If you suffer from asthma, you may want to swap your prescription medications for some powerful and effective Chinese herbs. Specifically, ASHMI asthma treatment. ASHMI stands for Anti-Asthma Herbal Medicine Intervention.
ASHMI is a combination of three Chinese herbal extracts: Lingzhi Mushroom (aka Reishi Mushroom), Kushen (aka Sophora Root), and Licorice Root (aka Gancao). ASHMI does not include Ma Huang, which is used globally as an asthma herbal remedy.
The original formulation of ASHMI was developed by Dr. Xiu-Min Li of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, in collaboration with 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. MSSM-002 was originally designed by Weifang Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.
My wife and I became interested in ASHMI after reading a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (vol. 116, issue 3) and from an article I found on Medscape.com titled: “AAAAI 2009: Chinese Herbal Preparations Show Efficacy Against Asthma, Atopy.”
The published study chronicles the results of an experiment conducted by researchers from Weifang Asthma Hospital and Weifang School of Medicine in China, along with the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. The researchers reported that an oral combination of three Chinese herbs could be as effective as conventional asthma medicines — without the serious side effects!
The researchers were looking for an asthma treatment equally as effective as Corticosteroids, a common and conventional asthma treatment, minus the adverse side effects experienced by Corticosteroid users. Specifically, Corticosteroids have been shown to increase susceptibility to infection and slow growth rates in children.
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 ASHMI along with placebo tablets resembling 20mg of prednisone.
ASHMI had a beneficial effect on both TH1 and TH2 cytokine levels and absolutely no adverse effects on adrenal function in the study participants
The results were very positive. 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 effect of prednisone on lung function was reported by the researchers to be “slightly, but significantly greater” than that of ASHMI. But, the prednisone group experienced both significant weight-gain and gastric discomfort.
The researchers were “pleased” with the trial results and concluded that their findings “…show that ASHMI is effective and well-tolerated in nonsteroid-dependent patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma.”
As a result of the study findings, 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 and led by Xiu-Min Li, M.D. The researchers are responsible for investigating ASHMI as a therapy for allergic asthma. Studies of ASHMI will look at mechanisms of action in an animal model, characterize the herbs’ active components and investigate the formula’s use in human asthma patients.
[UPDATE]:
As a result of my research and specifically because of the study I mentioned above, I decided to try and buy ASHMI. The problem was, I couldn’t find it!
I got frustrated pretty early on in my quest, so I went to my neighborhood “Vitamin Shoppe” (brick n mortar store), bought Lingzhi Mushroom and Licorice Root supplements and made my own “homemade” mixture. (Unfortunately, I have yet to find sophora root in supplement form, although I did find that I could buy it in bulk).
Anyway, my family and I began to take our homemade supplements (along with Olive leaf extract and wild oregano) and have never looked back. We have had some pretty remarkable results and are very happy and thankful for Dr. Li and her continued research!
[UPDATE]:
I finally found something close!
Based on the original ASHMI study, the “Allergy Research Group,” which markets products under the name “Nutricology,” sell an asthma treatment supplement called Phytocort. Phytocort’s a proprietary blend of the Chinese herbs lingzhi mushroom, sophora root, and licorice root, found in Dr. Xiu-Min Li’s original ASHMI formulation described above, plus a fourth herb commonly known as noni (Morinda citrifolia), which wasn’t part of the original ASHMI formulation.
My wife and I have replaced our original homemade supplement mixture with the Phytocort supplements! (Better late than never, I guess!) :-)
Where to buy Phytocort:
[UPDATE 10/23/10]: Below is a recent email exchange between Heather (my wife) and one of our readers. I thought you might be interested in reading it:
Hi – I read your article re ASHMI for asthma. Do you have asthma? How long did you try the Allergy Research Group Version? What we’re the changes (If any) you experienced? Would you use again? Why? Why not?
I am mother of 5 year old with multiple food allergies and asthma. Always seeking ways to healing.
Thanks
xxxxxxxxxx
==========================================================
Hi xxxxxxxxxxx,
My name is Heather. I’m Cody’s wife. I’m sorry it’s taken so long to get back to you, but I work in retail and have a very “uneven” schedule. Cody asked me to respond to your email personally, after he read it.
I suffer from severe asthma. At the end of 2004, I spent 4 days in the hospital because of a very severe asthma attack. The doctors tried everything for me: oxygen, nebulizer treatments, everything. They slowly raised my “blood oxygen level” over the course of those four days, but I never reached above the “60’s.”
I was very thankful to have made it out of the hospital alive and breathing, but I (& Cody even more) was also determined to do some research to see if I could find something natural that could help me breathe better and keep me out of the hospital better than the medication I was taking.
At the time I had my severe attack, I was taking advair everyday. I also used my albuterol inhaler once or twice a day, everyday and was administering nebulizer treatments to myself several times a month.
Then everything really changed! Cody discovered ASHMI, but hadn’t yet discovered phytocort. He put together a “homemade” recipe with supplements he bought from vitamin stores. That’s when I started taking lingzhi mushroom extract, licorice root extract, olive leaf extract and wild oregano supplements.
Since I began the supplementation about 3 years ago, I have received very dramatic benefits and no side effects (as far as my doctor and I can tell). I have not had to take any Advair. I have only used my albuterol inhaler two or three times a year over the past three years (during the fall of each year). I can’t remember the last time I’ve had to administer a nebulizer treatment, but it’s definitely been over 2 years.
I still carry my albuterol with me everywhere I go, because I’m scared to death of not having it, if I ever needed it.
I take two capsules of phytocort and one each of the olive leaf extract and wild oregano supplements, twice a day.
I’ve been taking the phytocort for almost a year. Before phytocort, I was taking my homemade supplement recipe for about two years. I like taking the phytocort because the ingredients are already packaged into one supplement and it’s cheaper to buy one bottle of phytocort than putting all of the supplements together myself. I honestly have not noticed a difference in my breathing between my homemade supplement mixture and the phytocort.
I tell everyone that asks me to NOT expect the same results I’ve experienced. I’ve learned that individuals experience different results and side effects from taking the same supplements and medications. So, please DO NOT expect the same results that I have experienced.
I hope that my email has answered some of your questions (I’ve tried my best). I also hope that you continue to research progressive asthma treatments and that you find one or more that may work for your child.
Thanks for visiting our site and all my best.
~ Heather
j says
Can ASHMI be purchased anywhere?
Cody Wells says
@ j
ASHMI can’t be purchased yet – it’s still under patent review(Please see my November 29, 2009 comment below for an important update). My wife and I have been getting by with a homemade supplement mixture which include 2 of the 3 original ingredients. That is, we buy Lingzhi Mushroom and Licorice Root, which are readily available in supplement form and take them twice a day.I can tell you that we feel better for it! (That has been strictly our experience and I am certainly not dispensing any medical advice here!)
I hope that helps and thanks for stopping by. :-)
Cody Wells says
UPDATE
@J ==> No, ASHMI cannot be purchased. I was able to find a product called phytocort, manufactured by a company called Allergy Research Group and marketed under the name Nutricology.
Phytocort is formulated with the original herbs found in ASHMI which are lingzhi mushroom, licorice root (gancao) and sophora root (kushen), plus a fourth ingredient called noni.
My wife and I have stopped taking our homemade mixture and have begun taking phytocort. We have been purchasing it from amazon.com because of the price, but have also purchased it from ebay.com, as well.
Deanna Swanson says
I purchased Phytocort and took it for 2 days with good results, then this morning after I took it I read in the small print that it contains lead. LEAD! Why is there lead in there? I don’t want to get lead poisoning. For that matter, why is there shellfish in there? It’s not one of the main ingredients, but it’s listed as containing shellfish, which I’m supposed to be allergic to. Can we get the same herbs i a safer blend, without these additives?
