A Brightly Colored Lingzhi Mushroom growing in the wild

Lingzhi mushrooms have successfully been used as herbal medicines for thousands of years and are known as the “Mushroom of Immortality.”

Lingzhi mushrooms are one of the oldest and most effective mushrooms used in traditional Chinese medicine.

They have been effectively used as anti-inflammatories, antivirals, anti-parasitics, anti-fungals, anti-diabetics and anti-hypotensives.They have also been shown to effectively lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.

Lingzhi Mushrooms for Asthma

Numerous studies of Lingzhi mushrooms have established their effectiveness in the treatment of a wide range of diseases and symptoms. The reason I have written about them here (and take them myself), is because of their ability to strengthen the respiratory system and their healing effect on the lungs. It has been shown that Lingzhi mushrooms are particularly beneficial for individuals with asthma, cough and other respiratory complaints.

In an article entitled, “Medicinal Mushrooms”, published in the January/February 1997 Issue of Herbs for Health, written by Christopher Hobbs, a population study conducted in the 1970s is offered as validation confirming this claim.

The article describes a population study conducted on more than 2000 Chinese with chronic bronchitis. They were instructed to consume Lingzhi mushroom syrup over a period of two weeks. Approximately 90% of this population reported significantly improved breathing as well as improved appetite.

Lingzhi mushrooms have also been successfully used in cardiovascular treatment, in bronchitis prevention, in the treatment of high blood pressure, hepatitis, HIV support, fatigue, allergies, chemotherapy support, altitude sickness, and high triglycerides. Due to the presence of triterpenes, lingzhi mushrooms are understood as an adaptogenic, anti-allergenic and anti-hypertensive.

Lingzhi mushrooms are soft, corky, and flat polypores. They have a kidney shaped, red varnished cap. Lingzhi mushrooms lack gills on their underside, and instead depending on their age, have white to dull brown fine pores, which they use to release their spores, the very reason their morphological classification is polypores.

Lingzhi mushrooms are classified into six categories, according to The Chinese Herbal Materia Medica, depending on their respective shape and color. Each of the six categories is said to nourish a different part of the body:

1. White Lingzhi Mushroom – Lungs and skin
2. Black Lingzhi Mushroom – Kidneys and Brain
3. Green Lingzhi Mushroom – Liver
4. Purple Lingzhi Mushroom – Joints
5. Yellow Lingzhi Mushroom – Spleen.
6. Red Lingzhi Mushroom – Heart

Lingzhi mushrooms can be consumed in high doses with other medications due to their generally slight side effects. Lingzhi has been shown to enhance the immune system and lessen nervous tension, which may help normalize and balance the body.

Lingzhi mushroom formulations are easily prepared. Simmering thinly sliced or pulverized Lingzhi mushrooms in a pot of boiling water for two hours is the traditional method. The resulting liquid is normally bitter in taste, with the less active black Lingzhi mushroom tasting less bitter than the more active red Lingzhi mushroom. The liquid can also be used to make an extract in liquid, capsule, or powder form, and be added to a formula decoction.

Some studies have shown that long-term use of Lingzhi mushrooms (approximately 4 months) can result in very mild side effects. These have included stomach upset, nosebleed, and dryness of the nasal passages, mouth and throat. These side effects were completely avoided by discontinuing the use of Lingzhi mushrooms for approximately 1 month after taking them for four months, then taking them again for four months.

Lingzhi mushrooms are available for sale all over the world. Both polysaccharides, and triterpenoids are available as a hot water extract and an alcohol extract. Lingzhi mushroom extracts may also be called reishi, reishi mushroom, ganoderma, ling zhi, and ling-zhi.

Buy Lingzhi Mushroom extract:

I’ve also written an article about OPC Antioxidants which briefly describes the benefits of grape seed extract and pine bark extract. OPC’s used in combination with Lingzhi have proven to be an effective one-two punch for some asthma sufferers.

