Herbs for Asthma: Cannabis
92Asthma Remedies: Context and a Promising Herb
I've known many people with asthma, and talked to a few doctors about it. I don't know what the latest Western medical treatments are, though, and I don't know which type is best. I myself am not a doctor.
Because asthma severity can vary a lot, and a person's other health conditions can be an important factor, I think it's important to be evaluated by an M.D. Asthma can be very dangerous, and following the protocols of mainstream Western medicine is sometimes the only way to stay alive.
OK, now that I won't be getting sued by anyone (I assume...), let me talk about herbal asthma treatment. This part is only for those who are already aware of their mainstream options.
If you want to use alternative treatments for asthma, there are many. I'm not an herbalist, either, but I've heard of a few herbal treatments. The one that comes to mind right now is Black Cohosh. I believe it is sometimes smoked to relieve asthma symptoms. I know it sounds counter-intuitive to smoke an asthma medicine, but many believe it's effective. More on that later.
If you really need to really find the best herbal treatment, I'd go to an herbalist for advice. Over the centuries, native people around the world have figured out which of their local herbs can help. Now that we can ship any herb anywhere in the world (more or less), there are lots of possibilities to consider. Herbalists can tell you which of the many herbs can be beneficial for your condition.
There is one herb that I've researched that shows promise: Cannabis. Known by many names, including marijuana, herb, dope, smoke, grass, weed, trees, Cannabis is the stuff everyone used to be so scared of. Now we know that it's an effective treatment for a variety of medical conditions, including asthma. In the U.S., many states are beginning to allow patients to use Cannabis as a medicine. Its value as a medicine is now recognized by some prestigious scientific and medical organizations.
Smoking marijuana can sometimes help with asthma symptoms and other respiratory problems. Again, it seems counter-intuitive, but it's true. It's a good cough supressant, for example.
Of course, the after-effects of smoking anything aren't great for your lungs, especially if you have a problem like asthma. Heavy pot smokers often cough a lot. It's not Cannabis' active components that cause this coughing, though. It's the particles of burned plant material in smoke that irritates your lungs. If you decide to go this route, it's important to use very potent material, so you can smoke a very small amount and still get the relief you need. Stronger marijuana is healthier to smoke than weaker marijuana.
If you don't like the idea of smoking, or your lungs don't tolerate it well, don't fret. This is one herb that can also be consumed orally. You can swallow a little Cannabis extract plain, or, as many prefer, you can put it into food and then eat it. The most well-known example would be "pot brownies." The only requirement for cooking with Cannabis is that it be combined with some kind of oil or fat. The useful chemicals will dissolve in oil, but not in water. Butter is the most common vehicle used for this purpose, probably because it's already a common ingredient in many baked goods. The butter or oil is infused with your herb, and then the oil can be used in your favorite recipe. The internet has plenty of marijuana recipies to browse through.
Smoking, then, is not necessary. Use some caution when taken the herb orally, though. In this form, a higher dose is needed to achieve effects. However, it's hard to estimate the right dose for any single person. I would strongly recommend starting with a very small dose, and gradually using more each time, until you learn how much you need. Wait at least a day between experiments. Be careful not to over-do it. It's not a dangerous drug, but too much of a good thing is very uncomfortable, and it can take a long time to wear off. Unlike smoking, where you can use a little at a time until you get the desired effect, eating marijuana is like an amusement park ride; you eat your brownie and wait to see if it's boring, just right, or way too scary. Either way, the ride will come to an end, though. Pay attention, but don't worry: there has never been a fatal marijuana overdose, not in all of the world's recorded history.
There are a great number of herbal asthma treatments, and this is only one of them. I'm describing its use here because the fear of using "drugs" often distracts people from the very real benefits Cannabis (sativa, indica or a hybrid of the two) has to offer. I hope this information is of some value to asthma sufferers.
Be well.
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See Also:
- AMA Asks the Fed to "Reclassify Marijuana"
- A Practical Guide to Smoking for Medical Cannabis Patients
A concise how-to guide for the new medical cannabis patient.
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I agree that it wouldn't be wise for an asthmatic to totally turn their back on mainstream medicine. It's a life or death decision, and pharmaceutical medications usually work very well. Thanks for your contribution, Deanna!
