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Post by David on Apr 9, 2015 22:52:01 GMT -5
I have not tried any Osha root but I plan on looking to see where I can find some. I will let ya'll know later what I think 
The Lung Cleansing Benefits of Osha Root
Osha Root as Relief for Respiratory Problems
Osha root can help alleviate breathing problems in a number of capacities. Osha root helps clear mucus from the sinuses and lungs by increasing expectoration; this relieves congestion and makes breathing easier.
Osha root also increases blood circulation to the lungs, which increases dilation during constriction. For this reason, it is of particular interest as a support mechanism for emphysema, pneumonia, asthma, and allergies.
The bronchodilating effect is compounded by osha root’s ability to help the efficacy of the lungs by increasing oxygen utilization and uptake in the body. It is believed the increased blood oxygenation is facilitated by an increase in gas exchange through the alveoli in the lungs.
In simpler terms, osha root helps one to take deeper breaths.
www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/lung-cleansing-benefits-of-osha-root/
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Post by Suzanne (Suz) on Apr 11, 2015 7:40:35 GMT -5
That is a very interesting read about the Osha Root David. I enjoyed that - I have been supplementing my immune system with an herb called Astragalus Formula - I take 3 pills in the morning on a regular basis and if I feel weaker during cold season or if my breathing is a little off I will take extras at night. This type of herb can only be given to you by an Acupuncture expert. I have been diagnosed with COPD for a little over 6 years and I think I have been taking these for the last five years. I like it very much and I find a big difference with my lungs but I'm not an expert or a doctor - so if anyone is interested in the read itself I've found a site where they talk about the overview, use and side effects. I was afraid at first as I have a lot of flower, seeds, tree allergies however, I must say my system is welcoming this herb with open arms. Here is the link - Happy read. www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-963-astragalus.aspx?activeingredientid=963&activeingredientname=astragalus |
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Post by izzie on Apr 11, 2015 12:01:10 GMT -5
Osha Root & Astragulas Root are definitely worth researching and checking out. If I get as much benefit from it as Ginger Root......it would certainly be another go to for me. I tried to find fresh Osha & Astragulas Root at our local Asian market here in Calgary, but I need the Asian word for them.
I prefer fresh root, but I did find dried astragulas root at the local health food store, but no osha..........my search continues.
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Post by Suzanne (Suz) on Apr 11, 2015 12:15:50 GMT -5
This is what is written on my Astragalus Bottle: Huang Qj Jian Zhong Tang - maybe this can help you. Good luck in finding your roots.
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Post by David on Apr 11, 2015 12:19:08 GMT -5
That's sounds good. Most herbs do what they say they do. Sometimes it is profound and sometimes subtle.
Sometimes different herbs do the same thing. If one fools around with herbs they should do a lot of research.
If in doubt then leave them alone.
I would say discuss it with your Doctor but I find that most Doctor's don't care to discuss it.
It's good if you can find a Doctor that will listen.
I have been using herbs for most of my life so it's nothing new to me. I do use Doctors for my main source of healing and care.
I read something a long time ago about herbs are like antibiotics and should have periods of abstinence to be effective. At least every 7 years. I don't know how true that is. I just use herbs off and on anyway.
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Post by David on Apr 11, 2015 12:30:32 GMT -5
The Osha plant might be hard to find because the plant is difficult to grow in commercial cultivation environments, it is generally sold as wild crafted and available in sprays, tinctures, and capsule forms.
It inhabits the dry, upland meadows and ravines of the Rocky Mountain.
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Post by stoker55 on Apr 13, 2015 11:08:35 GMT -5
I have stuff that use periodically. I have cleared these with my Rx person, Dr. & pulmonary Dr. I get it from the Alive store. I am at work today but will look up what they are etc. when I get home and pass it on to you. I do takes breaks from this because you are not supposed to use them all the time. Especially the one I like that works so well for phlegm, mucus & such.
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Post by stoker55 on Apr 13, 2015 13:22:39 GMT -5
I just looked up one of them on my lunch it is called RespirActin here is a link: temp.respiractin.com/why-respiractin.aspI use it during Allergy season (like now) for about 3 large bottles and then I go off it because I think my body just gets used to it and I don't feel any different after that amount of time. |
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Post by David on Apr 13, 2015 19:45:39 GMT -5
That's good stuff in there... rosemary, sage, cloves, cinnamon, chamomile, thyme, spearmint, witch hazel, juniper, black cumin seed
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Post by stoker55 on Apr 15, 2015 8:50:09 GMT -5
The other one that I am taking right now during the start of allergy season is Sambu Guard it is mostly Elderberry tincture and you have to drink lots of water with it. I only use the one bottle and then give it a rest because I find the effect wears off if you just stay on it. www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=sambu+guardCheck with your Rx person & Dr. especially your Allergist if you have one. This stuff makes coughing up so much easier & better for me. The only time I really have a problem with phlegm is during allergy season of if I am going to start a lung attack so I like to try & stay ahead of the game.  I also go on and off cumin as it keeps inflammation down. I will try to find the Osha plant as it s/b native here close to the Rockies & get back to you if I find anything. |
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Post by David on Apr 15, 2015 10:14:01 GMT -5
Right now my daily supplement is a combination of milk thistle, dandelion & yellow dock. All in one capsule.
