Herbal Medicine for Asthma

For the estimated 20.3 million adults and 6.3 million children in the U.S. who suffer from asthma, the primary treatment is the use of steroid based medications to help reduce the underlying inflammation in the airways. Normally these steroid based medications are to be used for a very long time - many decades in most cases. The medicines used for Asthma - have numerous undesirable side effects like Heart Ailments, Decreased immunity, dental problems, various Psychiatric illnesses, premature aging, diminished libido, impotency and sterility.
The steroid based Asthma inhalers absorb calcium in the bones and flush it away .This severely weakens the tooth and cause variety of often irreversible Dental complications. The side effects of Modern medicines are more telling in case of young children. In children the usages of Steroid inhalers have been found to seriously retard growth and cause sexual debility during adulthood.
In this context an Alternative approach to Asthma have to be seriously considered. Indeed therapies like Yoga, Biofeedback and Herbal formulations do show a promise in alleviating the problem of Asthma and allergy to a great extent. One such Herbal formulation which claims to be effective in Managing Asthma and Allergy is "Pankaja Kasthuri" a formulation of 10 distinct Herbs found in India and China. According to www.healasthma.com this Herbal formulation build long term natural immunity to Allergens which trigger Asthma and other respiratory tract ailments . Also the Herbs reduce inflammation and constriction in respiratory tract .The herbs prevent edema - stagnation of fluids & mucous in the lungs and dilate the airways making breathing easy and smooth .
The Herbals in this formulation as per www.healasthma.com are Zingiber Officinale ,Piper Nigrum ,Piper Longum, Elatteria cardamom , Cinnamomum cassia ,Adhatoda vasica, Cassia occidentalis ,Solanum xanthocarpum ,Solanum indicum and ,Aegle marmelos . This Herbal formulation according to healasthma.com is made as per ISO 9002 International Quality Control Standards and it is accordingly certified. This company claims that more than 200,000 Asthmatics have used this Herbal formulation and found beneficial results .
How effective actually are these Herbal treatments for Asthma and how does US FDA view this ? One has to approach such Herbal remedies with certain degree of open mindedness. It is possible that most may find good degree of relief with such Herbal formulations. They being organic and plant based are devoid of any harmful side effects and normally do not interact with any other medications you may be taking .
As for USFDA regulations FDA considers such Herbal formulation as supplements and not as Medicines in conventional sense. It does allow for claims on therapeutic properties of the Herbs provided they are backed with proofs .The company which manages http://www.healasthma.com quotes 5 different United States Patents on the Herbs which prove that they are effective in managing Asthma & Allergy .
But it is important to note that such Herbal therapies should never replace your Doctor or the medication he prescribes to you. If the Herbals are effective they will reflect in you automatically and your Doctor himself will advise stopping/reducing the medications that is being prescribed to you.
Advances in medical science are yet to find a concrete cure for many ailments like Asthma & Allergy. Modern Medical treatment has also become very impersonal and mechanical. In such times one can consider such alternative treatments provided they are not too expensive.