Home Remedies for Asthma

Asthma is an obstruction of breathing. During an asthmatic attack, airway walls in lungs inflame and the respiratory tract contracts. Despite the danger this condition still represents, there are some home remedies which can provide some relief and benefits. Let’s see what they are.

The powerful Ginger

Ginger tea is a great alternative to relieve asthma in a natural way. Some of its components have a bronchodilator effect that will help breathing better, according to scientists of the University of Columbia. This effect is due to an action that inhibits an enzyme which makes airway muscles contract and at the same time it activates another enzyme that relaxes them.

Onions

Onions are famous for making you cry and for over-seasoning dishes, but they also contain a flavonoid called quercetin which helps relax the bronchial tubes and reduce airway constriction, according to a research carried out at the Queen’s University in Ireland and Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Other compound, the tiosulphinate, also has anti-asthma properties.

Boswellia extract

Extracts of boswellia resin, a tree which occurs in the Indian hills, have long been used in Ayurvedic Medicine as a treatment for asthma. Natural Standard states that there is good scientific evidence of its anti-inflammatory properties to clear the airways.

Garlic

Garlic had been used as a natural remedy long before people started to use it as a condiment. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, it has been considered as one of the most effective home remedies for asthma. A research published by Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology proved that garlic extract reduces airway inflammation significantly.

Ephedra

This herb has been used in China for thousand years as a treatment for asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Ephedra contains ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, bronchodilator substances that expand airways to make breathing easier. Natural Standard states there is good evidence of its benefits.

Lemon juice

Drinking lemon juice mixed with water helps prevent the accumulation of mucous in bronchial tubes; it improves breathing and cleans the respiratory system by removing bacteria and germs that could make air passage difficult. You can also inhale hot lemon juice steam, recommends Linda B. White, The Herbal Drugstore’s authoress.

Honey

Beyond its sweet flavor, honey is a natural expectorant and anti-inflammatory which helps expel phlegm and it’s useful for bringing up the accumulated mucus from the airways and blocks the air passage that could unleash or aggravate an asthma attack. You can drink a cup of hot water mixed with two spoonful of honey every day.

Gingko Biloba

Gingko biloba leaves inhibit a substance found in the lungs which causes inflammation, therefore taking in this plant extract could be of great help for asthma improvement. Besides, it acts as bronchodilator and makes inflammation subside. It is recommended to drink ginkgo biloba leaves infusion twice a day.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice which contains anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties, which makes it a great option to cure asthma naturally. Its active ingredient, curcumin, has a protective action on the breathing system. You can mix a spoonful of turmeric with warm water and drink it on a daily basis.

Green tea

Green tea is a natural source of theophylline, a bronchodilating substance which is a compound present in many drugs used in the treatment of asthma as it relaxes the muscles that hold the bronchial tubes. It is used for preventing wheezing (whistling sound while breathing), shortness of breath or difficult breathing.