Air pollution and poor air quality are the growing causes of asthma across the world today. Asthma is a chronic condition but there are medications and treatments to reduce its impact. Read on to know about 7 herbal teas that can help you cope with asthma symptoms.

What you should know:

How does tea help in asthma treatment?
Which herbal teas help relieve asthma symptoms?

How does tea help in asthma treatment?

Some of the common symptoms of asthma include shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing and wheezing. Drinking tea can help soothe your lungs and relieve some of the asthma symptoms.

Certain teas and herbs can also soothe respiratory symptoms without any adverse reactions. However, there is still no scientifically proven link between herbal teas and asthma treatment. That’s why these teas should not be taken as medication but can be used for asthma relief.

Which teas help relieve asthma symptoms?

Warm and soothing tea can have a healing effect for most ailments. These herbal teas can provide asthma relief and it may help you cope with conventional asthma medication:

Ginger tea

Compounds like gingerols and shogaols, which are present in ginger, can reduce airway inflammation. This provides relief from asthma symptoms. Ginger tea can be made using the roots of the ginger plant.

Liquorice (Mulethi) tea

Liquorice tea is made from the root of the liquorice plant, also known as mulethi or yashtimadhu. Liquorice contains the compound glycyrrhizin. This can help improve the effectiveness of conventional asthma medications like salbutamol.

However, liquorice can also have negative side effects. It might be better to check with your doctor once if this tea will be healthy for you. It is better to limit your intake of liquorice tea a day.

Fennel (Saunph) tea

Fennel or saunph is considered an anti-spasmodic herb. Boiling 1 tablespoon of fennel seeds in 1 cup of water can help provide relief from asthma. You can add half a tablespoon of honey and ginger to this tea too.

Eucalyptus (Nilgiri) tea

Eucalyptus tree leaves are a rich source of eucalyptol, which reduce lung inflammation and reduce mucus production. It also expands the bronchioles, which are the passage for air in your lung. You can buy eucalyptus tea online or make it at home.

Simply take dried eucalyptus leaves and boil them in 1 cup of water for 10 minutes. Use a strainer to pour the tea into a glass before drinking.

Peppermint (Pudina) tea

Peppermint or pudina can be another herb that works like eucalyptus. It can help open the airways in your lungs. While this tea can be bought easily, you should avoid drinking it too often to avoid reflux.

Green tea

Green tea contains antioxidants that reduce inflammation in the lungs. Green tea can also be a source of caffeine which is again helpful in dealing with asthma symptoms temporarily. You can purchase green tea in teabags or use tea leaves from a Camellia sinensis plant.

Black tea

Black tea leaves also come from the Camellia sinensis plant. This means it also contains caffeine, which temporarily helps you cope with asthma symptoms.

Here are some common home remedies for asthma that can help you in emergencies. For more fitness or nutrition related advice, visit Activ Living.