Lingzhi – Mushroom of Immortality was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

Related Articles:

1. ASHMI Asthma Treatment
2. Clear Breathing with Chinese Herbs
3. Kushen – Sophora Root

Chinese Herbs and Herbal Remedies Can Be Effective in Treating Asthma Symptoms

ASHMI is comprised of three Chinese herbal extracts: Lingzhi Mushroom, Kushen (Sophora Root), and Gancao (Licorice Root). ASHMI did not include Ma Huang, which is used globally as an asthma herbal remedy.

In a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2005, vol. 116, issue 3), researchers from Weifang Asthma Hospital and Weifang School of Medicine in China, along with the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, reported that an oral combination of three Chinese herbs could be as effective as conventional asthma medicines — without the serious side effects.

Corticosteroids, a common conventional asthma treatment, can increase susceptibility to infection and slow growth rates in children. Their search was for an equally effective asthma treatment minus the adverse side effects.

91 patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma were admitted to the Weifang Asthma Hospital for a four week double-blind study. 45 of the asthma patients received 20mg of prednisone per day and placebo capsules resembling ASHMI. 46 of the asthma patients were given an herbal combination called ASHMI (anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention), plus placebo tablets resembling 20mg of prednisone.

ASHMI is comprised of three Chinese herbal extracts:Lingzhi Mushroom, Kushen (Sophora Root), and Gancao (Licorice Root). ASHMI did not include Ma Huang, which is used globally as an asthma herbal remedy.

The results were rather remarkable. ASHMI had a beneficial effect on both TH1 and TH2 cytokine levels and absolutely no adverse effects on adrenal function in the study participants. Additionally, the ASHMI group experienced significantly less gastric discomfort and no weight gain. The prednisone group experienced both significant weight-gain and gastric discomfort.

On the other hand, the effect of prednisone on lung function was reported by the researchers to be “slightly, but significantly greater” than that of ASHMI, the cost of which, among others, is gastric discomfort and significant weight-gain.

The researchers are “pleased” with the trial results and conclude that their findings “…show that ASHMI is effective and well-tolerated in nonsteroid-dependent patients with moderate to severe asthma.”

[UPDATE] Based on this study, the “Allergy Research Group,” which market products under the name “Nutricology,” have formulated “PhytoCort” which is a proprietary blend of the Chinese herbs lingzhi mushroom (reishi mushroom), sophora root (kushen), and licorice root (gancao), found in ASHMI, plus a fourth herb commonly known as noni (Morinda citrifolia), which wasn’t part of the original researchers’ formulation. I suspect noni was added as an attempt to get around any patent disputes.

My wife and I have begun replacing our home made ASHMI formulation with PhytoCort and we highly recommend you give it some thought as well. It makes our lives easier, saves us time and saves us money!

Buy ASHMI (marketed by Nutricology as PhytoCort):

Clear Breathing with Chinese Herbs was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

Related Articles:

1. ASHMI Asthma Treatment
2. MSSM-002 Chinese Herbal Asthma Treatment
3. Kushen – Sophora Root

Mullein Has Been Used in the Treatment of Asthma for Centuries

Mullein was introduced to the North American continent by English colonists. It was quickly adopted by Native American tribes for treating coughs, bronchitis and asthma. In addition to treating asthma, coughs and bronchitis with Mullein, the English Eclectics prescribed it for treating tonsillitis, diarrhea, hemorrhoids and urinary tract infections.

Contemporary herbalists recommend Mullein internally for treating coughs, colds, sore throat and a myriad of other respiratory complaints.

Mullein grows everywhere and is particularly hard to miss. It is a weed with a rod like stem, velvety leaves, and striking yellow flowers. Before the discovery and use of cotton, Mullein leaves and stems were used by the ancients as candle wicks — hence the adoption of the name ‘Candlewick Plant.’

Mullein’s proponents consider it a powerful bronchial congestion remedy and, at least for some asthma sufferers, has produced immediate and pronounced beneficial effects. Mullen Oil, taken in teas and fruit juices, has been effective in immediately relieving asthma attacks in some asthma sufferers. Unfortunately, it has also resulted in absolutely no benefit or relief for other asthma sufferers.

