Ashitaba - Asthma

Asthma is a chronic illness involving the respiratory system in which the airway occasionally constricts, becomes inflamed, and is lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more triggers. These episodes may be triggered by such things as exposure to an environmental stimulant (or allergen), cockroaches[1], cold air, warm air, moist air, exercise or exertion, or emotional stress. In children, the most common triggers are viral illnesses such as those that cause the common cold.

Public attention in the developed world has recently focused on asthma because of its rapidly increasing prevalence, affecting up to one in four urban children. [2]

Ashitaba has several qualities that would be very helpful to those who are prone to asthma. The first is the anti-inflamatory properties ashitaba has due to its antioxidants. Also recent reports indicate that Nerve Growth Factors (NGF) may help mediate inflammation, especially in the airways[3] and ashitaba contains some of the few naturally found NGF stimulators.

The second point made about asthma is the common symptom of the airways lined with excessive amounts of mucus. Here is another area where ashitaba can benefit as it has been shown to reduce excess mucus in both the airways and digestive tract as ashitaba helps cleanse the liver and return the body to proper balance.

The potent chalcones in ashitaba helps boost the immune system, this along with ashitaba's antiviral capabilities[4] would help asthmatics, especially children, avoid the triggers due to viral illnesses.

It would seem that drinking one cup of Ashitaba Green Tea a day would be very beneficial to asthma sufferers.

[1] Patient/Public Education: Fast Facts - Asthma Demographics/Statistics. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. Retrieved on 2006-05-02.
[2] Lilly CM. Diversity of asthma: Evolving concepts of pathophysiology and lessons from genetics. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005;115 (4 Suppl):S526-31.
[3] Frossard N, Freund V, Advenier C. Nerve growth factor and its receptors in asthma and inflammation. Eur J Pharmacol. 2004 Oct 1;500(1-3):453-65.
[4] Prenylflavonoids have anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidizing properties. C.L.. Miranda et al: In Food and chemical Toxicology 37 (1999) 273 - 285; J.F. Stevens et al:In J Am. Soc. Brew. Chem. 56(4) 136 - 145, 1998 ; A Alt et al: Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum. Abt. C0202, D-69129 Heidelberg.