It works wonders for lots of things natures natural medicine. help fight to legalize this amazing wonder drug http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/marijuana-equali
Dear Sterling ~ Just learning how to use hubpages. I believe there is a way to inter-link hubs. I posted a comment about the benefit of using homeopathic cannibus, with no side effects, on another hub. Check it out...http://hubpages.com/hub/What-is-the-best-remedy-fo Indian Hemp comes from the Urticaceae plant family there is an article at HPATHY http://www.hpathy.com/materiamedica/allenkeynotes/ and a commentary written by Classical Homeopath Robert Lee Dalpé, N.D. on the substance at http://www.onlinehomeopath.com/canni.shtml
i agree iv had asthma 4 many years and i smoke a lot of pot and it dose help me but dont smoke to much coz u can get adickted i no iv been there. but with the right amout it dose work
cannabis is verry helpful for my asthma although smoking the drug is bad for my lungs in a way id say most medicines are worst in other ways. altough it depends on everyone! my asthma has never been bothered my smoke, dust is my problem
What you people are forgetting is that not only is marijuana illegal but it's actually against the law. Marijuana wrecks lives! Last year in the US over 16 million people where critically injured as a result of smoking weed and that was only 12% more than the Mexican government predicted.
Ralph,
Thanks for your comment. I enjoy discussing my ideas with those who disagree with me. In response to your comment:
First, marijuana is not against the laws of my home state, as long as it is used as recommended by a doctor for a medical purpose. It is still agains federal law, but let's think about that law--does it make sense? Is it a just law? Many things have been prohibited by law throughout the years: miscegenation, theft, voting by women, prostitution, sodomy...some laws are reasonable and others are patently unjust. "It's against the law," is just not a good enough reason to say something shouldn't be done.
Marijuana is illegal under federal law by virtue of being in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule I drugs are said to have no medical value, to be unsafe, and to be likely substances of abuse. Cannabis can certainly be abused, but it has been proven time and again to be safe and effective as a medicine. It certainly does not belong in the same legal category as other Schedule I drugs, such as heroin, PCP, and crack cocaine. Think about the logic of saying that pot is more harmful than morphine. It just doesn't make sense.
As for your assertion that marijuana wrecks lives, I think nearly any activity can wreck lives if done improperly. Some ruin their lives by eating or having sex in a compulsive fashion. We don't usually say that food or sex ruins lives, because the danger comes from an individual person's decisions regarding said substance or activity. Marijuana has very little ability to cause physical dependency, but can be misused like anything else.
The potential for misuse doesn't automatically justify prohibiting a drug. You have to compare all of the substance's costs and benefits before you can justifiably prohibit the medical use of a substance. That's just conventional wisdom in the medical field.
"not only is marijuana illegal but it's actually against the law"
hahahahahahahahahahaahhaahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi:
lol Not only does it cause brain damage but can actually hurt your brain.
I don't have asthma, but your article is informative. I do wish Cannabis would be medically available everywhere for those who so desperately need it. Thanks for sharing info.
Thanks, Frog. I agree.
uh,,, it sounds so informative,i suffer so much from my asthma. i wish i could try that cannabis,but,
don't you think it is awkward? marijuana was illegal in our place...and another thing it was not recommended by my doc..
but i still want to try..
Jona,
That's too bad.
Maybe you haven't found the right doc yet...?
I've had mostly "dormant" asthma since I started smoking pot at the age of 15, prior to that I couldn't go without my Ventalin inhaler. I'm now 34 yrs old and decided that I would try to put it aside, I've had a tight chest often since, for no apparent reason. A cool breeze could set it off, I'm relatively fit, training at Kung Fu twice a week and running a 6km stretch on other days, since I've stopped smoking I've had to dig through the medicine chest for the inhaler that I hardly ever used. I've always told doctors at medicals that I had childhood asthma and kept an inhaler for emergancies only, like if I had to get the flu or bronchitus. In the past few weeks I can't tell how many times I've had to use that inhaler, the last time was a few minutes ago while lying in bed reading, which prompted me to go online. I've decided to have a smoke and monitor it closely. I'll keep you posted
Thanks, Brett. I'll be interested to hear how it goes.