Scientists have been unable to isolate why Mullein Oil is so selectively effective for treating asthma in some people, while having absolutely no effect with others.

If you’re an asthma sufferer that hasn’t tried Mullein, you may want to. If you’re a part of the selective group that benefits from its properties, you can enjoy immediate relief from asthma attacks by drinking your favorite tea or fruit juice mixed with Mullein Oil.

Mullein is available for sale all over the world. It is available as an oil, dried leaves (for making Mullein tea), and as a tincture. Mullein is also known as: Candlewick Plant, Torches, Velvet Dock, Flannel Plant, Feltwort, Aaron’s Rod, Shepherd’s Staff, Lungwort.

Buy Mullein:

Mullein – The Velvet Asthma Soother was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

Related Articles:

1. Clear Breathing with Chinese Herbs
2. Licorice Root – A Great Tasting Asthma Reliever
3. Eclectic Institute Compound Herbal Elixir

Shuang Huang Lian is a Powerful Combination of Over 29 Beneficial Herbs

It includes shuang hua (Lonicera japonica flower bud), lian qiao (Forsythia suspensa fruit), and huang qin (Scutellaria baicalensis).

Chinese doctors, mediacl practitioners and researchers tested shuang huang lian on infants hospitalized and suffering with acute bronchitis. The results included a rapid reduction of the acute bronchitis symptoms and a much shorter duration of the illness (Complementary Medicine for the Physician, June 1999). The results were astounding.

Shuang huang lian is not classified as an antibiotic and since the results of the study mentioned in the article, there has been a great deal of scientific interest and research delving into how and why it is such a quick and reliable reliever of acute bronchial suffering in infants.

Buy Shuang Huang Lian:

Shuang Huang Lian – Powerful Bronchial Relief was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

Related Articles:

1. Kushen – Sophora Root
2. Clear Breathing with Chinese Herbs
3. Lingzhi – Mushroom of Immortality

Grape Seeds are a Main Source of OPC Antioxidants

Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPC’s) are considered Super Antioxidants because they are unique phytochemicals known as flavonoids that have powerful antioxidant capabilities. OPC is highly water soluble so your body is able to absorb it quickly.

Clinical trials were performed to compare the effectiveness of OPC Antioxidants versus vitamin C and vitamin E with astonishing results. OPC Antioxidants may be as much as 50 times more potent than vitamin E and 20 times more potent than vitamin C in terms of bioavailable antioxidants. In fact, OPC Antioxidants work with the antioxidant glutathione to restore and recycle oxidized vitamin C which actually increases vitamin C’s effectiveness.

OPC Antioxidants are naturally occurring substances that are found throughout nature and are present in a variety of food and botanical sources. The two main sources of commercial OPC Antioxidants are grape seed extract (Vitis vinifera) made from wine grapes and pine bark extract, known as Pycnogenol, made from from the French maritime Pine Tree.

Pycnogenol was the first source of OPC Antioxidants discovered and the process used to extract it was originally patented in the 1950′s. Pycnogenol is not a generic name for OPC Antioxidant, it is simply a trademarked name for pine bark extract.

Benefits of OPC Antioxidants

Because of the unique properties of OPC Antioxidants, including their ability to cross your blood-brain barrier and their high water solubility, OPC Antioxidants have been shown to produce some remarkable benefits when taken regularly. Here are just a few examples:

• OPC Antioxidants can help protect your brain and spinal nerves against free radical damage.
• OPC Antioxidants can help protect your liver from damage caused by toxic doses of acetaminophen.
• OPC Antioxidants can help to strengthen and repair connective tissue, including that of the cardiovascular system.
• OPC Antioxidants can help support your own natural immune system.
• OPC Antioxidants have proven effective in slowing certain characteristics of the aging process.
• OPC Antioxidants help to moderate your body’s allergic and inflammatory responses by reducing histamine production.