Cody Wells says
Hi Deanna,
Thanks for dropping by and sharing your concerns. Believe me, I understand. My wife is very sensitive to different ingredients and we are always on the lookout for the ones that she has issues with.
Before I found the Phytocort product (which is the closest thing to the original ASHMI I was able to find), we used a “homemade” mixture by buying supplements and taking them together.
I have never been able to verify how much of the “Ku Shen” (sophora root) was used in the original ASHMI formulation (ie. what percentage of ASHMI was made up of Ku Shen), nor was I able to find any pre-packaged supplements (only in bulk powder or chopped root form), so we didn’t take any sophora root.
After a bit of trial and error (adding and then subtracting oregano), we settled on the following for an extended period: Lingzhi Mushroom Supplements (aka Reishi Mushrooms) + Licorice Root Supplements (aka Gancao) + Olive Leaf Supplements (our addition).
Also, please have a look at my Article on Mullein. You may decide to give that a try instead.
I hope I’ve been of some help & thanks again for stopping by.
~Cody
sam says
How much of what do you take?
Cody Wells says
@Sam
I take 600mg of Lingzhi Mushroom (Reishi Mushroom) and 450mg of Licorice Root, plus a few other herbs twice per day. My wife takes the Lingzhi Mushroom – Licorice Root combination, plus some additional herbs, at least twice per day.
Thanks for stopping by. :-)
Codyfan says
Thanks Cody! Great article, exactly what I’d been looking for. I’m going to look into using phytocort as you suggest. I have some family members which suffer from breathing problems. Can I pm you with questions, or should I stick to comments?
noah says
hello cody!
does “phytocort” really have similar effects to cortisone? is it not too expensive longterm taken in the doses recommended?
has anyone else other than Cody experience with it?
i am contemplating getting it too, but would really like to hear more before!
i would be happy for any kind of feedback!
all the best, noah:)
Cody Wells says
Hi Noah,
The only results I feel comfortable relaying to you are my family’s, I’m afraid you’ll need to ask a doctor (or certainly someone other than myself) to discuss cortisone vs. anything. My wife and I have experienced breathing benefits from phytocort, and before that, a combination of lingzhi mushroom and licorice root supplements.
Both of us take the recommended dosage of two supplements of phytocort twice a day, plus olive leaf extract and wild oregano extract.
Before the herbal supplementation, my wife, who suffered from severe asthma issues was taking Advair once a day, using her albuterol inhaler once or twice a day and giving herself nebulizer treatments two or three times a month.
Since she began the new supplement regimen, no more advair, no more nebulizer treatments and only two or three uses of her albuterol inhaler per year (during the fall) over the past three years!
As far as monetary costs are concerned, I order four 120 count containers of phytocort every two months from amazon.com, for the both of us. The price is approximately
$19 and some change$21.78 per 120 count container plus a total of $5.95 shipping, which comes out to be approximately$86 (I rounded up)$93. That’s roughly$21.50$23.27 per month for each of us or$0.72$0.78 (72 cents78 cents) per day. Much, much lower than the out of pocket cost of advair, albuterol and nebulizer packets.As far as emotional and physical costs are concerned, we would willingly pay much more to avoid getting the jitters and other side effects of constant albuterol and advair use!
Noah, please don’t misinterpret what I have written. I am certainly not trying to convince you of anything, and am certainly not suggesting you replace your medication with anything. I’m merely describing our recent experience with phytocort. I highly recommend you make an informed decision and DO NOT stop taking any of your prescribed medication.
In fact, my wife carries her albuterol inhaler everywhere she goes and plans on continuing to doing so.
I wrote this article because the supplements seem to be working for us and have helped us gain significant independence from powerful and expensive prescribed medications. They may not work for you, although I certainly hope they do.
Thank you for stopping by and for your frank questions.
:-) Cody
Noah says
Dear Cody,
thank you so much for your so thorough answer!!! i appreciate this extremely! wow! thank you!
yes, for being healthy one is ready to spend huge amounts, i agree, i only asked cause i am already spending over 300 euros on my health monthly and i just wanted to check it out more before trying it out. thank you heaps for your advice!
don’t worry, i wont stop taking anything else i am already taking! i am not planning to stop anything, will just try it as an additional fix!
thank you for taking the time! in answering me so honestly! this is extremely kind of you!!!!! i am really stunned for the effort you took!
all the very best!!!!
noah :)
Cody Wells says
No worries! My pleasure. :-)
If you decide to give phytocort a try, please do come back to let us know how it went. I would love to hear about your experience with it.
Thanks again.
Cody
noah says
roger that!
noah :) :) :)
Margot says
I have tried Phytocort, taking 2 capsules made me very hyper for a long time, good thing I didn’t take 3, I tried 1 capsule which was a little better, will 1 cap twice a day have enough effect on COPD ?
I am very sensitive to a lot of things and only weigh 98 lbs.
Thank you in advance for your reply
Margot
Cody Wells says
Margot,
If phytocort makes you hyper, it sounds to me like you should immediately stop taking it at any dosage amount. I subscribe to the “better safe than sorry” school.
I’m not a doctor or a health practitioner, either of which could answer your question better than I can. If you have a licensed health practitioner to talk with, I would pose them the same question. I suspect they would tell you to stop taking the Phytocort as well. No sense in creating new problems for yourself.
Sorry I can’t be of any further help. Good luck and I’m sorry Phytocort isn’t working out.
jan says
Kushen or sophora root can be neurotoxic to kids over a long period of time or high doeses.
Cody Wells says
@ Jan >> Thanks for dropping by and for your sobering comment. Can you point us to some articles of the research and studies upon which you base your statement. I’m sure we’d all find it a valuable read.
:) Cody
Oma says
Jan, I understand the concern, I remember reading about some of the problems you mention. I was very glad to hear that the problems actually got somewhat fixed;
S G Berm says
Asthma Herb that Actually Helped!
I suffer from severe asthma. Have been searching and searching for a natural replacement/alternative to the asthma medication serevent. I have been desperately wanting to lower my dependency to this very strong asthma medication. I believe I have finally found it. Phytocort is great. It took several bottles to get into my system enough that I’ve taken serevent only once a day!!!!!! I hope to be off of serevent completely in about 14 to 21 days.
Thanks Cody, for writing about it!!!!!!!!!!
Sandy Berman
Cody Wells says
@ Sandy: Thanks for dropping by!! I’m very happy to hear about your success with the Phytocort. :)
Please come back when you get a minute, to let us know how you’re doing.
Thanks again & good luck!!!
~Cody
Kaitlin Seago says
Cody, thanks for all the great articles on using non-traditional treatment options. Do you do your own research?
Cody Wells says
@ Kaitlin: You’re more than welcome. I hope you find something useful here!! :)
Yes, I do perform my own research. There is so much info available these days. Obviously, cutting through the noise can be tiresome, but there are some very good folks out there who are sharing their knowledge with the rest of us.
Thanks for stopping by & please come back and visit occasionally.
~Cody
Lisa says
Hello,
My 19 month old son was diagnosed “idopathic hypoxemia” about 7 months ago (which is just a fancy way of saying he has low blood oxygen levels and they do not know why). We have done everything short of a lung biopsy (which our dr advised waiting on it since it would be a “blind test” since there are no abnormalities or specific areas to actually pin point to extract for testing). He runs about 92-100 during the day and 87-95 when asleep. We have oxygen to administer. There are times where he is PERFECTLY OK (and sleeps with out oxygen, etc) and there are times where he is not. He is only “slightly” allergic to dairy and cat hair.
He responds very well to steroids; however, he is in the 15th % for height. He was slightly short before but has only grown 1″ in 7 months since starting the pulmicort steroid (inhaled). He likewise responds well to musinex. My doctor is not “opposed” to herbal treatments, but does NOT encourage or prescribe them. I found Phytocort after reading the Mt Sinai study online (and looked for a product that combined all the herbs together as well as investigated making my own). I found phytocort and gave 2 doses to my toddler (via dissolved in water and medicine dropper). It worked well!
