Condition
Asthma
Asthma is a long-term condition in which the airways become inflamed and overly sensitive, so they narrow easily and cause wheezing, chest tightness, breathlessness and coughing. Probiotics, magnesium and saffron have the most support, and small trials found asthma symptoms improved with each, with moderate evidence. Those studies were small, often in children, and they were mostly add-ons to usual asthma care.
Sources: PMID 41098501; PMID 39563347; PMID 16788707
- Supplements studied
- 24
- Graded outcomes
- 16
- Trials
- 21
- People studied
- 14,935
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma Symptoms Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 2 studies | 544 people | ||
| Lung Function | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 438 people | |||
| Immunoglobulin A | Improves (the measure goes up) | 362 people | ||||
| Immunoglobulin E | Improves (the measure goes up) | 372 people | ||||
| Interleukin 4 | Improves (the measure goes up) | 665 people | ||||
Saffron
- Asthma Symptoms: improves
- Blood Pressure: improves
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP): improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma Symptoms Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 160 people | |||
| Blood Pressure | Improves (the measure goes down) | 3 studies | 80 people | |||
Studies that measured blood pressure
| ||||||
| C-Reactive Protein (CRP) | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 80 people | |||
| Basophil Count | Improves (the measure goes up) | 80 people | ||||
| Eosinophil count | Changes; see studies | 80 people | ||||
| Lung Function | Improves (the measure goes up) | 80 people | ||||
Violet Flower
- Asthma-Related Cough: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma-Related Cough A double-blind RCT in 182 children (ages 2-12) with intermittent asthma found that violet syrup as an adjunct to short-acting beta-agonist achieved 50% cough reduction and 100% cough suppression significantly faster than placebo (P<0.001). | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 2 studies | 182 people | ||
Moringa
- Lung Function: improves
- Asthma Symptoms: improves
- Lymphocyte Count: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lung Function Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 1 study | 20 people | ||
Studies that measured lung function | ||||||
| Asthma Symptoms Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 20 people | |||
| Lymphocyte Count | Improves (the measure goes up) | 20 people | ||||
| White Blood Cell Count | Improves (the measure goes up) | 20 people | ||||
Black seed
- Allergy Symptoms: improves
- Lung Function: improves
- Asthma Symptoms: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allergy Symptoms Moderate Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 1 study | 29 people | ||
Studies that measured allergy symptoms | ||||||
| Lung Function | Improves (the measure goes up) | 2 studies | 29 people | |||
Studies that measured lung function | ||||||
| Asthma Symptoms | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 29 people | |||
Studies that measured asthma symptoms | ||||||
L-Carnitine
- Asthma Symptoms: improves
- Eosinophil count: changes; see studies
- Immunoglobulin E: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma Symptoms Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | 50 people | ||
Studies that measured asthma symptoms | ||||||
| Eosinophil count | Changes; see studies | 50 people | ||||
| Immunoglobulin E | Improves (the measure goes up) | 50 people | ||||
| Lung Function | Improves (the measure goes up) | 50 people | ||||
Salidrosides
- Airway Inflammation: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airway Inflammation In asthmatic mice, salidroside attenuated airway inflammation and remodeling via the miR-323-3p/SOCS5 axis. A separate study showed salidroside alleviated PM2.5-caused lung injury via NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition in animal models. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 6 studies | |||
Studies that measured airway inflammation
| ||||||
Haninjin
- Asthma Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma Symptoms In an ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma model in BALB/c mice, the carbohydrate fraction AIP1 from A. iwayomogi significantly reduced pulmonary eosinophilia, Th2-type cytokine expression, serum IgE levels, and TNF-alpha expression. The mechanism involved decreased dendritic cell surface expression of CD11c and MHC II. Single preclinical study only. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 5 studies | |||
Studies that measured asthma symptoms
| ||||||
Lacticaseibacillus paracasei
- Allergic Airway Inflammation: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allergic Airway Inflammation In an OVA-sensitized mouse model, heat-inactivated L. paracasei K47 significantly reduced total IgE, OVA-specific IgE, and OVA-specific IgG1, ameliorated airway hyperresponsiveness, suppressed inflammatory cell accumulation in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and rebalanced Th1/Th2 cytokine profiles. No human data available. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 3 studies | |||
Studies that measured allergic airway inflammation
| ||||||
Vitamin E
- Asthma Symptoms
- Immunoglobulin E: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma Symptoms No effect | NoneNo effect | 1 study | 64 people | |||
Studies that measured asthma symptoms | ||||||
| Immunoglobulin E | Improves (the measure goes up) | 64 people | ||||
Citrulline
- Asthma Symptoms: improves
- Lung Function: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma Symptoms Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | 44 people | ||
Studies that measured asthma symptoms | ||||||
| Lung Function | Improves (the measure goes up) | 44 people | ||||