Be careful and stay well.
great hub
OMG! IV BEEN READING SOME OF THESES COMMENTS ON HERE, AND I THINK SOME OF THESE PEOPLE NEED TO BE MORE EDUCATED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I WORK IN THE MEDICAL FIELD. I SEE AND DEAL WITH CANCER PATIENTS EVERYDAY. I SEE THAT BY THEM SMOKING MARIJUANA, HOW IT DOES HELP THEM FROM DAY TO DAY. AND AS FOR ASTHMA PATIENTS, IT ASLO HELPS THEM TOO.
AND BY THE WAY... HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE HIGH ON POT GET INTO ACCIDENTS AND KILL THE INNOCENT? NOT TOO MANY OF THEM. ALCOHOL IS THE ONE MAIN KILLER IN THAT CASE.
Medical Cannabis is amazing.
I use it for my asthma all the time.
I try not to smoke because anything smoked is bad for you to a point even if cannabis has been shown to have cancer CURING atributes.
But I actualy enjoy vaporizing and eating my medical cannabis same effects with NO adverse effects.
The only bad thing about Medical Cannabis is that some people smoke it if everyone vaporized/ate cannabis then there would be virtualy 0 risks with Cannabis :].
Imposible to overdose
Imposible to die on period.
That's funny! My asthma went down and I really just realized why! :-)
GTR,
Good point about vaporizing being enjoyable. Many people overlook the fact that vaporizing almost always produces an AMAZING flavor experience. Sometimes it reminds me of taking a walk in the woods after a snowfall.
Pardon me for waxing a little poetic ;)
Cannabis is quite a useful herb for many conditions, including asthma. I don't think smoking too much of it would be a problem, but you need to smoke at the right times. Also, taking a cannabis extract would probably be able to fully cure the asthma, not just alleviate it.
I have learnt a alot from your article. Thanks for sharing.
Kaabi,
Edibles are great. I've used an olive oil extract many times, and it really worked for my medical needs. And, of course, no smoking means less coughing!
Pluto,
Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for stopping by!
i my self sufferd with asthma from a early age and i also started smoking cigarettes from an early age 14 i admitt that smoking is a very bad idea for any one especialy the young.not long after i sstarted smoking cannabis resin withch did not help my asthma at all,i did get chest ifections around 4 in inbetween the 2 years. wen i was around 16 i also tho i also started smoking herbal cannabis witch actually carmed my asthma down without noticeing, now i only high grade skunk and have only eva a 1 repritory problem and that was due to cathing flu, ( after having the jab )and that ws around 2 to 3 years ago i have not had the jab since, including swine flu. i am a NHS worker and see patients with viruses every day, but my answer to that was washing hands properly very reurly, i am not medical staff in any way and do not deal with patients. im now 21 and still smoking skunk more or less daily, ther are other side afecs like depression and social problems witch i do have and i also have recently noticed that i slure my speech some times bt i cannot confirme this depression may have been caused by general life but am not sure about the speech.
Nicky,
Thank you for the comment. Different people do respond to cannabis differently, so it's important to pay attention along the way and periodically review any side effects you experience.
Have to agree with you here. It seems to relax the restricted brochial tubes or something. If they could take natural THC and compound it into an inhaler then it would be very beneficial. What they have now is Marinol, comes in pill form and is synthetic. My mom took it while she was undergoing cancer treatment and she liked it. I wouldn't want to take the synthetic form, though.
donotfear,
In Canada there's prescription Sativex, which is blended, standardized extract made into a throat spray. I think it's very expensive though, and not yet legal to prescribe in the United States. It sounds like just what you're talking about.
It used to be a way of life in India and it was touted to be good for so many ailments. Maybe it kept people peaceful too :) I do wish they would legalise it all over the world - I'm sure there would be a lot fewer addicts as soon as that heppened!
I agree with everyone here that has commented on the benefits of medicinal marijuana! As of this moment there are 13 states that have legalized it's use....I wish it was all of them, including mine. Just a few days ago the news had a piece stating that Obama has ordered the FDA & FBI to lay off continously 'busting' and seizing the medical marijuana establishments from 'selling' it. Seems to be a 'loophole' that they've abused. It's legal to use medicinal marijuana, but not legal to sell it!
Thanks for bringing up the new memo from Obama via the Attorney General. I've read it, and it's hard for me to tell exactly what effect it will have.
Essentially, it seems to say that medical marijuana patients are too low a priority to use federal prosecutor resources to arrest. It looks to me like the memo itself is still full of loopholes the DEA can take advantage of.