However, after 2 doses, I read that sophora flower is a neurotoxin to children and have not given him anymore. I cannot find ANYTHING showing the actual dosage studied to show toxicity levels for children. I read that blood types govern the toxic response to each herb (it was a general statement, not a specific approach to Sophora, etc).
Ok, so my question is: does anyone give the product to their young children? If so, how much? I gave 1 pill in the morning and 1 pill in afternoon with good results. However, I am concerned about the neurotoxicity. I realize this is not a physician’s cite and am not looking for endorsement, but I am looking for experienced parents that have given this product to children, your outcome/experience and doses you use… Additionally, does anyone use the Mucolyxir (by same company) as alternative to musinex for children?
Cody Wells says
Hi Lisa –> Thanks for dropping by.
I am so sorry to hear about your son. Heather (my wife) and I do not have children with asthma, so I do not have any personal experiences to pass along.
I wish I had some solid info to give you in reference to the sophora dosage amounts. You are the second reader that has commented on it, and I feel like I “dropped the ball” on the subject because I did not do any additional research on sophora’s neurotoxicity to children. Because of your comment, I am going to try and dig some info up myself and should I come across anything that I feel might be of the slightest help, I will send it to you via your email. I’m certainly not the world’s best researcher, but I do OK and can maybe point you in a productive direction.
Regardless, please:
If anyone reading this can be of some help, please post what you know. I’m sure Lisa and her suffering child would appreciate any help at all.
I can only imagine how frustrating this is for you, Lisa! Hang in there!
~Cody
Cody Wells says
Lisa,
I have done some research into the toxicity levels of sophora flavescens. Although I haven’t found an answer to your specific questions, the below articles may help in your quest:
http://www.itmonline.org/arts/oxyupdate.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17598549
http://books.google.com/books?id=gC91F_SwVEUC&pg=PA201&lpg=PA201&dq=sophora+toxicity&source=bl&ots=CKyP2BmGk0&sig=GOf-CsWgp_z0ug1sXJXEtDY9Z1k&hl=en&ei=8nRpTf_5LoSclgfV_Y3_AQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&sqi=2&ved=0CFgQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=sophora%20toxicity&f=false
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jps.2600650309/abstract
http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/20093134721.html
I hope you have come back to see these links and if you have, I hope they help!!
karen shaw says
can you tell me how long it should take to see some improvement from the phytocort?
have taken 2 bottles and see no difference so far,
Cody Wells says
Hi Karen >> Thanks for dropping by.
I would guess two bottles is plenty. If you haven’t noticed any breathing benefits by now, it seems as though, unfortunately, Phytocort is probably not for you.
Del says
@Karen
I noticed immediate improvement after the 2nd day of taking the 3 capsules twice a day. My husband’s breathing got easier after a couple of days also.
natalie says
Karen, try the homemade version Cody recommended & usedd himself. Tha t worked for me. I bought the lingzhi mushroom and licorice root supplements separately and took them at the same time twice a day. Works for me even today.
Please keep trying, there’s a natural supplement out there that will help you. Just dont stop looking!
Shelly Buse says
Cody,
great blog!
I’m an Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist in Texas. I would recommend to anyone who is seeking help for asthma to see an Acupuncturist/Herbalist. Even if a person has the same western diagnosis such as “Asthma”, we treat each patient differently based on their signs and symptoms. Meaning, we wouldn’t necessarily prescribe the same herbs to each person just because they have asthma. We break it down more than that and treat the person before us, not the disease! Some people may have more phlegm, or less phlegm, or more heat, or less, etc. Some may have a harder time inhaling than exhaling or vice versa. All these are clues to the practitioner and both the acupuncture treatment and the herbal prescription will most likely vary.
Most acupuncturists have an herbal pharmacy with compounding abilities so that the formula for each patient is specifically geared to what’s going on to them! But it can’t hurt to bring in the information about ASHMI to your practitioner and discuss it with them!
Cheers,
~Shelly
Cody Wells says
Hi Shelly,
Thanks for the kind words. My wife and I have friends that swear by their Acupuncturist for quite a bit more than asthma. It is a fascinating and effective healing practice that I wish more people would take advantage of.
Thank you for dropping by as you have given me some inspiration to write an article about the use of acupuncture in the treatment and management of asthma. :-)
karen shaw says
just a word of caution, out of desparation I kept taking the phytocort 3 caps 3 times a day and gave myself a case of pancreatitis
my asthma was a direct result of taking antibiotics so I think I need to find the particular gut biota which was destroyed
I have been to 7 MD’s, tried acupuncture and homeopathy, several different probiotics, was told that the antibiotics might have caused a glutathione defficiency so have been taking NAS to no avail and am about at the end of my rope
have you read about the guy who infected himself with hookworms – he claims it cured him
Cody Wells says
Thanks Karen! I’m so sorry Phytocort did not work out for you. As you know from our private emails, Heather and I were certainly hopeful it would work out for you. It’s very frustrating.
As promised, I have done some research into other supplements that may be of some help for you. I have found two promising ones, that have quite a few positive reviews all over the place. One is called “Dr. Murray’s Lung, Bronchial & Sinus Health” and the other is called “AsthmaClear.”
No, I haven’t read about the hookworms treatment yet, but hey, if it works for the guy, more power to him!
Thanks again for stopping by and I will keep a “look-out” for any additional info I think might be of some use to you. :-)
Cody Wells says
Hi All,
Someone was kind enough to post the link to the “hookworm for asthma” website yesterday in these comments and I inadvertently deleted it. Sorry!!!!!!
Here it is below for anyone interested:
http://www.asthmahookworm.com/jt_archive/index.php
karen shaw says
just wanted to let you know I have finally found some relief by taking N-Acetyl L-Cysteine
I believe it has to do with a glutathione defficiency
[Link Below Edited by Cody]
http:// www [dot] diagnose-me [dot] com/treat/T292370.html
Cody Wells says
That’s great news Karen! Your persistence certainly paid off. Thanks for the info on “NAC.”
Here is the: Cysteine link on Wikipedia
noah says
Hello there!
some time has passed but i have finally tried out Phytocort for my severe allergic asthma (plus rhinitis), but it has not helped me at all unfortunatley – at least not to a point where i would notice a benefit. i promised to come back and report after trying, so this is my experience. does not mean though that it can’t help others. just did not work for me,
all the best
noah
noah says
Hello there!
some time has passed but i have finally tried out Phytocort for my severe allergic asthma (plus rhinitis), but it has not helped me at all unfortunatley – at least not to a point where i would notice a benefit. i promised to come back and report after trying, so this is my experience. does not mean though that it can’t help others. just did not work for me,
what helps me (i also take the conventional asthma medicine like xolair, cortisone, montelukast etc) are the herbs “Radix Gentianae, Flos Primulae cum calycibus, Herba Rumicis acetosa, Flos Sambuci and Herba Verbenae”. They are contained in “Solvopret/Sinupret”, but i buy them separately as tea herbs in the pharmacy and put them into capsules. they work very well on the sinus and also in the lungs. this is my 5 cents.
all the best
noah
Cody Wells says
Hi Noah,
It’s been a while!!! Nice to hear back from you.
I am terribly sorry to hear of your disappointing results. Seems like it’s been a mixed bag as far as peoples’ experiences. A majority of the commenters here have had positive results, but a few (like yourself) have not. I appreciate your willingness to discuss your results and hope you can find something soon.
We (my wife and I) have been exploring some alternative (to phytocort) herbal remedies that have been beneficial in tackling allergy (hay fever – sinus) symptoms, in addition to the asthma issues. I will be posting our results in an upcoming article.