Currently, there are numerous studies in various stages of completion, testing the effectiveness of OPC Antioxidants in the treatment of some devastating diseases and ailments including: Asthma, Fybromyalgia, AIDS, Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes, and Macular Degeneration.

OPC Antioxidants have proven to be very effective and beneficial antioxidant that could be the anchor of your supplementation program.

Buy OPC Antioxidants:

OPC Antioxidant for Asthma was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

Related Articles:

1. Vitamin C Versus Air Pollution
2. Nature’s Asthma Relievers – Fruits and Vegetables
3. Eclectic Institute Compound Herbal Elixir

Peak Flow Meters Used to Help Manage Asthma Symptoms

You can compare your “personal best” against your peak flow at any other time to get an objective idea of how well you’re breathing.

Unfortunately, the result of a peak flow measurement is very dependent on your efforts, so try to use the same effort every time.

A single peak flow measurement, without knowing what your “personal best” is, is not very useful.

Try to use peak flow values together with your other symptoms to evaluate the severity of your attack.

• Peak flow meters measure how well you can get air out of your lungs.
• Peak flow meters monitor how effectively your long term controller asthma medications and your quick relief asthma medications are working.
• Peak flow at any given time helps you identify your asthma triggers.
• Peak flow helps you decide when to seek emergency treatment.
• A drop in your peak flow can be an early and effective warning sign of an asthma attack.
• Peak flow readings can help you measure how well you’re responding to your asthma treatments.

Peak Flow Zones

Your “personal best” peak flow measurement can be used to determine your asthma action or treatment zones.

• Green: 80-100% of your “personal best” peak flow. Just keep doing what you’re doing.
• Yellow: 50-80% of your “personal best” peak flow. Caution – be careful. Use your quick relief medication as needed to try improve your peak flow or relieve whatever symptoms you might be experiencing. Remember – keep monitoring your peak flow after your treatments.
• Red: Less than 50% of your “personal best” peak flow. Danger – Asthma Attack Action Plan time. Use your quick relief asthma medication and seek immediate medical attention.

Peak flow meters are one of your best weapons in your fight to control your asthma, so use yours often!

Buy Peak Flow Meters:

Peak Flow Meters – Essential Asthma Management Tools was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

Related Articles:

1. Asthma Attack Action Plan – Are you prepared?
2. Acute Asthma Episode – Common Signs
3. Asthma Medication Delivery Systems

Licorice Root is a Remarkable Healing Herb

Licorice root has been shown to effectively soothe swollen airways, acting as an effective anti-inflammatory. It has also been found to effectively inhibit histamine release, inhibit coughing and has highly effective expectorant effects.

Licorice root eases congestion and coughing, helping to loosen and thin mucus and airways. It aids in the relaxation of bronchial spasms and soothes soreness and tightness in the throat.

In addition to its use as an asthma treatment, Licorice root has a well documented history of aiding in the treatment of colds and flu, depression, emphysema, gingivitis, HIV support, viral infections, fungal infections, ulcers, psoriasis, tuberculosis and arthritis.

Licorice root has also been proven to be an effective anti-allergenic useful for the treatment of bronchial asthma, hayfever, conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis. Licorice Root also has an aspirin like effect, which helps in the treatment of fevers and pain relief from headaches.

Traditional methods of taking Licorice Root include drinking it as a tea, chewing on the root (not recommended) and in capsule form.

Mild side effects have been documented in the prolonged use of Licorice root, including water retention, increased blood pressure, and mild adrenal stimulation. Prolonged use should definitely be avoided if you suffer from high blood pressure. Be sure to discuss treatment options with your care providers.

Licorice root is available for sale in all parts of the world as an extract, pill and capsule, both in formulations containing a combination of multiple herbs and by itself.

