Medical Condition Asthma

Source:

2009 icd-9-cm diagnosis 493 - asthma

Active Ingredients used for Asthma:

Vitamin B6, Coenzyme Q10, Selenium, Arginine, Ephedra, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Vitamin C, Black Tea, Green Tea, Evening Primrose Oil, Pycnogenol, Omega 3 Fatty Acids Fish Oil Alpha Linolenic Acid

Active Ingredient	Uses based on scientific evidence	Grade*
arginine (l-arginine)	although it has been suggested that arginine may treat asthma, studies in humans have actually found that arginine worsens inflammation in the lungs and contributes to asthma symptoms. therefore, taking arginine by mouth or by inhalation is not recommended in people with asthma.	f
black tea (camellia sinensis)	research has shown caffeine to cause improvements in airflow to the lungs (bronchodilation). however, it is not clear if caffeine or tea use has significant clinical benefits in people with asthma. better research is needed in this area before a conclusion can be drawn.	c
coenzyme q10	coq10 may benefit asthma patients when added to other therapies. further research is needed. asthma should be treated by a qualified healthcare provider.	c
ephedra (ephedra sinica)	ephedra contains the chemicals ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are bronchodilators (expand the airways to assist in easier breathing). it has been used and studied to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in both children and adults. other treatments, such as beta-agonist inhalers (for example, albuterol), are more commonly recommended due to safety concerns with ephedra or ephedrine.	b
eucalyptus oil (e. globulus labillardiere, e. fructicetorum f. von mueller, e. smithii r.t. baker)	further research is needed to confirm anti-inflammatory and mucolytic activity before this agent can be recommended in upper and lower airway diseases.	c
evening primrose oil (oenothera biennis l.)	available evidence does not support the use of evening primrose oil as a treatment for asthma. further research is needed to confirm this conclusion.	d
green tea (camellia sinensis)	research has shown caffeine to cause improvements in airflow to the lungs (bronchodilation). however, it is not clear if caffeine or tea use has significant benefits in people with asthma. better research is needed in this area before a strong conclusion can be drawn.	c
lactobacillus acidophilus	there is limited research in this area with unclear results.	c
omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid	several studies in this area do not provide enough reliable evidence to form a clear conclusion, with some studies reporting no effects, and others finding benefits. because most studies have been small without clear descriptions of design or results, the results cannot be considered conclusive.	c
pycnogenolâ® (pinus pinaster ssp. atlantica)	pycnogenol may offer clinical benefit to both children and adults with asthma. additional study is needed before a strong recommendation can be made.	b
selenium (se)	preliminary research reports that selenium supplementation may help improve asthma symptoms. further research is needed to confirm these results.	c
vitamin b6	preliminary research suggests that children with severe asthma might have inadequate pyridoxine status. theophylline, a prescription drug used to help manage asthma, seems to lower pyridoxine levels. studies of pyridoxine supplementation in asthma patients taking theophylline yield conflicting results. further research is needed before a strong conclusion can be drawn.	c
vitamin c (ascorbic acid)	it has been suggested that low levels of vitamin c (or other antioxidants) may increase the risk of developing asthma. the use of vitamin c for the treatment of asthma has been studied since the 1980s (particularly exercise-induced asthma), although the evidence in this area remains inconclusive. more research is needed before a clear conclusion can be drawn.	c

*Key to grades
A: Strong scientific evidence for this use;
B: Good scientific evidence for this use;
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use;
D: Fair scientific evidence against this use;
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use.