I also take 1 Iceland kelp in the morning and drink a cup of ginger tea.
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Post by izzie on Apr 15, 2015 11:20:34 GMT -5
Suzanne......Thanks for the English to Asian translation for astragulas. As for the osha root, I live in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and in better days, I might have trekked into those mountains in search of it, . Oh well, it's another chapter in my life. |
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Post by stoker55 on Apr 15, 2015 11:47:16 GMT -5
So, after searching the web I found out that it is a protected plant in many places. When searching for it they all say sold out except for Taosherb.co. They provide free shipping in the US only and have a toll free #. However I don't think they have the whole root only a tincture or something I kinda whizzed past it as I was honestly looking for a Canadian distributor. Like you Izzie in my younger days I probably picked it and thought it was licorice root when I lived in California foothills.
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Post by stoker55 on Apr 15, 2015 11:51:17 GMT -5
Oh yeah, David I also use the Crater Lake kelp from Oregon. I used it for my son when he was diagnosed with ADD. I had found the drugs they gave him left him wired out and laying in bed with his eyes wide open unable to sleep at night. Those drugs did not help him a bit so I took him off and chose the kelp rout and he improved and was able to concentrate better and his grades went up to passing.
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Post by helen on Apr 18, 2015 11:53:42 GMT -5
Osha Root & Astragulas Root are definitely worth researching and checking out. If I get as much benefit from it as Ginger Root......it would certainly be another go to for me. I tried to find fresh Osha & Astragulas Root at our local Asian market here in Calgary, but I need the Asian word for them. I prefer fresh root, but I did find dried astragulas root at the local health food store, but no osha..........my search continues. Wikipedia: Osha roots have a collar of dead leaf material surrounding the root crowns which is hairlike in appearance. The roots dry very quickly and are very astringent when fresh, and can cause blistering of the mouth and mucous membranes in humans if ingested fresh. The dried roots do not have this astringent effect. Roots of older plants are far stronger and bitter than those of younger plants. Please, know what you're doïng. |
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Post by David on Apr 18, 2015 12:41:36 GMT -5
Well, I ordered some Osha extract from a store. It is not easy to find.
Now I just hope they send me the real thing and not some snake oil. 
That's the way it is when ordering supplements on-line. So far everyone I have dealt with has been honest.
I wanted to start it before I go back to the Doctor in May. I have been off of the Budesonide for a few months now. The only thing I am using in my nebulizer right now is Ipratropium and Albuterol every 4 hours. It's a good time to see if I notice anything with the Osha.
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Post by jim on Apr 20, 2015 6:17:42 GMT -5
Thank you David for starting this thread and thank you to everyone else who contributed, I'm going look into it.
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Post by David on Apr 20, 2015 16:51:05 GMT -5
I ordered 2 fluid ounces the other day and it came in the mail today. Put some under my tongue. It does has a unique taste. I will put the drops in water and drink it. Time will tell. I don't go to the Doctor until May 11 so that gives me time to see if I notice any of its benefits.
I also bought some Milk Thistle extract. The company seems legitimate. I don't think I bought some snake oil medicine.
The bad thing about emphysema is it comes in stages. I noticed even with real medicine I get from the Pharmacy some doesn't work as well in some of the stages. Like Spiriva, for example, worked for me in the earlier stages more than it did in the later stages. So I had to look for another medicine.
One has to do a lot of research. One man's medicine might be another man's poison.
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Post by jim on Apr 20, 2015 18:58:48 GMT -5
So very true David.
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Post by David on May 11, 2015 19:21:17 GMT -5
Consult with your Doctor. I am not recommending this to anyone. Only me. I can't talk to my Pulmonary Dr about herbs so I am on my on. They care nothing about discussions about herbs and such. Which I do understand they can't be labelled as a witch doctor and they can't be held responsible if anything goes wrong. Besides they did take any courses in college for herbs.
Time for an update.