Also known as: Chinese Licorice, Gan Cao, Gan-Cao, Kan-ts’ao, Kuo-lao, Licorice, Licorice Root, Ling-t’ung, Liquorice, Mei-ts’ao, Mi-kan, Mi-ts’ao, Sweet Licorice, Sweet Wood, Yasti Madhu

Buy Licorice Root:

Licorice Root – A Great Tasting Asthma Reliever was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

Related Articles:

1. Kushen – Sophora Root
2. ASHMI Asthma Treatment
3. MSSM-002 Chinese Herbal Asthma Treatment

ASHMI Asthma Treatment is made up of Ling Zhi, Ku Shen & Gan Cao

ASHMI Asthma Treatment was developed by Dr. Xiumin Li of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, in collaboration of Dr. Hugh Sampson, also from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, as a simplified version of a traditional Chinese herbal combination of 14 herbs known as MSSM-002.

ASHMI Asthma Treatment was formulated on the basis of actions of the individual herbs in MSSM-002 according to traditional Chinese medicine formulation concepts designed by Weifang Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.

Does it work?

I became interested in ASHMI after hearing the buzz about the results of a landmark double-blind study conducted in China in 2005 by researchers from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, the Weifang Asthma Hospital and the Weifang School of Medicine.

“Taken together, the findings of this study show that ASHMI is effective and well-tolerated in nonsteroid-dependent patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma,” the researchers concluded.

The study was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (vol. 116, issue 3), the results of which are so promising that senior researcher Dr. Xiu-Min Li commented “This is the first well-controlled study in which an anti-asthma Chinese herbal medicine has been found to be as effective as a corticosteroid drug.” Li added that “additional clinical studies of ASHMI in the United Sates are planned. ASHMI may become an important addition to currently used drugs for asthma.”

The ASHMI trial lasted 4 weeks and included 91 human subjects with moderate to severe persistent asthma. 46 patients received 12 ASHMI capsules per day, each one containing 0.3 grams of dried aqueous extract. The total daily dosage was equivalent to 20 grams of raw Ling Zhi – Reishi Mushrooms, 9 grams of Ku Shen – Sophora Root, and 3 grams of Gan Cao – Licorice Root.

Patients in this group also received placebo tablets similar in appearance to prednisone. The other 46 patients in the placebo group received 20 mg of prednisone per day, and placebo capsules resembling ASHMI.

ASHMI Study – The results.

The subjects’ lung function, IgE levels, side effects, cytokine levels and serum cortisol levels were measured before and after treatment. Although both groups showed significant improvement in lung function, the effects of prednisone group were slightly greater. More importantly, both groups showed a significant and similar reduction in symptoms and a reduced need for beta-2 bronchodilator therapy.

The significance of that result is that both agents were almost equally effective in treating asthma. The ASHMI group had no adverse effects on adrenal function, fewer patients experienced gastric discomfort and they received a beneficial effect on TH1 and TH2 cytokine levels. The prednisone group showed significant weight gain after four weeks of treatment and experienced much higher levels of gastric discomfort.

The researchers commented that the mechanisms underlying the herbal formula’s remarkable effects are largely unknown, but are most likely the result of synergistic effects of its three Chinese herb combination.

What’s next?

In February of 2009, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) announced the funding of three Centers of Excellence which will explore therapies used in traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture and Chinese herbal mixtures.

One of the selected centers will be called the “Center for Chinese Herbal Therapy” located at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. The principal Investigator is Xiu-Min Li, M.D. The researchers are responsible for investigating ASHMI as a therapy for allergic asthma. Studies of ASHMI will look at mechanism of action in an animal model, characterize the herbs’ active components, and investigate the formula’s use in human asthma patients.

[UPDATE] Based on the remarkable results attained by ASHMI, the “Allergy Research Group,” which markets products under the brand name “Nutricology,” have formulated “PhytoCort” which is a proprietary blend of the original ASHMI formulation, along with a fourth herb commonly known as noni (Morinda citrifolia), which I suspect was added as an attempt to get around potential patent disputes.

My wife and I have replaced our “home made” ASHMI Asthma Treatment formulation with Phytocort and we highly recommend you do the same.