Again, thanks for dropping by. :)
Brad says
I am on medrol – 4mg, methotrexate – 20 mg, and also advair and flovent. I am believed to be either hypereosinophillic or churg-strauss. My question is would Ashmi benefit me by lowering my eosinophil count and would it be safe with the above medications mentioned?
Cody Wells says
Hi Brad,
Unfortunately, I am not a trained medical practitioner. You would be better served by asking your doctor/medical practitioner that same question.
It’s not that I don’t want to try and help, it’s just that I am not trained or licensed to do so.
Best of luck and I hope you can find an answer.
Thanks for dropping by. :)
Brad says
Okay Cody I will have to take a naturopath avenue for advice as my respiroligist ” suggested” i try ASHMI with hopes of bringing down my eosinphil count. He told me though, use it at my own risk and that basically he doesn’t know if it will work. So I guess I may have to talk to someone with a bit more experience with this herb. I am in desperate need of lowering my eosinphil count and reducing prednisone.
Cody Wells says
Hi Brad,
I hear you loud and clear. It can be a very frustrating and frightening process (at least it has been for my wife and I). We started with “homemade” supplement mixture, then found ready made phytocort. We are now experimenting with a different herbal combination to deal with some sinus issues, in addition to the asthma symptoms!
It seems to be a “mixed bag” of results with general asthma sufferers’ phytocort usage, as comments above will attest to. The majority of the feedback I’ve gotten points to at least some relief of asthma symptoms with it’s usage, but several folks have commented above that results were negligible at best. We (my wife and I) had good results with phytocort in combination with olive leaf extract and wild oregano (along with 2 oz. of aloe juice at night before we go to bed), but we are constantly tweaking herbal combinations, as I’ve already mentioned.
Good luck in your quest and please do stop by to tell us about how you’re progressing. Thanks again for stopping by. :)
LindaM says
I have been looking for nature replacements for predsidone, and ran across this site. I was all excited when I saw ASHMI…….however after researching the herbs I find most are mushrooms. That kinda freaked me out, because in Feb 2011 they found a 3.5 mass in my right lung that showed to be candida. So I radically changed my diet, no sugar, soy, rye, wheat, mushrooms. My question is since part of this formula is mushroom based, would it cause the candida to reappear? As I surely couldnt afford that!
I supposedly have severe COPD,, and using inhalers, nebulizers and such, and when I get really bad and have bigger breathing problems I use presidone, so…..since you have has alot of experince with this product what would you recommend……Please I would love your help!!!
LindaM
Cody Wells says
Hi Linda,
Thanks for dropping by. Unfortunately, I am not a trained medical practitioner. You would be better served by asking your doctor/medical practitioner that same question to get a definitive answer.
That being said, I can tell you that Phytocort is full of mushrooms (ie. Reishi/Lingzhi mushrooms), so if I were you, I would stay far away from it. I don’t know if it would cause the candida to reappear, but I would recommend that you be safe and not sorry!
There are certainly a great many options for you try. For example: Dr. Murray’s Lung, Bronchial & Sinus Health and AirwayClear. Both can be found on Amazon. But be sure to check the list of ingredients in each of them, to ensure that there aren’t any offending herbs or mushrooms.
Good luck and I’m really sorry I couldn’t be of any more help!
Robert Macias says
I’m trying to find an herbal combination that might help with sinus allergies. Is there any anecdotal evidence that ASHMI or Phytocort helps with sinus allergies? The one herbal product I’ve found that helps is Sinupret. It seems to be a pretty good decongestant, but it’s not an antihistamine, so it doesn’t address the itchy eyes and sneezing.
I’m a little concerned about the additional ingredient in Phytocort: Noni. Here’s what Dr. Weil says about it: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA64352
I may try your do-it-yourself approach to ASHMI. Did you ever find a good online source for all three ingredients (other than the Phytocort formula)?
Thanks,
Robert
Cody Wells says
Hi Robert,
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the link to the Dr. Weil article –>> very good info!
My wholehearted recommendation for the homemade supplements is amazon.com. You will find everything you need there, except for kushen/sophora root in supplement form.
I did find a place I could order the sophora root in supplement form very recently, I just can’t remember off the top of my head where it was! I will continue to search and post my findings here.
As far as sinus allergy help, my wife has had success with “Dr. Murray’s Lung, Bronchial & Sinus Health” for her allergies. We have successfully ordered it from amazon.
Unfortunately, I have not seen, read, nor heard of any evidence that phytocort has any effect (beneficial or otherwise) on allergies of any kind. Sorry I can’t be of any more help on that question!
Thanks again for stopping by and let us know how things work out, good or not so good. The info may help others.
noah says
hi Cody
thank you very much :)
i forgot to say, also butterbur helps me heaps with my allergic rhinits as well with my severe allergic asthma. it is strongly anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory. one needs to buy a standardized extract of butterbur that is free of pyrrolizidins, but it helps as well as an antihistamine without the sedating effect.
looking forward to your upcoming article!!!
all the best
and thank you!!
noah :)
Alan says
What is your appraisal as to how closely Phytocort matches that which was tested by Dr. Li at Mt. Sinai medical center?
Cody Wells says
Hi Alan,
Thanks for dropping by.
There is one big difference. Noni is not part of Dr. Xiu-Min Li’s original formulation. What effect that has, I have no idea?
I would guess that the other factor that comes into play is the purity of the ingredients and I would guess, the freshness of the ingredients. I have no idea how one would go about measuring such things, but I would guess they are important, nonetheless.
Hope this helps??
Vojtech says
Hi, do you have some info concerning ongoing clinical studies of ASHMI? When we can expect the publication of results? Do you know, whether ASHMI/Phytocort is safe for children?
Cody Wells says
Hi Vojtech,
Thanks for dropping by.
A great place to start is the search page of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Use ASHMI as your keyword and then hit the search button. You will have 3 full pages of search results to sift through, including clinical studies and published results.
As far as if the formulation is safe for children >>> see comments by Lisa on 1-3-2011 and my subsequent comments on 1-9-2011. I’m not a doctor or medical practitioner of any kind, so I think you’d be better off asking a medical/herbal professional that very same question (or at the very least, do some research on your own). Better safe than sorry when it comes to one’s kids!!!
Thanks again for dropping by. :)
Anonymous says
I got asthma symptoms for the 1st time in my life along with my usualy springtime allergies, 2 years ago. I saw a allergy/pulmonologist MD (one of the best in my area of SLC, UT) and he told me this was the beginning of a long road where I’ll need stronger and stronger inhalers and other meds for asthma. That was unacceptable to me.
I ended up using Ashmi that allergy season along with an emergency inhaler as needed.
That season was the last time I needed the inhaler. I have been able to use ashmi now, just as any symptoms arise.
Also, no side effects were noted with the ashmi. Additionally, my seasonal allergy symptoms are about 10% of what they used to be, but I’m not sure that’s due to the ashmi.
The stuff does taste terrrible though. Small price to pay…
Cody Wells says
@Anonymous: Thanks for dropping by and sharing your very positive results! I’m very glad to hear it has helped you! In my book, any herbs or herbal combinations that help decrease our dependency on pharmaceuticals are essential.
Thanks again and continued good health. :)
Mark says
Hi, I’m in the UK so had to order PhytoCort from Amazon and get it shipped over to the UK. It recommends taking 3 capsules three times daily and then reducing to 2 capsules twice daily. After taking my first 3 capsules about an hour ago I now have crazy black and white zigzag lights in the middle of my eyes! Has anyone else experienced this?
Cody Wells says
Hi Mark,
I certainly hope not!!! That sounds terrible! I would certainly lay off taking any more unless you were sure phytocort wasn’t the cause.
Thanks for letting everyone know about it and please stop by to bring us up to date.
Thanks and good luck.
kells says
Hi,
I suffer from swollen eyelids. In a nutshell, when I was put on Prednisone the swelling decreased dramatically but returned when I went off. And, of course, I did not want to stay on that for too long since it made me gain so much weight in less than half a year.
