Individuals who take multivitamins and dietary supplements for health and well-being may be heartened by recent news announced at the American Thoracic Societys 2011 International Conference in Denver, Colo.
Researchers from Beijings Gunaganmen Hospital stated that a traditional herbal medicine called Xiao Chuan (XCP) appears to support healthy lungs, even when breathing is affected by winter weather.
Coming to this conclusion involved administering the herb or a placebo daily to more than 140 adult participants over an eight-week period. Investigators noted that a paste made from XCP muted the effects of a condition that causes breathing problems related to an overabundance of pulmonary mucus.
“XCP patients experienced statistically significant reductions in steroid use and episodes of shortness of breath,” lead author Yongjun Bian, M.D., said, adding that “XCP patients also reported an improved quality of life compared to those treated with placebo.”
Millions of Americans suffer from lung health issues, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.