It has been about a month since I started the Osha Extract. I had stopped taking the Budesonide about 2 months before I started the Osha Extract. I always take Ipratropium and Albuterol together in my Nebulizer. I can't go over 4 hours without those two medicines. Even during the night I have to use the rescue inhaler (albuterol).
The Osha Extract does not help with my Dyspnea.
But I did notice this to be true...
The bronchodilating effect is compounded by osha root’s ability to help the efficacy of the lungs by increasing oxygen utilization and uptake in the body. It is believed the increased blood oxygenation is facilitated by an increase in gas exchange through the alveoli in the lungs.
In simpler terms, osha root helps one to take deeper breaths.
I noticed I could take deeper breaths. I could feel the bronchodilating effects.
This I don't know...
Osha root helps clear mucus from the sinuses and lungs by increasing expectoration; this relieves congestion and makes breathing easier.
I don't know because I don't have a problem with mucus and congestion in my lungs. My lungs are always clear anyway.
So it appears to me that the Osha Extract worked just as good as the Budesonide. I will now use Budesonide and Osha Extract together, twice a day.
I do not take the Extract late in the evening because it tends to keep me awake. Maybe that is due to the bronchodilating effect. I have taken bronchodilators in the past that interrupt my sleep.
The Osha Extract has a terrible taste. I can't get use to it. I put it in the last swallow of coffee in the morning and drink it fast. Like a shot of whiskey. In the evening I put it in a swallow of tea and drink it fast. Just get it over with
Keep in mind I have severe emphysema and my FEV1 is %20 so there isn't very much medicine that can give me much improvement. Every little bit helps at this stage.
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Post by David on May 23, 2015 20:27:37 GMT -5
I have been holding off on another update. I wanted to give the medicine some time.
This has been a rather long experiment. Actually started a year ago last May when I decided I better get to exercising again. 2013 and fist half of 2014 I was about as bad as it gets with Dyspnea. I got to where I could not do nothing and could barely walk 50 yards. Less if I was carrying something.
My medicine was Ipratropium and Albuterol in a nebulizer 4 times a day. ProAir was my rescue inhaler. I used one canister every 3 or 4 weeks.
Started exercising in May. Discussed panic attacks with my Primary Doctor in June and we decided to try a low dose of pain medicine to start. I chose Tramadol. It worked so I kept using that.
August I saw a new Pulmonary Doctor and he added Budesonide with the Ipratropium and Albuterol in the nebulizer. That also helped. He wanted me to also use either Brovana or Perforomist but both were out of my price range. I used Budesonide for the next 6 months.
I ran out of refills in February so I wanted to see how I would do without it. Not good. I went through March and April without it. I could tell a difference and it was something I would need.
In the meantime I ran across the Osha root. Liked what I read and decided to give it a try. I started the Osha root extract on April 20th and like the Budesonide I noticed it helped my breathing.
Then on May 1st I got the Budesonide refilled and I started the Budesonide and the Osha root together. It was like a miracle. When I combined the two my breathing improved tremendously. I have been using them together now for 3 weeks and I can breath better than I have in the past 5 or 6 years. I have to pinch myself and hope it is not a dream. 
I was waking up during the night to hit the rescue inhaler and I couldn't get out of bed without hitting the rescue inhaler. Now I haven't used the rescue inhaler hardly at all for the past 3 weeks.
The Dyspnea is not near as bad as it has been. I can feel myself breathing deeper. It is truly amazing. I can walk further and actually carry some groceries better without becoming breathless. I can do a lot I couldn't do in the past.
On a scale of 1 to 10. 1 being worse and 10 the best I would say I am at 6 where as I was at 2 before I started using the 2 medicines.
So now I feel I have found the right combination of medicine for me. It may not work for other people but it is a God send to me. I finally got a handle on the Dyspnea.
I use the nebulizer 4 times a day with Ipratropium and Albuterol. Twice a day I use the nebulizer with the Budesonide added to the Ipratropium and Albuterol.
Twice a day I use the Osha root extract along with the Budesonide. I put the Osha root extract in a small amount of liquid and just kill it in one shot. It taste terrible. I use 30 to 60 drops. 30 drops is one dropper full.
It still amazes me how the Budesonide and the Osha root had to be combined to work so well. Who would have ever guessed. Makes me wonder what is out there that can help our breathing.
I am not suggesting anyone try this. Use at your own risk. I am just telling my story and my journey with emphysema.
To bad the Doctors won't check me out. If I had the money I would like to do a Lung Function Test back to back and see what the readings are.