I know that you said this worked for your wife and her breathing but did it do anything for swelling by chance? Like, did it coincide with the results she had with Prednisone [if she took Prednisone…]
I’m just looking for an alternative to Prednisone is all. And, I know you aren’t a doctor and whatnot. I’m just fishing for information. Thanks.
Cody Wells says
Hi Kells,
Thanks for dropping by. You’re exactly right, I’m not a doctor, so I’m definitely not the one to ask these questions to.
Unfortunately, we have no personal experience whatsoever with Prednisone.
Also, unfortunately, I have no idea about decreases in swelling or anything like that from the use of ASHMI or phytocort.
Good luck on your research and I hope you’re successful.
kells says
I’ve been consulting a doctor for a couple years now. It’s cool.
Thanks!
Janet says
Which olive leaf extract do u get and which oreganol? Thanks, Janet
Cody Wells says
Hi Janet,
Thanks for dropping by!
Olive Leaf = Nature’s Way Olive Leaf
Oreganol = North American Herb & Spice
Hope that helps. :-)
Janet says
Thanks for your fast response. How much of the phytocort, olive leaf and oregano do you take each day? I do take Olive leaf and have taken the Oregano oil as well, but not together, Both are excellent. My mother uses olive leaf for everything! I will keep u ;posted. thanks for sharing.
Cody Wells says
Hi Janet,
No worries. Glad to be of some help! :-)
Olive Leaf = 1 capsule am & 1 capsule pm (before bed) (I absolutely love the olive leaf!!)
Phytocort = 2 capsules am & 2 capsules pm (before going to bed)
Oreganol = 1 capsule pm (before going to bed)
Let us know how you do & thanks again!!
Janet says
Thanks so much. How long did you take the above before you noticed they worked? Did you or anyone in your family have to sometimes use a nebulizer?
I was making my own olive leaf extract and it is excellent but then I was tested and was told that I was allergic to it, even though I have taken it for years with no side effects and olives, olive oil forever. So I think those tests are not accurate. I am taking the Olive leaf now with the Oreganol and also the Phytocort. But I am waiting for the Olive leaf that you recommended as the one I have on hand is not very strong.
I really hope this works. I never had asthma until 2007. I believe it was caused by wearing myself down as I rehabilitated wildlife for years and then I lived in an forested area where there was black mold,it was constant cleaning , but I was always getting colds and thats when I started to get pneumonia too and when I believe the asthma took over because of my vulnerability to colds and the mold. I live in a drier area now.
Thanks for your great info!
Cody Wells says
Hi Janet,
Both my wife and I felt fairly immediate results. Judging from the comments here, and some of my other articles, it seems as that mostly people either feel a fairly immediate benefit, or none at all, with the Phytocort.
Yes. My wife has needed to use a nebulizer on occasion, always during the fall. Fall is always her worst time of the year. I just asked her about last fall (2011) and she’s fairly certain she did not require a nebulizer treatment. Otherwise, although we keep it ready for use, we need to use it only sparingly.
Based on some recent conversations and some preliminary personal research and experimentation, my wife and I are going to try a new combination of supplements. We’re not sure how it’s going to go and we were going to hold off on discussing it publicly, but this seems like a good time.
Starting this coming week, we will be taking the following supplements:
Olive Leaf = 1 capsule am & 1 capsule pm (before bed)
Clearlungs Chinese Herbal Formula (Red Label) (by Ridgecrest Herbals) = 2 capsules am & 2 capsules pm (before bed)
Lung, Bronchial & Sinus Health (Dr. Michael Murray Formulated) (by Natural Factors) = 1 pill am & 1 pill pm (before bed)
We recently moved and now have a pine forest as our back yard. We are trying to deal with some allergy issues which we’re hoping the new supplementation regimen will help us with. Also, we plan on using an air filtration system for the first time.
We are thinking of purchasing and using a: BlueAir 603 HepaSilent Air-Purification System
We will not be taking the Phytocort or the Oreganol.
We’re not sure how it’s going to go, but we will be giving it a solid three months of testing.
I hope all goes well with your supplementation and please do keep us updated! I will certainly do the same.
Thanks again for dropping by. :-)
Paul says
Hi Cody,
I am just starting a bottle of Phytocort. Do you take the capsules with food or without. What is more effective. I found no information on this and several calls I made to sellers were answered with, ask a Doctor. If you are privy to this information I would be very thankful for an answer.
Cody Wells says
Hi Paul,
Thanks for dropping by! Unfortunately, I have no idea what the manufacturer’s recommendation is, nor do I know which is technically more effective.
I’m not a doctor nor a medical practitioner, but our (my wife & I) personal experience has been that we generally take it on empty stomachs, but have occasionally taken them with food. We prefer taking the Phytocort on empty stomachs.
I hope that helps and please drop us a note to let us know how things work out. :-)
Moll says
Thank you for an interesting article with lots of followup comments.
Vasant Lad’s simple Ayurvedic remedy, which can be taken daily is to boil 1 tsp licorice root for a few minutes, then stir in 1/2 tsp ghee (clarified butter), and take a sip every 5-10 min. It does help.
Also, my own experience with asthma is that when I have relieved the underlying allergies, especially hay fever, by cleansing (gut and liver), I have had almost no asthma. This worked for several years until it’s clear I need to do the cleansing again. This points to an underlying cause (in my case) that when relieved, disappears the asthma along with it.
Cody Wells says
Thanks for dropping by Moll.
I am always very glad to have readers share their experiences with others as I have found that oftentimes this is the very way that folks that have tried “everything” actually end up discovering relief!
Continued good health!!
~ Cody Wells :-)
Laura Ruhbeck says
Hi Cody-
In one of your responses you had said you were taking 600 mg of Lingzhi mushroom plus 450 mg of Gancao plus 1100 mg of Wild Oregano plus 500 mg of Olive Leaf extract twice a day every day. My question is what are the mg in the Phytocort it doesn’t say on the bottle so a person can adjust to the mg’s you have stated if necessary. Also the Wild Oregano that you gave the site to is only 140 mg on the bottle and the Olive Leaf on the bottle is only 250 mg so that would mean you take 2 capsules of the olive leaf but on the Wild oregano you take 7-8 wild oregano? and how did you experiment?…..take one capsule more every week or something until you found relief? Also why are you not taking the Phytocort anymore and are trying something different. Is there a point where Phytocort gets built up in a persons system and doesn’t work anymore? My husband is on Advair and Albuteral and over the years has had bad side effects and would like to get off the steroids also and we are thinking about trying this. Thanks
Cody Wells says
Hi Laura,
Thanks for stopping by & for your questions. I’ll do my best to answer them, but please keep in mind that I am not a doctor or medical practitioner of any kind, ok? Also, please be sure and ask your doctor about any supplements your husband may take or any planned changes in your husband’s asthma treatments. On to the questions……..
Question #1: “My question is what are the mg in the Phytocort …..?”
I don’t know (unfortunately, since it’s a proprietary blend, I have no idea how to find out!).
Question #2: “Also the Wild Oregano that you gave the site to is only 140 mg on the bottle and the Olive Leaf on the bottle is only 250 mg so that would mean you take 2 capsules of the olive leaf but on the Wild oregano you take 7-8 wild oregano?”
Yes on the Olive Leaf (2 capsules). No on the Oregano. The Oregano supplement we were taking at the time I made the comment (found under my Lingzhi Mushroom article) is called “Wild Oregano Complex” (sold by The Vitamin Shoppe). We switched over to the “Oreganol” at some point (not sure when). We no longer take any oregano supplements though. The reason I keep the text of my wife’s email up there is to give everyone a snapshot of the process that we went through.
Question #3: “how did you experiment?..take one capsule more every week or something until you found relief?”
