By Leen Randell
Updated: Nov 13, 2024
10 Best Herbal Teas For Asthma
Herbal teas for asthma are natural remedies that help alleviate asthma symptoms by opening airways, reducing inflammation, and improving respiratory function.
The best herbal teas for asthma include Eucalyptus globulus, Echinacea purpurea, Rosmarinus officinalis, Thymus vulgaris, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Lavandula angustifolia, Ginkgo biloba, Zingiber officinale, Pelargonium sidoides, and Verbascum thapsus.
If left untreated, asthma can severely impact daily life, leading to frequent hospitalizations, missed work or school, and disrupted social activities, ultimately affecting mental and physical well-being.
1. Eucalyptus globulus
Eucalyptus globulus teas helps with asthma because it contains eucalyptol, a natural decongestant that eases breathing and relieves congestion.
The tea's anti-inflammatory properties also help to reduce swelling in the airways, making it easier to breathe. Additionally, eucalyptus globulus has a bronchodilatory effect, which means it helps to open up the airways and improve airflow.
This makes eucalyptus globulus tea a popular natural remedy for alleviating asthma symptoms and promoting overall respiratory health.
Medicinal Constituents
The list below shows the primary medicinal constituents in Eucalyptus globulus teas that help with asthma.
- Cineole: Acts as a bronchodilator, helping to open airways and improve breathing in people with asthma.
- Α-pinene: Exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, reducing swelling and constriction in the airways that can contribute to asthma symptoms.
- Linalool: Has a spasmolytic effect, which helps to relax muscles in the airways and improve lung function in individuals with asthma.
Parts Used
The list below shows the primary parts of Eucalyptus globulus used to make teas for asthma.
- Leaves: Most widely used due to their high eucalyptol content, which provides anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatory effects.
- Buds: Used as a more potent alternative to leaves, with a higher concentration of eucalyptol that helps in relieving respiratory issues.
- Stems: Utilized for their ability to provide a sustained release of eucalyptol, allowing for a longer-lasting relief from asthma symptoms.
2. Echinacea purpurea
Echinacea purpurea teas helps with asthma because its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce swelling and congestion in the airways.
The tea's immunomodulatory effects also enhance the body's natural response to allergens, making it easier to breathe. Additionally, Echinacea's flavonoids and phenolic acids have antioxidant properties, which help neutralize free radicals that can exacerbate asthma symptoms.
By reducing inflammation and promoting a healthy immune response, Echinacea purpurea teas may help alleviate asthma symptoms and improve overall respiratory health.
Medicinal Constituents
The list below shows the primary medicinal constituents in Echinacea purpurea teas that help with asthma.
- Alkylphenols: These compounds may help alleviate asthma symptoms by reducing inflammation and modulating the immune response.
- Cichoric acid: It may help with asthma by exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties and inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory mediators.
- Isochlorogenic acid: This constituent may help alleviate asthma symptoms by exhibiting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the airways.
Parts Used
The list below shows the primary parts of Echinacea purpurea used to make teas for asthma.
- Leaves: Used to make teas for asthma due to their potential anti-inflammatory properties.
- Flowers: Used to make teas for asthma due to their possible bronchodilatory effects.
- Roots: Used to make teas for asthma due to their potential anti-asthmatic and anti-inflammatory properties.
3. Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosmarinus officinalis teas helps with asthma because it contains compounds like rosmarinic acid, which possess anti-inflammatory properties.
This helps to reduce inflammation in the airways, making it easier to breathe. Additionally, the tea's antioxidant properties help to combat oxidative stress, a known contributor to asthma symptoms. By reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, Rosmarinus officinalis teas may help to alleviate asthma symptoms, providing relief and improving quality of life for those affected by this condition.
Regular consumption may also help to prevent asthma attacks.
Medicinal Constituents
The list below shows the primary medicinal constituents in Rosmarinus officinalis teas that help with asthma.
- Bornyl acetate: A terpene that acts as a bronchodilator, helping to relax airway muscles and improve breathing in asthmatic patients.
- Rosmarinic acid: A phenolic compound with anti-inflammatory properties, which reduces inflammation in the airways and alleviates asthma symptoms.
- Cineole: A terpene that exhibits bronchodilatory effects, helping to widen airways and improve lung function in individuals with asthma.
Parts Used
The list below shows the primary parts of Rosmarinus officinalis used to make teas for asthma.
- Leaves: Used due to their high content of antioxidants and essential oils, which help to relax airways and reduce inflammation.
- Flowers: Used because they contain rosmarinic acid, a compound that has anti-inflammatory properties and helps to ease respiratory issues.
- Stems: Used for their ability to provide a soothing and calming effect on the respiratory system, helping to ease asthma symptoms.
4. Thymus vulgaris
Thymus vulgaris teas helps with asthma because of its natural anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce swelling in the airways and improve breathing.
