There has been research lately into the treatment of Alzheimer’s syndrome with the oils of absinthe (wormwood), melissa (lemon balm), and sage (Salvia officinalis). After perusing a 1931 herbal (click here) and learning that sage is also effective against lung congestion, I have been taking drops of sage oil in a glass of water twice a day for my asthma. I have found it to be quite as effective as the expensive inhaled corticosteroid that I had used for years to relieve congestion.

Please note that sage oil is generally considered to be a poison. It should be used in very small amounts, if at all. It should be used with caution, even externally, with other medications and strong herbs. It should probably be avoided by children and before or during pregnancy and nursing. This is the case, of course, for most medicines, including long-term use of many established asthma treatments. Inhaled corticosteroid is immunosuppressant, suppresses adrenal function (causing skin to bruise easily), decreases bone density, induces hypertension, increases the risk of cataracts, and in children can inhibit growth. These effects are dose related, so more effective corticosteroids are worse. It is my experience that sage oil is a safer alternative. I have experienced no problems ingesting several drops of sage oil daily, up to 6 drops at a time. My wife has, with no ill effect, taken a drop to relieve congestion from allergies.

Besides inflammation, asthma involves constriction of the bronchial airways, which can be induced by exercise or allergy. Herbs to try for alleviating that spasm include the root of elecampane (Inula helenium) (click here), the seed of lobelia (Lobelia inflata) (click here), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), and the seed of field larkspur (Delphinium consolida). One should also try teas made with such antispasmodic herbs as white horehound leaves, chamomile flowers (Anthemis nobilis), anise seeds, coltsfoot leaves (click here), blue hyssop flowers (Hyssopus officinalis), mullein flowers (Verbascum thapsus), and red clover flowers (Trifolium pratense) along with the demulcents liquorice root and marsh mallow root. Any of these may be added to green or black tea during the day.

I have found that a capsule of 50 mg lobelia provides relief from a moderately debilitating exercise-induced asthma attack, allowing me to continue physical work; if continuing to work further aggravates the asthma, another capsule has provided complete relief. Outside in extremely cold weather, however, inhaled albuterol (a.k.a. sambuterol) sometimes remains necessary. (Unlike for corticosteroid, any side effects from albuterol are immediately evident and transient.) Note that lobelia should not be used in excess, because it can cause vomiting (which is one of its traditional uses). I consider 200 mg a day to be a very safe upper limit. It may be more easily found in bulk rather than capsules.

I have found the following to be effective (separately) in providing immediate relief from chest tightness or a mild asthma attack: drinking 3 to 5 drops of aniseed oil in a glass of water (very tasty), repeated as needed; chewing a pinch or two of anise seeds; red clover tea; chewing a couple of fresh red clover blossoms; rubbing a few drops of lavender oil on the chest; chewing 3 or 4 pinches of thyme. Lobelia extract has failed to provide relief, as has a couple drops of thyme oil (any more burns the mouth too much).

Vitamin C (500–1,000 mg, with rose hips or bioflavonoids) before bed helps reduce the need to use the inhaled albuterol during the night, but a synthetic antihistamine (e.g., 4 mg chlorpheniramine maleate) also is often necessary. (Histamine is released in response to allergy and acts to open peripheral blood vessels and constrict airways.) Three or four drops of aniseed oil with water along with a capsule of 500 mg nettle leaves (Urtica dioica) (click here) has sometimes eliminated the need for albuterol as well as antihistamine medication. Nettle can lower blood pressure, so use it with caution if that is a concern. Otherwise, I consider 2,500–3,000 mg a day to be quite safe. Although it is expensive, the leukotriene (part of the inflammation response cascade) inhibitor "Singulair" (montelukast sodium) has been very helpful in reducing my use of albuterol both day and night. I have found that the homeopathic "Outdoor Allergy" tablets by BioAllers work quite well against allergy. Back to asthma before bed, decaffeinated green tea with chamomile is effective but then I have to get up all night to pee. Traditional Medicinals “Breathe Easy” tea is helpful, but likewise not completely. The combination of anise and nettle also relieves tightness when getting up the next morning. Instead of aniseed oil, a capsule of 50 mg lobelia also is effective. Drops of eucalyptus oil in my mustache are very helpful. A Thayers slippery elm throat lozenge at bedtime and on rising helps loosen phlegm.

An excellent supplement is "Breathe!" by MycoMedicinals, a combination of 6 mushrooms: 250 mg cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis), 250 mg reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), 125 mg artists' conk (Ganoderma opplamatum), 125 mg maitake (Grifola frondosa), 125 mg oregon polypore (Ganoderma oregonense), and 125 mg zhu ling (Polyporus umbellatus). One capsule twice a day ($30/month) was very effective for maintaining good breathing. Reishi mushroom is the main part of a medically tested formula (see notes page) proven to be as effective as maintenance on steroids (prednisone): 6.3 g Ling-Zhi, Ganoderma lucidum (reishi mushroom); 3 g Ku-Shen, Sophora flavescens or S. angustifolia root (yellow mountain laurel); and 1 g Gan-Cao, Glycyrrhiza uralensis or G. glabra root (licorice) — taken 3 times a day. Reishi mushroom and licorice root are readily available separately in capsules. I have found reishi mushroom alone to be remarkably effective.

Also, I have switched from coffee (which is often recommended for asthma) to tea, at least in the afternoon, because of the higher levels of the smooth-muscle relaxant (thus, bronchodilator) theophylline. I drink a “bowl” or two of green tea (black would do just as well, except it contains lower levels of antioxidants) in the morning and another in the afternoon, which has dramatically reduced the periodic need for inhaled albuterol through the day and into the night. According to U.K. government analysis, theophylline levels are not lower in decaffeinated tea. (Decaffeinate tea yourself by pouring out the water after 45 seconds and replacing it with fresh water; up to 80% of the caffeine will be gone.) At this quantity, organic tea should be used, because tea is normally a very highly pesticided crop. Organic tea is affordable in bulk at health food stores and food co-ops. I use 3–4 parts green tea and 1 part black (Irish or English Breakfast blends well) to get a very satisfying brew.

“Chai”-spiced tea is even more effective in keeping asthma at bay during the day. Celestial Seasonings’ “Original India Spice” seems better than others I've tried, possibly because it is the only one that contains anise seed. Black pepper is also probably a key ingredient for the beneficial effect in asthma. It would be simple enough to concoct your own mixture to add to regular tea: Besides anise and black pepper, chai also usually includes cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger and may also contain chicory, fennel, and nutmeg as well as other spices. “Breathe Deep” tea from Yogi Teas is a very good herbal tea for maintaining asthma relief.

To sum up my current regimen:  Morning and night: 4 drops of sage oil in tepid water, 1,200 mg reishi mushroom. Night: 250 mg magnesium. Throughout the day: green tea. Winter or other seasonally stressful times: Add 24-hour antihistamine (10 mg cetirizine) and 200 μg selenium at night, 25 mg zinc after dinner, and 1,200 mg reishi mushroom mid-day and mid-night (if up). As needed for asthma attacks: dried lobelia (a teaspoon or so), dried red clover (2–3 flower heads), and aniseed oil (4–6 drops) in tepid water. As needed for allergy: nettle (500–1,000 mg).

Articles from A Modern Herbal (1931):  Butterbur,  Coltsfoot,  Elecampane,  Honeysuckles,  Lobelia,  Common Nettle,  Common Sage,  Herb Beers.

Click here for notes on herbal treatment of asthma from other sources.