Insights & Discussion
Certain traditional herbal medicines used in east-Asia as adjuncts to conventional medications improved outcomes in acute and chronic asthma.
Eighteen studies (2080 participants) were included. All combined TMs with conventional medicines. The single study of acute asthma (n = 300) showed an improvement. For chronic asthma, severity at baseline ranged from very mild to severe. When asthma was mild, significant differences in lung function (FEV1%, PEF/R) were not detectable. When participants had moderate and/or severe asthma at baseline improvements were more evident. For measures of lung function, improvements within the TM groups tended to be greater when the asthma was more severe. Some studies showed MCIDs. No serious adverse events or interactions were reported but safety data were incomplete.
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HuoXiang ZhengQi (HQXXD) may be a safe and effective treatment for Chronic Cough Variant Asthma (CVA), improving clinical efficacy and airway responsiveness while reducing recurrence rates.
2022 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine The Effectiveness and Safety of Huangqi Xixin Decoction for Cough Variant Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Wang C, Xia Q, Hu B, Jiang W, Zhang H
Systematic Review Cough Huang Qi Huangqi Xixin decoction
HuoXiang ZhengQi (HQXXD) for Chronic Cough Variant Asthma (CVA) was systematically evaluated. The HQXXD group showed significantly higher total effective rates of clinical efficacy and airway responsiveness compared to the control group, while the recurrence rate was lower. Adverse reactions were not reported in HQXXD treatment, indicating its safety for CVA patients.
Asthma severity can be notably reduced by Xi Xin essential oil, which decreases inflammation, immunoglobulins, and fibrotic mediators, while also alleviating airway obstruction.
2022 Pharmaceutics Exploring the Potential Effects and Mechanisms of Asarum sieboldii Radix Essential Oil for Treatment of Asthma Han JM, Kim MH, Choi LY, Kim G, Yang WM
Network Pharmacology Xi Xin
AEO was administered via a nebulizer for three weeks ahead of exposing mice to ovalbumin (OVA), a protein commonly used to provoke an allergic reaction, and particulate matter (PM), common air pollutants. Co-treatment of AEO, OVA, and PM was carried out for four weeks. Additionally, A549 lung epithelial cells were exposed to PM to study the influence of AEO on lung-fibrosis-related factors.
In our study, we found that AEO notably inhibited goblet cell accumulation, which led to a decrease in epithelial thickness. Collagen deposition in lung tissues, a common marker of airway remodeling, was significantly inhibited by AEO in asthmatic mice exposed to OVA and PM. AEO also lessened the influx of inflammatory cells into the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, an indicator of respiratory inflammation. Similarly, the increases in serum IgE and IgG, immunoglobulins associated with allergic reactions, and cytokines in lung tissues were reduced by AEO. Moreover, AEO successfully managed the expression of key fibrotic mediators, particularly POSTN and TGF-β. All these indicators point to AEO's potential as a promising therapeutic treatment to alleviate asthma symptoms.
Pomegranate demonstrates anti-proliferative, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory properties that can effectively control the progression of various respiratory diseases.
2021 Journal of Food Biochemistry Therapeutic properties of Punica granatum L (pomegranate) and its applications in lung‐based diseases: A detailed review Shaikh SB, Bhandary YP
Review Article COPD Pomegranate
The research methodology involved both in vivo and in vitro studies to examine the potential effects of pomegranate fruit, juice, extract, peel powder, and oil on a variety of respiratory disorders such as asthma, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The focus was to understand the properties of pomegranates that led to its anti-proliferative, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-tumorigenic effects, and how these qualities could potentially attenuate these diseases through modulation of various signaling pathways.
The discussion of results revealed that pomegranate was effective in controlling the progression of diverse respiratory diseases, suggesting it could be a key therapeutic target. These results not only demonstrated the potential medical benefits of pomegranate against lung-based diseases but also highlighted its possible role in influencing the lung fibrinolytic system. The findings from both preclinical and clinical studies underscored the influence of pomegranate in tackling lung diseases.
Chinese herbal medicine usage in children with asthma can reduce their risk of hospitalization.
2020 Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Long-term use of Chinese herbal medicine therapy reduced the risk of asthma hospitalization in school-age children: A nationwide population-based cohort study in Taiwan Lo PC, Lin SK, Lai JN
Cohort Study
The study used data from one million individuals randomly selected from the National Health Insurance Research Database's Registry of Beneficiaries. Children under 18 years old diagnosed with asthma were followed from the year 2000 to 2012. These patients were classified into two groups: the Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) group and the non-CHM group. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Cox proportional hazard regression model were utilized to estimate the adjusted hazard ratio of the two groups and to determine the correlation between the number of cumulative days the CHM was used and consequent hospitalizations due to asthma.
After adjusting for variables such as gender, age, comorbidities, and the total numbers of asthma medications taken, it was found that users of CHM had a reduced risk of hospitalization due to asthma compared to non-CHM users. Children older than six years who used CHM therapy for more than 180 days demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of subsequent hospitalization for asthma.
Consumption of raw milk early in life appears to provide protection against asthma and allergies, regardless of whether children live on farms or in rural, non-farm areas.
2020 The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice The Beneficial Effect of Farm Milk Consumption on Asthma, Allergies, and Infections: From Meta-Analysis of Evidence to Clinical Trial Brick T, Hettinga K, Kirchner B, Pfaffl MW, Ege MJ
Meta-Analysis Allergy Raw Milk
Whoever did the research carried out a comprehensive literature review, identifying twelve relevant publications from eight unique studies. Their approach involved a meta-analysis to substantiate the protective effect of raw milk consumption in early life, particularly for ages ranging from less than one year old to five years old. They further analyzed the impacts of raw milk on not only asthma but also other ailments such as wheezing, hay fever, allergic rhinitis, and atopic sensitization. Moreover, evidence was provided about the beneficial effects of raw milk for children, both living on the farms and those in rural sectors but not on farms.
Moreover, in the interpretation of results, it was clearly evident that the consumption of raw milk had an independent effect, separate from other farm exposures. In essence, even children not residing on farms theoretically can still gain from the benefits of raw milk consumption. However, they express a strong sense of caution, advocating against the consumption of raw milk due to the possibility of life-threatening infections. Furthermore, the distinction between raw farm milk and industrially processed milk was underlined to highlight differences in cellular components, fat fraction, and heating degrees. Preliminary findings link these characteristics and attributes of raw milk to heat-labile molecules and components found in its fat fraction.
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