Herbal interventions in asthma and allergy

This paper reviews the role of herbal-based medicines in the treatment of a sthma and allergic rhinitis. A comprehensive literature search was performe d of relevant English-language papers and abstracts were identified through a MEDLINE search and from bibliographies of the identified papers. Papers and studies pertaining to the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of a sthma and allergic rhinitis were identified. They were then analyzed accord ing to design, inclusion and exclusion criteria, population studied, variab les tested, method of treatment (i.e., specific medicinal plants or herbal combinations), and results. The data have been reviewed and divided on the basis of culture and the effects of medicinal plants in asthma and allergy. A number of studies were found that support the use of some herbal medicin es in asthma and allergy. Various derivatives from specific medicinal plant s were identified as the antiasthma components and some mechanisms of actio n were explored. The results show positive effects of these herbs on bronch odilation, pulmonary function tests, and antagonism of asthma mediators suc h as histamine and platelet activating factor, corticosteroid levels, and c learance of mucus. Improved symptoms were also seen in patients with allerg ic rhinitis specifically on histamine-induced reactions, e.g., rhinorrhea, sneezing, and itching. From the review, there has been a role for some herb al medicines in the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Usage of her bal medicines has increased in recent years. Many of these medicinal plants provided relief of symptoms equal to allopathic medicines used. Specific c hemical derivatives have been isolated from many of these plant products wh ich act on the mechanisms and mediators that cause asthma and allergies. Th e amount of research on these products, especially in the United States, is limited. There is a lack of control of quantity and quality of the compone nts in these remedies. Yet, many have fewer side effects than current thera py. Throughout the history of medicine, drugs have been developed from trad itional medicine. By continuing to investigate how some of these herbal int erventions work, we may be able to find additional effective medicines to t reat asthma and allergies.