We started with our homemade mixture, then went to the phytocort and are currently on the “Lung, Bronchial and Sinus Health Tablet” + “ClearLungs” + “Olive Leaf” combo. We have been experimenting for the past four years+ and we have tried to follow the recommended dosages. We tweaked things after researching additional supplements/treatments through forums, reviews/comments on diverse sites and reading academic/scientific study results.
Question #4: “Also, why are you not taking the Phytocort anymore and are trying something different?”
We switched because my wife seemed to be experiencing diminished results over time with the phytocort. As a result, I had read about the “Natural Factor’s Lung, Bronchial and Sinus Health Tablet” and “Ridgecrest Clearlungs” through my research so we decided to give them a try. We have been using that combo (plus the olive leaf) for almost a year now. We are both happy with the results so far.
I hope my answers (and our experiences) will be of some help to you and your husband. Again, please be very careful with any supplements and be sure to consult with your doctor. Take your time and do as much research as you can. Different things work (or don’t work) for different people, so try not to get frustrated or desperate. Take your time and be careful. As bad as the side effects are for your husband, his medications have kept him alive.
Thanks again for dropping by and I hope all goes well for your husband!! Good luck!!
~Cody
Ida Kramer says
Hi!
Why do you take the Oregano and Olive leaf? how did you come up with it? and what does it do?
Ida
Cody Wells says
Hi Ida,
Thanks for dropping by. My wife and I take supplements (and/or medications) based on having to live with and deal with particular physical issues (such as asthma). As far as supplements are concerned, we try to gather as much information and opinions as we can about a particular supplement and if it seems like a good fit for us, we’ll give it a try. We try to gauge the benefits (if any) of a particular supplement and continue it’s use if it seems worthwhile.
Below are two links which will provide you with more info on olive leaf:
1. http://www.olivus.com/faq_olive_leaf.htm
2. http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-olive-leaf.html
We don’t take oregano supplements any longer (as noted in my comment to Laura above), but below are two links to provide you with more info on oregano:
1. http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/oregano-oil/
2. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-644-OREGANO.aspx?activeIngredientId=644&activeIngredientName=OREGANO
I hope this helps. Thanks again & good luck! :)
~Cody
Jim Longacre says
I am so glad that I just found your website. I haven’t read more than a couple of articles but am prompted to write because I really appreciate your responsiveness to questions and comments that people have sent in.
I have struggled with lung issues since coming down with Valley Fever in 1977. I had 2 surgeries to remove 1/2 my right lung and thought all would be well, but a chain reaction of lung illnesses and chronic fungal infections ensued that have kept me enslaved to massive quantities of cortico steroids, antibiotics and anti-fungal drugs ever since. I have worn out several nebulizers. I had extreme reactions to prednisone etc. (paranoia, hallucinations, etc) and eventually developed intolerance to most of the other drugs.
In order to reduce triggers, I have had to avoid most social interactions the last three or so years. Sleep has been elusive, only coming in 2 and 3 hour increments. My need for isolation was triggering depression and I realized I was caught in a downward spiral.
A friend suggested I might benefit from acupuncture. I gave it a shot and noticed that it quickly helped lessen the severity of attacks and improved sleep. It immediately became the best part of my day, with the benefits lasting longer after each session.
Last week my acupuncturist suggested that Ling Zhi Lung formulation might provide more relief. I have been taking it for a week and am already noticing profound improvements in breathing and sleep. I am now a firm believer in ASHMI and I look forward to devouring your articles and the comment sections.
Thank you so much!
Cody Wells says
Hi Jim,
What a nightmare! Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. I’m very happy that you’ve managed to find some relief.
Thank you for your kind words (not sure I deserve them!). I wish that I could do much more because (on a very personal level) I know how awful breathing issues are for the folks going through them & how frustrating a search for (even minor) relief can be. I hope you can find some helpful info on here.
Thanks again for stopping by & good luck.
~Cody
Anon ~~ says
Hey Cody!
Just wanted to talk to you about that 14 ingredient TCM formula you listed somewhere on your website. (The one that had clinical testing and showed amazing results for stopping asthma but then was shut down.)
I called a local TCM doctor / herbologist to make me the formula.. he wanted to do a $90 consultation fee which included some acupuncture etc. I told him I just wanted to use the herbs for now. He told me to call a local Chinese herb shop and they were able to make it for me!! The cost is $5 / day which is a lot more then ASHMI but it has an extra 10 ingredients.
I have to boil the herbs and drink the liquid. It tastes worse then words can even explain LOL. I just hope it works!
Anyway, just wanted to give you all the info.. if you want to try that 14 ingredient version just find a Chinese herb shop (there’s one downtown Chinatown every city) and they will make it for you.
Feel free to send me an email if you want more info or a follow up in a couple weeks!
All the best
Cody Wells says
That sounds great!! I hope it does the trick!! :) Not cheap, but if it works, it’s worth every penny.
The formulation is called MSSM-002. I’ve listed the ingredients in the short article you mention.
I’m glad you told us how to go about getting it! I’ve never met anyone who’s taken it or even knew how to go about getting it.
Please follow-up with us & let us know how it works out for you.
Thanks for dropping by!
~Cody
Karen says
Hello,
Can you please advise me whether you should take ASHMI / phytocort at the same time as prednisone or only when off the prednisone completely, don’t want to be doing the wrong thing and don’t know who to ask as no doctors know about it.
Many thanks
Karen
Cody Wells says
Hi Karen,
Thanks for dropping by. Sorry you weren’t able to get any answers from your doctors! I’m also sorry that I’m not able to be of much help either!
I’m not a doctor or medical professional and I have no idea about what the consequences of mixing the two might be??
I would suggest asking that same question in “asthma forums” & reading through members’ answers. If you don’t frequent asthma forums, just google “asthma forums” & you’ll have a ready made list to choose from.
Sorry I couldn’t be of much help & thanks again for dropping by!
~Cody
Jake says
Hi,
Is the Phyocort good without the Sophora Root?
How many pills do you take daily? This will also help adrenals?
Thanks.
Cody Wells says
Hi Jake,
Thanks for dropping by & for your questions.
Phytocort includes sophora root as one of it’s ingredients (see 1st update above).
The suggested use (directly from the manufacturer) is: “Suggested use: As a dietary supplement, 3 capsules three times daily to start, and 2 capsules two times daily for maintenance, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner.”
Unfortunately, I have no idea if phytocort would help your adrenals. You might try a google search or a forum search to see if anyone has any information or research on the subject. Since I’m not a doctor or a health care professional of any kind, I’m not qualified to answer that question anyway.
Thanks again.
~Cody
Mary says
Hi Cody. Just out of curiousity, are you and your wife still on the supplements above, or has that changed? (from your May 16th, 2013 post). I haven’t tried any of these yet. I’m starting with pure Reishi mushroom supplements that I ordered from another site, before possibly mixing it with other things gradually over time.
I was just curious as to how she is currently doing and what combo seems to have worked best for her this year.
Cody Wells says
Hi Mary,
Thanks for dropping by & good luck with the experimentation!
The current supplement line-up is below:
Mullein Leaf = 1 capsule am & 1 capsule pm (before bed)
Olive Leaf = 1 capsule am & 1 capsule pm (before bed)
Clearlungs Chinese Herbal Formula (Red Label) (by Ridgecrest Herbals) = 2 capsules am & 2 capsules pm (before bed)
Lung, Bronchial & Sinus Health (Dr. Michael Murray Formulated) (by Natural Factors) = 1 pill am & 1 pill pm (before bed)
Thanks again & I hope this helps.
~Cody
Elizabeth says
Hi,
Before coming to your site I was debating whether to use phytocort or clear lungs for asthma, so it was nice to see you started your regime with one and ended with the other.
With that being said, I have two questions. One, are you still using clear lungs or did you switch back to phytocort? And two, I noticed the only constant between the two is licorice root. Is it safe to say based off your research that licorice root is the main ingredient that helps the lungs?