I'd be curious to hear if anyone has another take on it. Here is a link to the memo: http://blogs.usdoj.gov/blog/archives/192
I also believe mullein tea can help with lung problems like asthma. It clears the congestion. Canabis can be used for many things. It's not a cure-all but can be part of a natural treatment. Interesting hub.
As you can see by the comments on medical marijuana, the far majority of them are positive. It is a wonder drug and after it's villain status is finally disproved it will help a lot more people.
Hooray for the medical benefits of Cannabis! Spread the word
yeah the cannabis is very intrasted tree cause make you forget your pain
I concure, I myself am an asthmatic, and a pot smoker. I have noticed that the dialating capabilities of cannabis not only widen the blood vessels in the eye's but help with breathing problems as well. I also have a related Blog on my myspace abouut the use of cannabis by jesus christ and his disciples. feel free to check it out. my myspace url is myspace.com/abaggerly
Thanks for weighing in on this. It is good to hear from patients who have direct experience of this treatment.
By the way, your blog address will show up as a link if you include the http:// like this: http://www.myspace.com/abaggerly
Very interesting hub. I am a non-smoker but have asthmatic bronchitis and conventional medicine has not helped very much. This problem started about 9 mos. ago so you would think it would be under control by now. I would be willing to smoke a little pot if it would help.
Pamela99,
I'm glad you enjoyed it! I wish you the best of luck finding a treatment that works well. If you're considering cannabis for your condition, make sure to run it by your doctor first.
I'd love get an update after you decide what to do. Please stay in touch!
I never had issue with asthma until I moved to oregon. Pollen I guess. After my job loss I stopped smoking as I will have to test for most positions I apply for. I currently use a steriod inhaler and ventolin. After I stopped smoking my condition worsened. I'm using the inhaler more and more. I used a ssv vaporizer and never had the problems I do now. My sleep is now interupted with coughing fits. I felt better with nightly vape. Once I have medical coverage I'm getting a card! Nice blog.
I have asthama, bronchtis issue - my unce had the same thing he got in doctors trap and started pills, puffers and he says he cant go on live without it. I dont want to do the same as i hate those pharmaceutical drugs- they had terrorized the world with their harmful treatments already. so any idea which herb would benefit ?
Great information. Marijuana IS medicine. If you have asthma like me, and don't smoke, there is a great reference for you to help cook medical marijuana into foods, its over at http://www.thecannabischef.com
Interesting comments by all, Valuable info!
Going on two decades now with asthma and haven taken everything under the sun to control it, I needed something else! In the "old days" pot was very tame and meek and you had to smoke a pile of it to get the effects desired. After years of being absent from THC (work reasons)I have recently re-discovered this amazing herb with a noticeable difference in my condition. As smoking has nor will ever agree with me I purchased a vaporizer for my new health experiment in controlling my asthma/relaxing. The difference was amazing, such a clean buzz without the other 27 different compounds due to combustion. No coughing, blood shot eyes or nicotine rush. Just a steady effect that lasts up to 8 hours or so on really good sativa. The amount used is very little and therefore very cost effective, less then 1/4 of a gram. Still very early in my experiment, still I have noticed less dependence on other medications. Granted each asthmatic can be very different and thus should be very careful in trying new "things". Trying new things at this stage of my life is not easy, change never is. Being dependent orally on steroids can not be a good thing, especially after twenty years. I have always been a risk taker in life and at work. Vaporizing pot is worth the risk when it comes to my health and well being.
Will keep you up to date on my quest to get off the steroids.
Thank you, Sentinel. Very interesting!
Hello all,
I have found that smoking the herb makes my asthma that much worse causing me to use the inhalers more. I would like to find out about extracts that have little or no side effects (such as getting high)...
@mateog13: Medical cannabis dispensaries usually have a variety of extracts. You could look into edible forms, though I wouldn't expect the mental side-effects to be better. They would be easier on your lungs, though.
I am a Chest Physician and I would advise all asthmatics to adhere to the western medicines and asthma has been an extensively researched topic and its treatment is standardized. You need to take medicines for the rest of your life regularly at the minimal optimal doses and you can lead a symptom free life and enjoy it too!
@newzolt: I must point out that many standardized treatments also have their shortcomings. Are the standard treatments completely free of side-effects? If the standard treatment is imperfect, then it's at least worth discussing alternative therapies.