Buy ASHMI Asthma Treatment (PhytoCort):

ASHMI Asthma Treatment was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

Related Articles:

1. Clear Breathing with Chinese Herbs
2. MSSM-002 Chinese Herbal Asthma Treatment
3. Kushen – Sophora Root

Kushen (Sophora Root) is used to treat asthma in Chinese medicine.

Kushen has been used successfully as an herbal medicine to treat a wide variety of conditions for thousands of years.

My interest in Kushen (Sophora Root) was piqued because of two compounds found in Kushen: Matrine and Oxymatrine.

Kushen has been shown to be of significant benefit in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, eczema, fever, insomnia, cardiac arrhythmia, cancer, dysentery, inflammation, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, vaginitis, psoriasis, and conjunctivitis.

The alkaloids Matrine and Oxymatrine, as found in Kushen, inhibit histamine release, inhibit the urge to cough (antitussive), and demonstrate expectorant effects.

One study in particular shows a great deal of promise in the use of Kushen in the treatment of asthma and other respiratory disorders. 517 cases of asthmatic bronchitis were treated with Kushen, resulting in an 86.5% effectiveness rate and a 38.8% marked effectiveness rate.

Kushen can be (and usually is) consumed in extract form in with other medications. Due to its generally slight side effects, and low toxicity, it is considered to be a safe and effective medication in traditional Chinese Medicine. The side effects of Kushen are evident only at extremely high dosage levels, which include dizziness, gastric upset and evidence of immunosuppression.

Kushen is found in the desert area of northern part of China, especially in Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia. It is mainly found in the desert area of Ningxia.

Kushen is readily available all over the world. It is often used in formulations containing a combination of multiple herbs, but can also be found as a full spectrum extract.

Also known as: Ku Shen, Ku-Shen, Sophora, Sophora Root

Kushen – Sophora Root was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

Related Articles:

1. Licorice Root – A Great Tasting Asthma Reliever
2. Clear Breathing with Chinese Herbs
3. ASHMI Asthma Treatment

Compound Herbal Elixir 2 oz. by the Eclectic Institute

I first heard about this herbal compound from an article I read entitled “Notes on the Herbal Treatment of Asthma.” I was researching white pine bark for an update to my “OPC Antioxidant” article and came across it by accident.

Compound Herbal Elixir, in particular, intrigued me because of it’s unique mix of ingredients, especially the Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), white pine bark (Pinus strobus) and the wild cherry bark (Prunus spp.).

Here is the full list of ingredients found in Eclectic Institute Compound Herbal Elixir:

• Dried Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
• Dried organically grown Elecampane root (Inula helenium)
• Fresh organically grown Red Clover blossoms (Trifolium pratense)
• Dried wildcrafted Wild Cherry bark (Prunus spp.)
• Dried organically grown Horehound flower & leaf (Marrubium vulgare)
• Fresh organically grown Gumweed flower & leaf (Grindelia robusta)
• Dried wildcrafted Lobelia leaf & seed (Lobelia inflata)
• Dried Fennel seed (Foeniculum vulgare)
• Fresh Freeze-Dried Lomatium root (Lomatium dissectum)
• Dried wildcrafted White Pine bark (Pinus strobus)
• Fresh wildcrafted Poplar bud (Populus spp.)
• Bitter orange essential oil
• A base of kosher vegetable glycerin & water
• Organic Grape Alcohol Content of 15%

According to the “Eclectic Institute,” the ingredients found in their “Compound Herbal Elixir” were carefully chosen for their ability to work together simultaneously in treating your asthma symptoms, purifying your bloodstream and stimulating your immune system.

Once my wife and I have about six months of usage under our belts, I’ll write an update to this article and let you know how well this product has performed for us.

In the mean time, if you’d like to purchase the Eclectic Institute’s Compound Herbal Elixir, you can find it here:

Where to Buy the Eclectic Institute’s Compound Herbal Elixir:

Eclectic Institute Compound Herbal Elixir was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

Related Articles:

1. MSSM-002 Chinese Herbal Asthma Treatment
2. Lingzhi – Mushroom of Immortality
3. Kushen – Sophora Root