Vitamin D
- Acute Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk: changes; see studies
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acute Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms No effect | NoneNo effect | 2,461 people | ||||
| Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk | Changes; see studies | 13 studies | 3,958 people | |||
| Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 13 studies | 658 people | |||
| Asthma Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 2 studies | 2,461 people | |||
| Allergy Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 2,461 people | ||||
| Eczema Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 2,461 people | ||||
| Immunoglobulin E | Improves (the measure goes up) | 2,461 people | ||||
| Lung Function | Improves (the measure goes up) | 156 people |
Higenamine
- Bronchodilation: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronchodilation As a confirmed beta-2 adrenergic agonist, higenamine has theoretical bronchodilator (anti-asthmatic) properties based on its established pharmacological mechanism. Beta-2 agonism is a well-validated pathway for airway smooth muscle relaxation. However, none of the available PubMed studies directly tested bronchodilation, and no human respiratory data exists for higenamine. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect |
Rhamnus nakaharai
- Asthma Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma Symptoms No published studies exist on Rhamnus nakaharai for asthma. Traditional Taiwanese folk use for asthma has been reported. Quercetin, a constituent of the plant, has shown anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatory effects in preclinical models, but these findings come from isolated quercetin research, not from this species. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect |
Coleus forskohlii
- Asthma Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 2 studies | 40 people |
Boswellia
- Asthma Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma Symptoms Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | 2 studies | 80 people |
Pycnogenol
- Asthma Symptoms: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma Symptoms | Changes; see studies | 2 studies | 95 people |
Fish Oil
- Airway Inflammation Markers: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airway Inflammation Markers | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 16 people |
Conjugated Linoleic Acid
- Asthma Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 6 people |
Lactobacillus reuteri
- Allergic Disease Risk: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allergic Disease Risk | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 184 people |
Caffeine
- Asthma Symptoms: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma Symptoms | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 75 people |
Loquat
- Respiratory Function and Cough Suppression
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respiratory Function and Cough Suppression | 1 study |
Spirulina
- Lung Function: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lung Function | Improves (the measure goes up) | 34 people |
Key findings
- Asthma SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
- Asthma-Related CoughImproves (the measure goes down)
- Lung FunctionImproves (the measure goes up)
The Asthma protocol
2 primary supplements · 5 supporting supplements
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Asthma. If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.
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Studies cited
100 studies from PubMed
- The Effect of Heat-Killed Lacticaseibacillus paracasei K71 on Abdominal Fat Reduction: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Comparative Trial
- Safety Evaluation of Human-Derived Uric Acid Degrading Lacticaseibacillus paracasei M2a and Its Impact on Gut Microbiota
- The effects of probiotic supplementation on cardiometabolic health in patients with prediabetes: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and GRADE assessment.
- Lactococcus lactis strain Plasma activates plasmacytoid dendritic cells and mitigates common cold-like symptoms in healthy adults: a meta-analysis of individual participant data.
- Effect of vitamin D supplementation for major adverse cardiovascular events: a meta-analysis based on randomised controlled trials.
- Effect of a Lactobacilli-Based Direct-Fed Microbial Product on Gut Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Morphological Changes
- Salidroside directly activates HSC70, revealing a new role for HSC70 in BDNF signalling and neurogenesis after cerebral ischemia.
- Development of real-time PCR based molecular markers for two medicinal herb Artemisia species A. capillaris and A. iwayomogi
- Salidroside pretreatment alleviates PM2.5 caused lung injury via inhibition of apoptosis and pyroptosis through regulating NLRP3 Inflammasome.
- Network pharmacology analysis combined with experimental validation to explore the therapeutic mechanism of salidroside on intestine ischemia reperfusion.
- Efficacy and safety of add-on Viola odorata L. in the treatment of COVID-19: A randomized double-blind controlled trial
- Detection of Coumarin Derivatives of Viola odorata Cultivated in Iraq
- Yomogin, Isolated from Artemisia iwayomogi, Inhibits Neuroinflammation Stimulated by Lipopolysaccharide via Regulating MAPK Pathway.
- Supplementation with heat-inactivated Lacticaseibacillus paracasei K47 ameliorates allergic asthma in mice by regulating the Th1/Th2 balance
- Protective mechanisms of loquat leaf extract and ursolic acid against diabetic pro-inflammation
- Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of Eriobotrya japonica leaves: A summary
- Salidroside Attenuates Airway Inflammation and Remodeling via the miR-323-3p/SOCS5 Axis in Asthmatic Mice.