Also, cannabis research has been intentionally stunted for political reasons. We do know that it's one of the safest medicines ever discovered. As a chest doctor, you must be familiar with its cough suppressing qualities and related effects, and I'm sure you can imagine the possible benefits of such a substance.
It's important to keep an open mind.
newzolt "You need to take medicines for the rest of your life regularly" - My wife had urinary tract infection. It was causing her to experience pain regularly. Her doctor prescribed drugs for UTI. Unfortunately, her infection returned. I gave her a cranberry concentrate with D-Mannose ( sugar ) and within a week she improved. No more remission. I once had a very high fever and a team of doctors could not figure out what was causing my fever, regardless of medical testing. Ultimately, I was seen by an Asian doctor. He looked inside my mouth and quickly prescribed medication which took care of my fever. I credit both eastern and western medical practices. The notion that one needs to take medicines for the rest of ones life is absurd. I had asthma attacks as a child. The best thing I did was to get rid of that inhaler. Exercise does wonders.
I think it must vary person to person. Personally for me when I suffered bad asthma many years ago, smoking pot would indeed help me - more so than the inhalers. And funnily enough, when I puffed on Marijuana when I had bad asthma, I never got 'high'. Afterwards, with no asthma, if I had a smoke, then I would get high.
Thanks so much for sharing, Jamie! That's very interesting.
There have been reports from some pain patients that say pretty much the same thing: prescription painkillers, when used to control serious pain, produced neither a high nor addiction (even when used long-term). I've never heard a story like yours, though.
I wonder if it's possible to get so baked that you simply forget you have asthma?
I'm not sure "forgetting you have asthma" is something to strive for. You can certainly do things to make living with it easier, though.
Thanks for this site Sterling! Wife was just diagnosed with asthma. The meds aren't working worth a crap. I myself just quit smoking cig. less than 2 months ago, but would still smoke the hooch if it wasn't illegal around my parts. Will definately research more for my love, can't stand to hear the wheezing coming from the person that I live for.
Goober,
I applaud you for educating yourself. I'd love to hear about anything interesting your research turns up.
You might also want to consider taking political action if you think the cannabis laws where you live are causing harm.
Thanks for the feedback!
i had bad asthma when i was young.up until the age of 24.i started smoking pot when i was about 19 on a regular basis.i stopped having asthma completely at the age of 24.it completely disapeared.i moved to france 5 years ago and it was difficult to find pot.so i had to cut back alot.i stopped smoking pot 2 years ago due to stress related anxiety and guess what.i now have asthma.i was told by a freind recently about this now i understand why my asthma is back.i would give anything to be able to smoke pot again.
forgot to say in my last comment i am now 47.i didnt have asthma for over 20 years.not one single sign
something to consider beyond home remedies
Different strokes for different folks. Interesting read. I never know there was something that could cure asthma.
I have asthma; the drugs my doctor was giving me didn't work very well at all. I have never, ever had an asthma attack from smoking cannabis and I have never had asthma whilst high, because of cannabis' bronchodilation effects. I currently use a vaporizer which works very well. I no longer get asthma. I also highly recommend the buteyko therapy; combined my asthma is very nearly cured.
I just took 2 big bong tokes and a puff of my inhaler. Let me tell you my asthma is under control now. Cough people don't let that mucus stay in your lungs.
yeah good article I agree!
Thank you!
nice article i would recomend vaporizing if you have asthma. no harmful plant matter to be inhaled :)
marijuana isn't just a alternative remedy for asthma, it has benefits in fighting many form's of Cancer as well, also a pain reliever for arthritis. i have also heard it can sooth the mental state of people with Schizophrenia/Paranoia. i agree the stronger the product, the better. smoking weaker marijuana also know as schwag offer's little to no benefit's other than stupidity, from personal experience, the stronger grade (Nuggets) is more prone to have very little stupidity responses unlike its little sibling schwag.
dsletten 3 years ago
Interesting hub. I would be wary of smoking anything if you have asthma, most anything will set off an attack, especially if you aren't taking medicine for your asthma. I have asthma - a result of living with smokers throughout my childhood. There are many safe medications that can control your asthma to the point you almost never need a rescue inhaler. I've tried herbal remedies in the past and they just aren't strong enough to control it. If you have mild asthma, maybe herbal would work, I would advise, however, not to smoke it.