The thymol content in the tea also has antimicrobial effects, helping to combat infections that can exacerbate asthma symptoms. Additionally, Thymus vulgaris has been shown to relax bronchial muscles, making it easier to breathe and increasing oxygen flow to the lungs.
This herbal tea has been used for centuries to alleviate respiratory issues and provide relief from asthma symptoms.
Medicinal Constituents
The list below shows the primary medicinal constituents in Thymus vulgaris teas that help with asthma.
- Thymol: Helps with asthma by exhibiting bronchodilatory properties, which can relieve airway constriction and improve breathing.
- Caryophyllene oxide: Helps with asthma by showing anti-inflammatory properties, which can reduce inflammation in the airways and alleviate symptoms.
- Linalool: Helps with asthma by demonstrating antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which can help protect against oxidative stress and reduce inflammation in the lungs.
Parts Used
The list below shows the primary parts of Thymus vulgaris used to make teas for asthma.
- Leaves: Thymus vulgaris leaves are used to make teas for asthma because they contain thymol, a natural decongestant and anti-inflammatory that helps alleviate respiratory issues.
- Flowers: Thymus vulgaris flowers are used to make teas for asthma because they have a calming effect on the respiratory system and help to reduce inflammation.
- Buds: Thymus vulgaris buds are used to make teas for asthma because they contain essential oils that help to relax airways and relieve congestion.
5. Glycyrrhiza glabra
Glycyrrhiza glabra teas helps with asthma because of its anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce inflammation in the airways, making it easier to breathe.
The tea's expectorant properties also help to loosen and clear mucus from the lungs, allowing for better airflow and reducing wheezing. Additionally, its antioxidant properties help to protect the lungs from oxidative stress, further alleviating asthma symptoms and promoting overall respiratory health.
Regular consumption of Glycyrrhiza glabra tea may help to alleviate asthma symptoms and improve lung function.
Medicinal Constituents
The list below shows the primary medicinal constituents in Glycyrrhiza glabra teas that help with asthma.
- Licoricidin: This flavonoid compound has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce inflammation in the airways and alleviate asthma symptoms.
- Licorice glycosides: Specifically, the glycosides are known to have anti-inflammatory effects, as well as inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, thereby helping to control asthma symptoms.
- Glycyrrhizin: This compound has been found to have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, which can help in reducing inflammation and modulating the immune system's response, thereby alleviating asthma symptoms.
Parts Used
The list below shows the primary parts of Glycyrrhiza glabra used to make teas for asthma.
- Roots: Roots are the primary source of glycyrrhizin, a compound that helps in reducing inflammation and relaxing airway muscles, making it beneficial for asthma.
- Leaves: Leaves contain flavonoids and other compounds that help in reducing inflammation and improving respiratory health, making them a useful addition to asthma teas.
- Roots (again): As roots are the main source of glycyrrhizin, they are often used in combination with leaves to create a balanced tea for asthma relief.
6. Lavandula angustifolia
Lavandula angustifolia teas helps with asthma because it contains compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce inflammation in the airways and alleviate symptoms.
The tea also contains flavonoids and terpenes, which have been shown to relax airway muscles and improve lung function. Additionally, the calming effects of lavender may also help to reduce stress and anxiety, which can contribute to asthma symptoms.
This can lead to improved breathing and overall respiratory health.
Medicinal Constituents
The list below shows the primary medicinal constituents in Lavandula angustifolia teas that help with asthma.
- Linalool: Acts as a bronchodilator, helping to relax airway muscles and improve breathing in individuals with asthma.
- Linalyl acetate: Exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, reducing the severity of asthma symptoms by minimizing airway inflammation and constriction.
- Caryophyllene: Demonstrates antispasmodic properties, helping to relax airway muscles and reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.
Parts Used
The list below shows the primary parts of Lavandula angustifolia used to make teas for asthma.
- Leaves: They are used to make teas for asthma due to their calming and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Flowers: They are used to make teas for asthma due to their calming and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as their ability to ease breathing.
- Stems: They are used to make teas for asthma due to their anti-inflammatory and calming properties, which help to reduce symptoms.
7. Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo biloba teas helps with asthma because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
The flavonoids and terpenoids present in Ginkgo biloba help to relax the airways and reduce inflammation, making it easier to breathe. It also improves blood flow to the lungs, which can help to increase oxygenation. Studies have shown that Ginkgo biloba can help to reduce symptoms of asthma, such as wheezing and shortness of breath, and improve overall lung function.
This can lead to improved quality of life for those with asthma.
Medicinal Constituents
The list below shows the primary medicinal constituents in Ginkgo biloba teas that help with asthma.
- Flavonoids: Help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the airways, making it easier to breathe for individuals with asthma.
