Cause: Sometimes triggered by allergies or environmental stimuli.

Useful Supplements: Magnesium, Quercetin, Selenium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C.

Useful Herbs: Gingko Biloba.

Further information: Asthma is a chronic lung condition which causes the bronchial tubes to constrict, causing breathing difficulty. Among the most common symptoms are difficulty breathing, gasping, wheezing, tightness of chest, and uncontrollable coughing (usually caused by the body trying to get more oxygen). While the cause of asthma is still unknown, it is often exacerbated by environmental factors – pollution, pollen, and dust.

Many food allergies and intolerances also make asthma symptoms worse. In one study, patients who were put on a completely vegan diet for a year showed a marked improvement and fewer asthma attacks.¹ Elimination diets (see food allergies) may help identify factors which make asthma worse; some of the most common triggers are sulfites, aspirin, and food dyes (especially yellow #5). ^2,3,4

The following supplements and herbs have been shown to help lessen the severity of asthma:

Magnesium deficiency is often found in asthmatics.⁵ In studies, a Magnesium injection immediately following the onset of an asthma attack has caused the attack to end within minutes.⁶ This is due to the fact that Magnesium helps to prevent and stop muscle spasms. While oral dosage of Magnesium in the prevention of asthma has not been proven, it is probably beneficial. Care should be taken, however, by patients with kidney problems, as Magnesium can exacerbate these conditions.

Quercetin acts as a natural antihistamine.⁷ It may be effective in the prevention of asthma attacks; further research is still needed.

Selenium deficiency can greatly increase the risk of asthma.⁸ In studies, it has been shown to cause clinical improvement, though lung function tests do not appear to show the same results.⁹

A lack of Vitamin B6 has been found in many asthma sufferers.¹⁰ This may be due to the fact that the medications in many asthma inhalers interfere with the absorption of B6 by the body.¹¹ In mild to average cases, the addition of a B6 supplement to the diet appears to lessen the occurrence of asthma attacks.¹²

Vitamin B12, taken in large doses, can decrease likelihood that asthmatics react to foods with sulfites.¹³

Vitamin C, acting as an antioxidant, is also helpful in the treatment of asthma.^14,15 It appears to be most effective in patients with food allergies.

Ginkgo has been shown to have potential use in the treatment of asthma. Studies using extracted ginkgolides have shown reduction of asthma symptoms.¹⁸ Highly concentrated tincture of ginkgo leaf also has the same effect.¹⁹ These studies show that the use of ginkgo is likely to be helpful in the treatment of asthma overall.

References:

¹Lindahl O, Lindwall L, Spangberg A, et al. Vegan regimen with reduced medication in the treatment of bronchial asthma. J Asthma 1985;22:45–55.
²Rowe AH, Young EJ. Bronchial asthma due to food allergy alone in ninety-five patients. JAMA 1959;169:1158.
³Sampson HA, Mendelson L, Rosen JP. Fatal and near-fatal anaphylactic reactions to food in children and adolescents. N Engl J Med 1992;327:380.
⁴Genton C, Frie PC, Pecoud A. Value of oral provocation tests to aspirin and food additives in the routine investigation of asthma and chronic urticaria. J Asthma 1985;76:40–45.
⁵Haury VG. Blood serum magnesium in bronchial asthma and its treatment by the administration of magnesium sulfate. J Lab Clin Med 1940;26:340–44.
⁶Skobeloff EM et al. Intravenous magnesium sulfate for the treatment of acute asthma in the emergency department. JAMA 1989;262:1210–13.
⁷Pearce FL, et al. Mucosal mast cells III: effect of quercetin and other flavonoids on antigen-induced histamine secretion from rat intestinal mast cells. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1984;73:819-23.
⁸Stone J, Hinks LJ, Beasley R, et al. Reduced selenium status of patients with asthma. Clin Sci 1989;77:495–500.
⁹Hasselmark L, Malmgren R, Zetterstrom O, Unge G. Selenium supplementation in intrinsic asthma. Allerg 1993;48:30–36.
¹⁰Collipp PJ et al. Tryptophane metabolism in bronchial asthma. Ann Allergy 1975;35:153–58.
¹¹Weir MR et al. Depression of vitamin B6 levels due to theophylline. Ann Allergy 1990;65:59–62.
¹²Sur S, Camara M, Buchmeier A, et al. Double-blind trial of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) in the treatment of steroid-dependent asthma. Ann Allerg 1993;70:141-52.
¹³Anibarro B et al. Asthma with sulfite intolerance in children: A blocking study with cyanocobalamin. J Allerg Clin Immunol 1992;90:103–9.
¹⁴ZBucca C, Rolla G, Oliva A, Farina J-C. Effect of vitamin C on histamine bronchial responsiveness of patients with allergic rhinitis. Ann Allerg 1990;65:311–14.
¹⁵Ruskin SL. Sodium ascorbate in the treatment of allergic disturbances. The role of adrenal cortical hormone-sodium-vitamin C. Am J Dig Dis 1947;14:302–6.
¹⁶Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Foods, Drugs, and Cosmetics, 2d ed. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1996, 227–29.
¹⁷Plaut M. Newdirections in food allergy research. J Allergy Clin Immun 1997;94:928-30.
¹⁸Guinot P, Brambilla Dunchier J, et al. Effect of BN 52063, a specific PAF-ascether antagonist, on bronchial provocation test to allergens in asthmatic patients—a preliminary study. Prostaglandins 1987;34(5):723–31.
¹⁹Li M, Yang B, Yu H, Zhang H. Clinical observation of the therapeutic effect of ginkgo leaf concentrated oral liquor on bronchial asthma. CJIM 1997;3:264–67.