Pharmacology and immunological actions of a herbal medicine ASHMI(TM) on allergic asthma.

Phytother Res. 2009 Dec 8;

Authors: Zhang T, Srivastava K, Wen MC, Yang N, Cao J, Busse P, Birmingham N, Goldfarb J, Li XM

Allergic asthma is a chronic and progressive inflammatory disease for which there is no satisfactory treatment. Studies reported tolerability and efficacy of an anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention (ASHMI) for asthma patients, developed from traditional Chinese medicine. To investigate the pharmacological actions of ASHMI on early- and late-phase airway responses (EAR and LAR), Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice received 6 weeks of ASHMI treatment beginning 24 h following the first intratracheal OVA challenge. EAR were determined 30 min following the fourth challenge and LAR 48 h following the last challenge. ASHMI effects on cytokine secretion, murine tracheal ring contraction and human bronchial smooth muscle cell prostaglandin (PG) production were also determined. ASHMI abolished EAR, which was associated with significantly reduced histamine, leukotriene C4, and OVA-specific IgE levels, as well as LAR, which was associated with significantly reduced bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) eosinophils, decreased airway remodeling, and lower Th2 cytokine levels in BALF and splenocyte cultures. Furthermore, ASHMI inhibited contraction of murine tracheal rings and increased production of the potent smooth muscle relaxer PGI(2). ASHMI abrogation of allergic airway responses is associated with broad effects on asthma pathological mechanisms. Copyright (c) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Dr.Steve's BOTTOM LINE: Back in 2005 a study was published investigating a mix of Ling-Zhi (Ganoderma lucidum), Ku-Shen (Radix Sophora flavescentis) and Gan-Cao (Radix Glycyrrhiza uralensis), dubbed ASHMI. Of interest, MaHuang, a major herb used around the world for asthma was excluded. This is because it is a source of ephedrine, which is outlawed in the US due to potentially severe cardiovascular and neurological toxicity. That double-blind placebo-controlled study was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2005 vol. 116, issue 3) and showed that the combination was effective and had less side effects than corticosteroids, which are part of the main Western treatment mainstay against asthma. This laboratory study helps us understand how this TCM approach works and lends a lot of plausible credibility to such natural alternative asthma treatment options.