- Salidroside Exerts Beneficial Effect on Testicular Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats.
- Safety of a Sustainably Produced, Bioengineered, Nature-Identical Salidroside Compound.
- Salidroside in the Treatment of NAFLD/NASH.
- Impact of Drying Conditions on Antioxidant Activity of Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), Sweet Violet (Viola odorata) and Elderberry Flowers (Sambucus nigra)
- Effects of Fermented Milk Containing Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Strain Shirota on Constipation in Patients with Depression: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
- Lacticaseibacillus paracasei NK112 mitigates Escherichia coli-induced depression and cognitive impairment in mice by regulating IL-6 expression and gut microbiota
- Health-Promoting Properties of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei: A Focus on Kefir Isolates and Exopolysaccharide-Producing Strains
- Eriobotrya japonica leaf water extract in the treatment of cough variant asthma
- Salidroside protects endothelial cells against LPS-induced inflammatory injury by inhibiting NLRP3 and enhancing autophagy.
- The bioinformatics and metabolomics research on anti-hypoxic molecular mechanisms of Salidroside via regulating the PTEN mediated PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.
- Effects of Nigella sativa on glycemic control, lipid profiles, and biomarkers of inflammatory and oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials
- Artemisia iwayomogi (Dowijigi) inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 macrophages by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway.
- Intestinal release of biofilm-like microcolonies encased in calcium-pectinate beads increases probiotic properties of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei
- New Bacteriocins from Lacticaseibacillus paracasei CNCM I-5369 Adsorbed on Alginate Nanoparticles Are Very Active against Escherichia coli
- Resveratrol Favors Adhesion and Biofilm Formation of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei Strain ATCC334
- Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity in extract from the leaves of Eriobotrya japonica
- Eriobotrya japonica leaf extract attenuates airway inflammation in ovalbumin-induced mice model of asthma
- Contribution of salidroside to the relieve of symptom and sign in the early acute stage of osteoarthritis in rat model.
- Salidroside Alleviates Cartilage Degeneration Through NF-κB Pathway in Osteoarthritis Rats.
- Salidroside inhibits platelet function and thrombus formation through AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway.
- Salidroside as a potential neuroprotective agent for ischemic stroke: a review of sources, pharmacokinetics, mechanism and safety.
- Effects of spirulina and wakame consumption on intestinal cholesterol absorption and serum lipid concentrations in non-hypercholesterolemic adult men and women
- Efficacy of Sweet Violet (Viola odorata) flower oil on the symptoms of adults with allergic rhinitis: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial
- The Effect of Viola Odorata L. Oil for Fever in Children: A Randomized Triple-blinded Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial
- The stimulant higenamine in weight loss and sports supplements
- Corosolic acid isolated from Eriobotrya japonica leaves reduces glucose level in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, zebrafish and rats
- Salidroside Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-ethanol-induced Activation of Proinflammatory Macrophages via Notch Signaling Pathway.
- Salidroside inhibits inflammatory factor release in BV-2 cells through p38 and JNK pathways.
- Artemisia iwayomogi extract attenuates high-fat diet-induced hypertriglyceridemia in mice: potential involvement of the adiponectin-AMPK pathway and very low density lipoprotein assembly in the liver
- Effect of Loquat Leaf Extract on Muscle Strength, Muscle Mass, and Muscle Function in Healthy Adults
- Salidroside protects against kainic acid-induced status epilepticus via suppressing oxidative stress.
- Salidroside, a Bioactive Compound of Rhodiola Rosea, Ameliorates Memory and Emotional Behavior in Adult Mice.
- Salidroside exhibits anti-dengue virus activity by upregulating host innate immune factors.
- The antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory activities of Spirulina: an overview.
- Analysis of Almond-Violet Oil by Gas Chromatography (A Traditional Formula)
- Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Eriobotrya japonica leaves extracts
- Evaluation of the antimutagenic, antigenotoxic, and antioxidant activities of Eriobotrya japonica leaves
- The Effect of Viola odorata Flower Syrup on the Cough of Children With Asthma: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial
- Vitamin D3 supplementation does not modify cardiovascular risk profile of adults with inadequate vitamin D status
- Tormentic acid, a major component of suspension cells of Eriobotrya japonica, suppresses high-fat diet-induced diabetes and hyperlipidemia
- Salidroside protects Caenorhabditis elegans neurons from polyglutamine-mediated toxicity by reducing oxidative stress.
