Herbal Formula may not Improve Asthma

New evidence suggests that an herbal formula called CUF2 may not offer benefits to children with asthma who use inhaled corticosteroids. CUF2 contains five herbs: astragalus, cordyceps, stemona root, fritillaria and Baikal skullcap.

In the study, 85 children with asthma were randomly assigned to receive either CUF2 or placebo daily for six months. The authors monitored for changes in steroid dosages, disease severity, lung function and biochemical markers of asthma.

The authors found that there were no significant differences between the two groups. "This study provides no evidence to support the use of the herbal formula of CUF2 in children with asthma. Parents are thus advised to discuss with health professionals before choosing an herbal formula in preference to conventional treatment modes," they wrote in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

Several other herbs have been suggested as potential therapies for asthma. For instance, good evidence supports the use of boswellia in chronic asthma in adults. However, studies in children are lacking.

For more information about integrative therapies for asthma, please visit Natural Standard's Comparative Effectiveness database.

1. Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com
2. Wong EL, Sung RY, Leung TF, et al. Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Herbal Therapy for Children with Asthma. J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Oct 12.