Thanks!
Cody Wells says
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for dropping by!
We no longer use phytocort. We have been using clearlungs + olive leaf + mullein leaf (+ Dr. Christophers sinus plus during allergy season).
We will be dropping the clearlungs (at least temporarily) in order to experiment with something called Dr. Christopher’s lung & bronchial formula.
As far as your second question, I know licorice root has been used effectively for breathing issues for a very long time. Unfortunately, I have no idea whether it’s the main ingredient in clearlungs or phytocort, since both supplements are based on a combination of several ingredients.
You could always just try an experiment on yourself and take only a licorice root supplement to see if it helps you breathe better on its own.
Also, please don’t forget about mullein. Definitely do some research to see if it may be something you’re willing to try.
Thanks again for dropping by & good luck in your search!
~Cody
Divya says
Hi! I wanted to find out what regimen you are currently using. The last post indicated you would be trying Dr. Christopherms lung and brachial formula. Thanks!
Cody Wells says
Hi Divya,
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you received the email I sent you last week.
If you have any questions about it, please feel free to pm me again.
Good luck & I hope your son finds some relief!
~Cody
Frank Greco says
Hi there! I have a 7 year old girl that suffers with asthma type symptoms. We took her off all steroids. She has serious food allergies and sensitivities to other things (eggs, wheat dairy, soy, shell-fish), and wanted to try a simple home-made remedy. any recommendation as to what to try first? Perhaps a short list of supplements to try? I wanted to try asthma clear but it did not test well according to my daughters homeopathic doctor.
Any advice is most appreciated.
Thank You!
Cody Wells says
Hi Frank,
I am very sorry to hear about your daughter’s suffering. As her father, it must be heart wrenching for you.
I hesitate to give you any advice concerning supplementation as I am not a medical practitioner of any kind. Plus, it sounds like your daughter is already in good hands, as you mentioned she has a homeopathic doctor in her corner.
My advice would be to discuss the myriad asthma treatment options available with her doctor. Definitely do some research on your own and discuss your findings with them. I’m sure that working together, you can find relief for your daughter without jeopardizing her health unnecessarily.
I’m sorry I couldn’t be of any more help!
Good luck and I hope your daughter finds some effective relief in her battle with asthma.
All the best,
~Cody
Diane Johnston says
Hi Cody and thank you for such great information. I am starting Phytocort today and will keep you posted!
Diane
Cody Wells says
Sounds good Diane! Thanks for dropping by.
Good luck with it. I hope it brings you some relief.
~Cody
Diane Johnston says
Hi Cody,
I started with a small dose for the first day and was fine. On the second day I took the recommended dosage. I was very jittery and felt like I was on speed. Today I am trying smaller doses over the course of the day. It has given me some relief. I don’t think anyone else has had this reaction, so wanted to post it.
Thank you
Diane
Diane Johnston says
Hi Cody,
I tried to increase the dosage again and the side effects are worse than steroids for me. I will stop using it. I am dizzy, lightheaded, weak and having heart palpitations. I ordered olive leaf, mullein and oregano oil. I will try that next and let you know.
Thank you
Diane
Cody Wells says
Hi Diane,
Thank you for the updates. OMG! I’m really glad you stopped taking it. Sounds horrible!
One option may be a product called “Bronchial Soothe Enzymatic Therapy.” I haven’t written an article about it yet, but the product is based on ivy leaf extract, which has been used successfully to help with breathing issues for decades in Europe.
My wife recently began taking the liquid form and absolutely loves it. Whenever you get a minute, please have a look. May be a great alternative for you.
Please keep in touch and let us know how you’re doing.
~Cody
Diane Johnston says
Thank you Cody. I really appreciate your help.
Best,
Diane
Diane Johnston says
Thank you Cody,
I am now trying oregano oil, olive leaf extract, mullein, turmeric and today took one capsule of Dr Christopher’s Lung and Bronchial. The other herbs I took for a week at a time and then added another again for a week and so on. I have had no side effects from the herbs and feel great. I have seen improvement with this regimen and have only used a rescue inhaler twice this month.
Again Many Thanks and Happy 4th!
Diane
Cody Wells says
Diane,
That’s great news! I’m so glad to hear about your improvement! Especially since you had such a hard time with the Phytocort.
Even though things are going well with your supplementation at the moment, please have a look at the Bronchial Soothe LIQUID I mentioned in my previous comment.
I hope that you find continued relief from your asthma symptoms and that your reliance on your inhaler continues to plummet!
Thanks again for the update and have a happy and safe July 4th!
~Cody
Diane Johnston says
Thank you once again. I will look at the Bronchial Soothe Liquid. I live in Sicily and sometimes companies won’t ship here. Had such a difficult time finding a company that would ship Dr Christopher’s products. I will try!
Thank you Diane
Patricia White says
I wanted to try the Phytocort but I see it has shellfish in it which I have an intolerance or maybe a bit of allergy to. Do you know if there is a similar product without shellfish? I would like to rid myself of prednisone Please!
Cody Wells says
Hi Patricia,
Thank you for dropping by and I’m sorry to hear about your issue with the Phytocort product.
Unfortunately, I have never been able to find an actual ASHMI product.
One option is to purchase the ASHMI ingredients in supplement form and make your own “Homemade” mixture. I describe what we did in the article above using Lingzhi Mushroom and Licorice Root supplements.
Another option is to try a product called “Bronchial Soothe Enzymatic Therapy.”
I haven’t written an article about it yet, but the product is based on ivy leaf extract, which has been used successfully to help with breathing issues for decades in Europe. My wife and I discovered it about 6 months ago.
I hope that helps.
Thanks again and I hope you can find some relief!
~Cody
Diane Johnston says
Hi Cody, just wanted to give you an update. I tried oregano oil ,turmeric, licorice root, mullein and Dr Christopher’s Lung and Bronchial. I still need to use a maintenance inhaler daily and occasionally a rescue inhaler. I feel great but I still have asthma. I tracked down the Bronchial Soothe Liquid and will start next week
Regards
Diane
Cody Wells says
Hi Diane,
Thank you for the update. I’m glad you’re doing well!
Please let us know how the ivy works out for you. I am anxious to see if it helps.
Good luck and I’m looking forward to your next update.
~Cody
Diane Johnston says
Hi Cody,
I am starting the Ivy Leaf today. How many times a day do you take it? I’m curious because as you know it says 2-6 times per day or as needed.
Thank you
Diane
Cody Wells says
Hi Diane,
Unfortunately, i am not an ivy expert by any means :-). Here is what my wife and I do:
I take it once a day (but more if needed) for maintenance. My wife takes it once to twice a day for maintenance, but has taken more if needed. In the beginning, you may find that taking it more than twice a day is beneficial.
As I have said previously, my wife still has her albuterol inhaler with her at all times, just in case.
I am hoping that it works out for you!
Good luck and please let me know how it works out for you.
~Cody
Diane Johnston says
Thank you, I will. Are you taking any other herbs at the moment or just the ivy?
Cody Wells says
Hi Diane,
At the moment: Bronchial Soothe Enzymatic Therapy Liquid once to twice a day or as needed.
Again, good luck! I hope that you can find some relief.
~Cody
Cody Wells says
Hi Ronald,
Thanks for dropping by. I think you’re asking me where to buy Phytocort, right? If so, you can find it on amazon and ebay.
If not, sorry for my misunderstanding.
Please let me know how it works out for you.
Thanks again and good luck.
