Can Ashwagandha Help Control Asthma Naturally?

Evidence suggests that asthma is a poorly regulated immune system response that causes inflammation in the airways. As a potent anti-inflammatory herb with immune-regulating effects, ashwagandha may be able to help people with asthma.^{5, 37}

In traditional Ayurveda medicine, ashwagandha is believed to help relax the muscles in the airways to improve breathing in asthmatics. In an animal study model for asthma, treatment with ashwagandha by itself and in combination with selenium controlled immune system responses, as evidenced by significantly lower levels of white blood cells than the untreated asthmatic mice. This effect is the same as that of conventional hydrocortisone treatment for asthma, indicating that ashwagandha may be able to decrease inflammatory immune system responses in asthmatics.^{5, 37}