- Bilobalide: Act as an antioxidant to protect the lungs from damage caused by free radicals, reducing inflammation and improving lung function.
- Ginkgolides: Inhibit the release of histamine and other chemicals that trigger asthma symptoms, providing relief from wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.
Parts Used
The list below shows the primary parts of Ginkgo biloba used to make teas for asthma.
- Leaves: They are the most commonly used part due to their high flavonoid content, which is believed to help alleviate asthma symptoms.
- Seeds: The seeds contain ginkgolic acid, which is thought to have anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce asthma severity.
- Buds: The buds are used in some herbal teas for asthma due to their potential anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatory effects.
8. Zingiber officinale
Zingiber officinale teas helps with asthma because of its potent anti-inflammatory properties.
The active compound, gingerol, found in ginger, has been shown to reduce inflammation in the airways, making it easier to breathe. It also has a natural bronchodilatory effect, allowing for increased airflow and improved lung function. Additionally, ginger's antioxidant properties help protect the lungs from oxidative stress, which can exacerbate asthma symptoms.
Overall, Zingiber officinale teas offer a natural and soothing relief for asthma sufferers.
Medicinal Constituents
The list below shows the primary medicinal constituents in Zingiber officinale teas that help with asthma.
- Gingerols: These compounds have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce inflammation in the airways and alleviate asthma symptoms.
- Shogaols: Shogaols have bronchodilatory effects, allowing the airways to open up and making it easier to breathe, thus providing relief from asthma attacks.
- Zingiberene: Zingiberene has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the lungs, thus providing relief from asthma symptoms.
Parts Used
The list below shows the primary parts of Zingiber officinale used to make teas for asthma.
- Rhyzomes: Rhyzomes are the most commonly used part of Zingiber officinale for asthma tea due to their high concentration of gingerols and shogaols, which have anti-inflammatory properties that help alleviate asthma symptoms.
- Leaves: Leaves of Zingiber officinale are used in some asthma tea blends due to their ability to act as a natural expectorant, helping to relieve congestion and make breathing easier.
- Buds: Zingiber officinale buds are occasionally used in asthma tea due to their high content of volatile oils, which can help to relax the airways and reduce inflammation.
9. Pelargonium sidoides
Pelargonium sidoides teas helps with asthma because it has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce airway inflammation and congestion.
The tea's active compounds, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, help to relax bronchial muscles and increase airflow, making it easier to breathe. Additionally, the tea's antimicrobial properties may help to reduce the severity of asthma symptoms by combating underlying infections that can exacerbate the condition.
This makes Pelargonium sidoides tea a potential natural remedy for asthma sufferers.
Medicinal Constituents
The list below shows the primary medicinal constituents in Pelargonium sidoides teas that help with asthma.
- Aspalathin: It helps to reduce inflammation in the airways, making it easier to breathe for individuals with asthma.
- Ursolic acid: This constituent has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which help to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the lungs, alleviating asthma symptoms.
- Rosmarinic acid: It has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which can help to reduce inflammation and improve lung function in individuals with asthma.
Parts Used
The list below shows the primary parts of Pelargonium sidoides used to make teas for asthma.
- Leaves: They are used due to their bioactive compounds, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatory properties.
- Roots: They are used due to their high content of bioactive compounds, such as sesquiterpenoids and phenolic acids, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
- Barks: They are used due to their bioactive compounds, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatory properties, similar to those found in the leaves and roots.
10. Verbascum thapsus
Verbascum thapsus teas helps with asthma because it is rich in mucilages, which are complex carbohydrates that have anti-inflammatory properties.
These mucilages help to soothe and calm the airways, reducing inflammation and congestion associated with asthma. The tea also contains expectorants that help to loosen and clear mucus, making it easier to breathe.
By reducing inflammation and promoting the clearance of mucus, Verbascum thapsus teas can provide relief from asthma symptoms, making it a popular natural remedy for managing the condition.
Medicinal Constituents
The list below shows the primary medicinal constituents in Verbascum thapsus teas that help with asthma.
- Alkaloids: These compounds help with asthma by reducing inflammation in the airways and preventing bronchospasm, thereby alleviating symptoms.
- Iridoid glycosides: Iridoid glycosides have anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce swelling and irritation in the airways, making it easier to breathe.
- Flavonoids: Flavonoids in Verbascum thapsus exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which help protect the lungs from oxidative stress and inflammation, a major contributor to asthma symptoms.
Parts Used
The list below shows the primary parts of Verbascum thapsus used to make teas for asthma.
- Leaves: Leaves are used due to their anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatory properties, which help in relieving asthma symptoms.
- Flowers: Flowers are used due to their expectorant properties, which help in loosening and clearing mucus from the airways, making breathing easier for asthma patients.
- Stems: Stems are used due to their bronchodilatory properties, which help in relaxing the airway muscles and improving breathing in asthma patients.