- Antidepressant-like effects of salidroside on olfactory bulbectomy-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production and hyperactivity of HPA axis in rats.
- Efficacy of Viola odorata in Treatment of Chronic Insomnia
- Artemisia iwayomogi extract attenuates high-fat diet-induced obesity by decreasing the expression of genes associated with adipogenesis in mice
- Scopoletin and scopolin isolated from Artemisia iwayomogi suppress differentiation of osteoclastic macrophage RAW 264.7 cells by scavenging reactive oxygen species.
- Salidroside attenuates LPS-stimulated activation of THP-1 cell-derived macrophages through down-regulation of MAPK/NF-kB signaling pathways.
- An ethanol extract of Artemisia iwayomogi activates PPARdelta leading to activation of fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle
- Antifibrotic effects of Artemisia capillaris and Artemisia iwayomogi in a carbon tetrachloride-induced chronic hepatic fibrosis animal model.
- Aqueous extract of Artemisia iwayomogi attenuates cholestatic liver fibrosis in a rat model
- Rhodiola rosea extracts and salidroside decrease the growth of bladder cancer cell lines via inhibition of the mTOR pathway and induction of autophagy.
- Salidroside and tyrosol from Rhodiola protect H9c2 cells from ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis.
- Effect of Spirulina maxima on postprandial lipemia in young runners: a preliminary report
- Effects of Eriobotrya japonica seed extract on oxidative stress in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
- Association of A1C levels with vitamin D status in U.S. adults: data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
- MAPK activation is necessary to the apoptotic death of KB cells induced by the essential oil isolated from Artemisia iwayomogi.
- Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of the total triterpene acid fraction from Folium Eriobotryae
- Hypoglycemic effect of the total flavonoid fraction from folium Eriobotryae
- Cinchonain Ib isolated from Eriobotrya japonica induces insulin secretion in vitro and in vivo
- A carbohydrate fraction AIP1 from Artemisia iwayomogi suppresses pulmonary eosinophilia and Th2-type cytokine production in an ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma model
- Application of the multiplex PCR method for discrimination of Artemisia iwayomogi from other Artemisia herbs
- Hypoglycemic activity of Eriobotrya japonica seeds in type 2 diabetic rats and mice
- Wheat grass supplementation decreases oxidative stress in healthy subjects: a comparative study with spirulina
- Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, ethnicity, and blood pressure in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
- Artemisia iwayomogi inhibits immediate-type allergic reaction and inflammatory cytokine secretion.
- Development of SCAR marker for discrimination of Artemisia princeps and A. argyi from other Artemisia herbs
- Anti-oxidative effect of triterpene acids of Eriobotrya japonica leaf in chronic bronchitis rats
- Anti-allergic effect of Artemisia iwayomogi on mast cell-mediated anaphylaxis
- AIP1, a water-soluble fraction from Artemisia iwayomogi, suppresses thymocyte apoptosis in vitro and down-regulates the expression of Fas gene.
- Inhibition of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis by Artemisia iwayomogi
- Antioxidant flavonoids and chlorogenic acid from the leaves of Eriobotrya japonica
- Cholera toxin accentuates the antagonism by acetylcholine of higenamine-induced positive chronotropy in isolated right atria of mice
- Hypoglycemic effects of sesquiterpene glycosides and polyhydroxylated triterpenoids of Eriobotrya japonica
- Inotropic effects of (+/-)-higenamine and its chemically related components, (+)-R-coclaurine and (+)-S-reticuline, contained in the traditional sino-Japanese medicines 'bushi' and 'shin-i' in isolated guinea pig papillary muscle.
- Effects of DL-demethylcoclaurine on experimental heart failure
- Effect of dl-demethylcoclaurine on alpha and beta-adrenergic receptors
- Effect of Eriobotrya japonica on blood glucose levels of normal and alloxan-diabetic rabbits
- Effects of ginsenosides and demethylcoclaurine on hemodynamics in dogs under septic shock
- l-Citrulline supplementation improves O2 uptake kinetics and high-intensity exercise performance in humans
- Effect of higenamine on action potential of ventricular myocardial cells
- Effects of dl-demethylcoclaurine on electrophysiological properties of porcine myocardial cells
- Effect of dl-demethylcoclaurine on cultured rat heart cells
- Effect of dl-demethylcoclaurine on plasma cAMP in mice
- Effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of powdered Nigella sativa (kalonji) seed in capsules on serum lipid levels, blood sugar, blood pressure, and body weight in adults: results of a randomized, double-blind controlled trial