~Cody
Jason Prather says
I’ve had asthma for 39 years, and I’m 41 now. They have given me every asthma med in the book and have actually accused me of not taking it because I’m in the hospital so much. inhailers do not work AT ALL for my attacks, when the nebulizer doesn;t work I HAVE to go tot he ER. Prednisone was first introduced to me in MEGA doses at the age of 3. I’ve read the disclaimer and believe it, the things that usually work for 99.9 percent of people with asthma for some odd reason do NOTHING for me, so if phytocort does not work I won’t hold it against you. I’m curious though you mentioned oregano and olive leaf extract, I’d be willing to try those. I have been trying natural supplements, googling asthma reading the good and bad reviews. I’m hoping this works for me and if it does i will let people know along with your disclaimer, that yes while it worked for me I CANNOT guarantee the same results. i appreciate your honesty and willingness to share your journey, may my asthma treatment quest finally be at an end. Thank you have a good day, and may you stay asthma free.
Cody Wells says
Hi Jason,
Thanks for dropping by and for sharing your story!
I hope that you find some relief with the phytocort, but if not, there are plenty of other things to try. People have reportedly found success with ivy, others with mullein, others with licorice and still others with compound supplements that have several different herbal ingredients.
I do recommend that you consult with your doctor/healthcare practitioner prior to trying the phytocort or any other herbal/natural remedy to discuss any potential adverse interactions with your current medications and/or what effect they may have with your current condition(s)! The last thing you want is to make matters worse!
Again, please come back and let us know how things are going.
Thanks again and good luck!
~Cody
Morgan says
Hi! I’m wondering if you can tell me your weight measurements that you used to make your homemade licorice and reishi blend, and how much exactly you started with a day?
Also I’m wondering about the oregano and and olive leaf — why do you take those?
Cody Wells says
Hi Morgan,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you!
Back when we started, we were taking 600mg of Lingzhi Mushroom (Reishi Mushroom) and 450mg of Licorice Root a couple of times a day (morning + evening).
As you can see throughout my later comments, we are just taking liquid ivy leaf now.
We have been taking Nature’s Way Bronchial Soothe, but there are various brands available. We buy ours through amazon.
Also, please be sure to check with your doctor before you consider taking or using any nutritional supplements for the first time. Remember, I’m not a doctor or medical practitioner of any kind.
Hope that helps and thanks for dropping by!
~Cody
Keith says
Hi Cody,
I wish I had come across your site 10 years (or more) ago! I find the information you’ve written and all the replies very interesting!
I have severe asthma (for about 15 years or so) and have been on a wild roller coaster ride the last couple of years….. as far as having control over it. Last summer was the most scared I have ever felt. I could hardly walk anywhere without having to stop, I had to sit and not move until I my breathing and heartrate calmed down. I could only take very short breaths as my lungs felt completely inflamed and I constantly cough up phlegm. This was at a time my doctor switched me to a different inhaler and I tried to ween off the Prednisone. That did not last long…. within a week, I felt the closest to death that I have ever felt.
Now, I am on another inhaler (Trelegy) and still have to take Prednisone. This seems to be my best normal. What I don’t like is the Prednisone has killed my immune system. Any of my grandkids come around with a cold or flu and I will surely catch it.
Anyway, back to your writings and the replies. I find the ASHMI trials that were done quite interesting! I’m all in for trying it! I am hoping this can at least replace the Prednisone and help my immune system.
I have found a place where I bought all three ingredients, but I am unsure of what to do. Did you grind them to a powder? Could you please tell me how you made your home remedy? I would like to start with the proper percentages of each ingredient and adjust portions from there.
Well, thanks for giving me a place to ramble! I really hope you are still around as your last reply was about three years ago.
Keith
Cody Wells says
Hi Keith,
Thanks for dropping by and I’m so sorry to hear of your troubles!!
As always, please keep in mind that I am not a medical practitioner of any kind. Please be sure to consult with your doctor/healthcare practitioner prior to trying any new supplementation so you can discuss any potential adverse interactions with your current medications and/or what effect they may have with your current condition(s)! The last thing you want is to make matters worse!
All my wife and I did was buy lingzhi (also known as reishi) mushroom and licorice root supplements separately from amazon and took them at the same time twice a day.
I didn’t try to replicate Dr. Li’s original formula as I couldn’t find an easy way to get a hold of sophora root in supplement form, nor was I ever able to dig up any reliable information regarding the actual amounts of each ingredient she used.
I hope that helps.
Good luck and thanks again for dropping by!
~Cody
Gretchen Lawlor says
Hello Cody, Thanks for posting your experiences, so helpful. I have used Ashmi successfully in the past for my asthma- and am looking to begin the protocol again. It is expensive, Phytocort is expensive, buying it in powder or capsule from Shen Clinic Albany CA is expensive. I am looking for other natural substances that might augment the Ashmi. I am aware that you are only sharing your experiences, not looking for diagnosis or treatment- but I notice that you more recently said you were only (?) using Nature’s Way Bronchial Soothe. Is that correct? I appreciate that each person’s constitution is unique, and I also benefit from EFA’s, vit D,avoiding dairy and environmental allergies, qi gong and breathing exercises. Could you mention anything else that has helped you Cost is an issue for me, thanks and blessings.
Cody Wells says
Hi Gretchen, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you! Thanks for dropping by and having a look. I’m very glad that some of my info has been helpful!
I agree, cost is definitely an issue with both medication and supplementation when dealing with breathing issues. I sincerely hope you find some low/no cost relief soon!
Other than what you’ve already found above, I don’t really have any additional info to share, but it’s interesting you mention Qi Gong and breathing exercises, as my wife and I are both exploring meditation and the mind-body connection.
I’m sorry I couldn’t be more helpful, but for sure, if I end up discovering any further potentially useful info, I’ll definitely create a post about it.
Thanks again and good luck!
~Cody
Joe Kennedy says
I wondered if there was any concern with the Lead warning on Phytocort
Cody Wells says
Hi Joe,
Thanks for dropping by.
You’ll need to make your own decision regarding the California Proposition 65 warning.
Even though you didn’t ask for them, here are a few (off the top of my head) suggestions:
Maybe reach out to the manufacturer directly and ask them why they’re required to have a California Proposition 65 warning on this product?
Maybe have a look at the descriptions and reviews of the product on Walmart, Amazon and/or any other websites that sell it to see what, if anything, other people have to say regarding the California Proposition 65 warning?
Maybe do a search on Google or any other search engine(s) to do some research on it?
Thanks again and good luck.
~Cody
Amy says
I wanted to stop by and let you know that I have just come across ASHMI in my search for natural relief from severe pollen allergies and severe reactive asthma. As many of you are
I wanted to share that Shen Clinic has ASHMI, you can order online. They are located in Albany, CA.
I just started taking it, trying to figure out how much to take. Anyway pointers would be greatly appreciated. It is a loss powder form. So far I taking 1/4 teaspoon 3xs daily. Seeing improvement. But still needing a puff of albuterol before bedtime. Wondering if I should increase dosage.
Thank you,
Amy B.
Cody Wells says
Hi Amy,
Thanks for stopping by and for the info! Hope it continues to work for you!
~Cody
Arooj Ali says
Hi,
I have been suffering from allergic asthma and and was researching and came across your post. Just started using phytocort. But can you please share about how you and your wife are doing on your asthma journey and what are you taking now that is working.
I am a bit hesitant because it says that ku shen when taken longterm can cause kidney and liver pain and I already suffer from that occasionally.
If you guys have found something else that works, would love to know.
Cody Wells says
Hi Arooj. Thanks for dropping by. I’m sorry to hear about your breathing issues!
It’s been quite a while since we’ve used phytocort. Somewhere along the way, we discovered liquid ivy leaf based products and they seem to work really well for us now. We’ve been taking Nature’s Way Bronchial Soothe for years, but there are various brands available. We buy ours through amazon.
That being said, please keep in mind that my wife still carries her albuterol inhaler with her at all times, just in case, and I highly recommend that you do the same, no matter what! I know it sucks, but it’ll save your life in an emergency!
Also, if you haven’t visited the Reddit Asthma forum, I highly recommend it: https://www.reddit.com/r/Asthma/
Thanks again for dropping by and the very best of luck to you!