Herbs for Asthma and Breathing: Claims Checked
Can herbs help asthma, bronchitis or "lung health"? What NCCIH and reviews found, why herbs never replace inhalers, and when breathing trouble is an emergency.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Severe trouble breathing is an emergency. Call 911 (US). Asthma attacks can be life-threatening. [1] MedlinePlus says that if you have a severe attack and the short-term relief medicines do not work, you need emergency care. [2] Do not wait to try a herb.
Do not swap herbs for asthma medicines. NCCIH says not to substitute other approaches for treatments recommended or prescribed by your health care provider, and that evidence does not support using complementary approaches instead of proven medical management. [1] Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before adding any supplement. [1]
The claim as marketed
Herbal products are promoted for "open airways", "lung cleansing", bronchitis and asthma. This page checks those claims against NCCIH and published reviews. It covers asthma first, then coughs and bronchitis, which are different conditions.What research shows
| Use | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Asthma, herbs in general | NCCIH cites a 2010 evaluation of 26 studies that found not enough evidence to justify recommending any herbal preparation for asthma. [1] | Insufficient evidence |
| Asthma, East Asian traditional medicines | A 2019 review of 18 studies (2,080 people) could not reach conclusions because evidence on each product was small. [1] | Insufficient evidence |
| Asthma, multi-herb add-on to usual medicines | A review of 29 studies (3,001 people) found add-on herbal mixtures improved lung function and asthma control, with low to moderate study quality; participants were not blinded. [3] | Promising but limited; mixtures only |
| Asthma, Asian ginseng or ashwagandha | NCCIH says there is not enough reliable information for ginseng, and ashwagandha is on its list of uses without enough evidence. [4][5] | Insufficient evidence |
| Cough and bronchitis, ivy leaf | An updated review of 11 studies found minimal effects of uncertain clinical importance and no serious adverse effects. [6] | Promising but limited |
| Acute bronchitis, Pelargonium sidoides extract | Cochrane found low-quality evidence of benefit with the liquid but not tablets. Adverse events were more common, but none serious. [7] | Promising but limited |
| Homeopathic over-the-counter asthma products | NCCIH says the FDA warned they have not been evaluated for safety or effectiveness. [1] | Marketing claim |
Herbal mixtures used in the multi-herb review included licorice root, crow-dipper, astragali and angelica. [3] A result for a mixture does not tell you what any single plant does. Plant names: ivy is Hedera helix L. [8] and Pelargonium is Pelargonium sidoides DC. [9]
Approaches with better-supported benefit
NCCIH says approaches that help people manage stress, anxiety or depression might improve asthma control when used alongside medical care. [1] Yoga probably leads to small improvements in quality of life and symptoms. [1] Breathing exercises may help quality of life but probably not asthma symptoms in adults. [1]Frequently asked questions
Can herbs cure asthma?
No source we read says so. NCCIH says evidence does not support using complementary approaches instead of proven medical management. [1]
Can I use an herbal remedy instead of my inhaler?
No. NCCIH says not to substitute other approaches for prescribed treatments. [1] Talk with your prescriber first.
Does ivy leaf help a cough?
Reviews found effects were minimal at best and of uncertain importance in cough from upper respiratory infections and bronchitis. [6]
Do herbs interact with asthma medicines?
Some herbs may interact in undesirable ways with asthma medicines. [1] Ask a pharmacist.
When is breathing trouble an emergency?
When a severe attack does not respond to relief medicine, emergency care is needed. [2] In the US, call 911.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety
- Interactions. NCCIH says some herbs may interact in undesirable ways with medicines used to treat asthma, and herbs can have serious side effects. [1] See medicine interactions.
- Allergy. Echinacea can cause allergic reactions, which may be severe. [10] See Allergies, Asthma and Plant Product Cross-Reactions.
- Children. Ask a clinician before giving a child any herb; see Herbs for Children and Teens.
- Proper evidence not found for claims that a herb "cleanses" or "detoxes" the lungs. The NCCIH asthma page and our PubMed searches on herbs and asthma turned up trials of asthma and cough outcomes, not lung cleansing.
- For cough and sore throat comfort, see Cough and Sore Throat Remedies and honey for cough.
References
- NCCIH, Asthma and Complementary Health Approaches: What You Need To Know. Read 2026-10-23.
- MedlinePlus, Asthma. Read 2026-10-23.
- Herbal medicine for adults with asthma: a systematic review, J Asthma 2016. Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH, Asian Ginseng. Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH, Ashwagandha: Usefulness and Safety. Read 2026-10-23.
- Ivy leaf (Hedera helix) for acute upper respiratory tract infections: an updated systematic review, Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2021. Read 2026-10-23.
- Timmer A et al., Pelargonium sidoides extract for treating acute respiratory tract infections, Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, Hedera helix L.. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, Pelargonium sidoides DC.. Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH, Echinacea: Usefulness and Safety. Read 2026-10-23.