. There's no cure for COPD, but conventional treatment can be complemented by treatment with essential oils to treat its symptoms. Here's what you need…. Some research suggests that acupuncture may be an effective complementary treatment for COPD. Learn more about the COPD symptoms that acupuncture may….
Effective treatment often requires you to add medications to better manage symptoms or subtract medications if they are deemed unnecessary. COPD and acute bronchitis both cause lung irritation and inflammation. They can trigger similar symptoms, including coughing, chest pain, and fatigue. During pulmonary rehab, your doctor will coach you though breathing exercise as well as lifestyle modifications that can help treat your COPD.
Air pollution can reach dangerous levels during wildfire seasons or become hazardous over time from vehicle emissions or agricultural practices…. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Type 2 Diabetes. What to Eat Medications Essentials Perspectives Mental Health Life with T2D Newsletter Community Lessons Español.
Herbs and Supplements for COPD. Medically reviewed by Jerlyn Jones, MS MPA RDN LD CLT , Nutrition — By Dale Kiefer and Alyssa Northrop, MPH, RD, LMT — Updated on February 23, Thyme English ivy Ginseng Melatonin Curcumin Licorice root Vitamin D N-acetylcysteine NAC Outlook For centuries, herbs and supplements like thyme and vitamin D have been used to help alleviate symptoms related to COPD.
English ivy Hedera helix. Ginseng Panax ginseng. For respiratory support, try mixing one teaspoon of Pippali powder, turmeric powder and dried ginger powder into a cup of warm water.
Add a teaspoon of honey for a soothing effect. Since ancient times, ginger , with its spicy flavor, has been used to enhance culinary dishes the world over. Ginger is also known for its beneficial properties. Studies indicate that ginger helps relax bronchial constriction, break down and expel mucus, and support a healthy inflammatory response.
Ginger is often combined with turmeric, tulsi, or lemon for an effective tonic. To help bring balance, try sipping a ginger-infused tea. Revel in the spicy warmth as it opens your airways, allowing your breath to come naturally. Bibhitaki, Terminalia bellirica , is a large tree commonly found on the plains and lower hills in South Asia.
The fruit or nut of the tree is used in traditional Ayurveda as a Rasayana , for longevity, stamina, and to invigorate and rejuvenate the body. Bibhitaki is one of the three fruits of Triphala which helps balance all three doshas and can be found in a convenient capsule to support your overall wellness.
Bibhitaki contains essential vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C, potassium and selenium. Thanks to its powerful antioxidant and bioactive constituents, bibhitaki has many health benefits, including its ability to support a healthy inflammatory response in the respiratory system.
It is a strong expectorant that helps support open airways. Known as Rujamari in Ayurveda, rosemary is an aromatic herb largely used as a seasoning and garnish in culinary dishes. It has a distinctive fragrant aroma and is a member of the mint family.
You may have noticed rosemary essential oil as an ingredient in your soap and other skincare products. This is because rosemary contains antioxidant properties that protect the skin and reduce the signs of aging. Those same antioxidant properties, along with the expectorant and cleansing properties, make rosemary an excellent choice to support the health of your lungs.
To help clear nasal passages, add rosemary oil to a diffuser. Alternatively, you can add a few drops to a mug or small pot of boiling water and carefully inhale the vapor.
This helps clear mucus from your lungs, enabling you to breathe easier. Another option is to make rosemary tea. Simply place one teaspoon of dried rosemary into a mesh tea basket. Add some ginger, cardamom and a piece of a cinnamon stick for additional flavor.
Bring two cups of water to a boil, then place the mesh tea basket into the hot water, allowing the flavors to blend while you enjoy the pungent, lavender-like aroma.
This bristly plant grows throughout North America and Europe and is often thought of as a weed. Nettle has been used as an herbal panacea for thousands of years because of its dense variety of nutrients. The nettle leaf contains a wide spectrum of vitamins, minerals and polyphenols that support a healthy inflammatory response among other benefits.
The baby leaves that grow at the top of the plant in the early spring are used to nourish and detoxify the body. In Ayurveda, nettle is a Rasayana , a nourishing and rejuvenating herb. It is astringent in nature and very pungent. It stimulates the Vata dosha while balancing the Pitta and Kapha doshas.
Try making a stinging nettle infusion by adding one ounce of dried nettle leaves or two ounces of fresh leaves to four cups of hot water. Start by boiling the water and pouring it over the leaves in a glass jar. Let it steep for at least four hours or overnight.
Drink this herbal infusion within the next 36 hours. These powerful plants and herbs with their countless benefits have stood the test of time. For more than years, people have achieved and sustained wellness through conscious living and by implementing natural remedies into their daily lives.
Some bealth easy to cultivate, and many are commonly-found backyard wild Herbzl and Systematic meal scheduling. These are not one-size-fits-all. Each has a Resppiratory role Nurture a positive outlook play in respiratory health: fpr mucus mevicine clear phlegmy coughs; relaxing irritated, dry, spastic coughs; soothing and opening the lungs. Lung and respiratory tonic herbs are among my favorites to harvest and use to make medicine. They can be used as single herbs or in formula, based on your specific situation and needs. These herbs and more are covered in greater detail in my books Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies and Body into Balance.
0 thoughts on “Herbal medicine for respiratory health”