I go for a lung function test on August 11. I will try and do no medicine that morning because that is what they want. To get a low reading. To bad I can't go back the next day and do a test when I am full of medicine and breathing well. I would if I could afford to pay for it.
Well, that's my story. What I have learned is never give up hope and keep on searching and with a lot of luck you might find it.
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Post by John on May 23, 2015 21:32:56 GMT -5
Thank You David
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Post by Grace on Jan 16, 2016 17:52:47 GMT -5
I have been holding off on another update. I wanted to give the medicine some time.
This has been a rather long experiment. Actually started a year ago last May when I decided I better get to exercising again. 2013 and fist half of 2014 I was about as bad as it gets with Dyspnea. I got to where I could not do nothing and could barely walk 50 yards. Less if I was carrying something.
My medicine was Ipratropium and Albuterol in a nebulizer 4 times a day. ProAir was my rescue inhaler. I used one canister every 3 or 4 weeks.
Started exercising in May. Discussed panic attacks with my Primary Doctor in June and we decided to try a low dose of pain medicine to start. I chose Tramadol. It worked so I kept using that.
August I saw a new Pulmonary Doctor and he added Budesonide with the Ipratropium and Albuterol in the nebulizer. That also helped. He wanted me to also use either Brovana or Perforomist but both were out of my price range. I used Budesonide for the next 6 months.
I ran out of refills in February so I wanted to see how I would do without it. Not good. I went through March and April without it. I could tell a difference and it was something I would need.
In the meantime I ran across the Osha root. Liked what I read and decided to give it a try. I started the Osha root extract on April 20th and like the Budesonide I noticed it helped my breathing.
Then on May 1st I got the Budesonide refilled and I started the Budesonide and the Osha root together. It was like a miracle. When I combined the two my breathing improved tremendously. I have been using them together now for 3 weeks and I can breath better than I have in the past 5 or 6 years. I have to pinch myself and hope it is not a dream.
I was waking up during the night to hit the rescue inhaler and I couldn't get out of bed without hitting the rescue inhaler. Now I haven't used the rescue inhaler hardly at all for the past 3 weeks.
The Dyspnea is not near as bad as it has been. I can feel myself breathing deeper. It is truly amazing. I can walk further and actually carry some groceries better without becoming breathless. I can do a lot I couldn't do in the past.
On a scale of 1 to 10. 1 being worse and 10 the best I would say I am at 6 where as I was at 2 before I started using the 2 medicines.
So now I feel I have found the right combination of medicine for me. It may not work for other people but it is a God send to me. I finally got a handle on the Dyspnea.
I use the nebulizer 4 times a day with Ipratropium and Albuterol. Twice a day I use the nebulizer with the Budesonide added to the Ipratropium and Albuterol.
Twice a day I use the Osha root extract along with the Budesonide. I put the Osha root extract in a small amount of liquid and just kill it in one shot. It taste terrible. I use 30 to 60 drops. 30 drops is one dropper full.
It still amazes me how the Budesonide and the Osha root had to be combined to work so well. Who would have ever guessed. Makes me wonder what is out there that can help our breathing.
I am not suggesting anyone try this. Use at your own risk. I am just telling my story and my journey with emphysema.
To bad the Doctors won't check me out. If I had the money I would like to do a Lung Function Test back to back and see what the readings are.
I go for a lung function test on August 11. I will try and do no medicine that morning because that is what they want. To get a low reading. To bad I can't go back the next day and do a test when I am full of medicine and breathing well. I would if I could afford to pay for it.
Well, that's my story. What I have learned is never give up hope and keep on searching and with a lot of luck you might find it.
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Post by Grace on Jan 16, 2016 17:55:55 GMT -5
Thank you so much for sharing David. I know everybody is different, don't worry. I'm so scared because I'm having repeated asthma attacks. I was trying to see if anyone has used an herbal supplement shortly after using the rescue albuterol inhaler and I see that you do this regularly. I know everyone is different, but I'm going to try it. It's been three hours and I need to decide if I should hold off longer (and risk another scary asthma attack) or just take the herbal osha root now. It made me feel better just to read about your journey and know you're doing so much better. I'm happy for you. Thank you again for sharing. |
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Post by Johnny D on Jan 22, 2016 20:30:39 GMT -5
I've been reading here with great interest.
I'm down to 25% lung capacity & looking for help.
Thanks for the OSHA root info.....it does seem to help.
Another over the counter "med" that I use is BronkAid tablets, they are made by Bayer....the aspirin people. You have to get them at the pharmacy counter. (They contain ephedrine) I take one every 4 hours along with Air-Power (a supplement made by Enzymatic Therapy) that I buy at the health food store.
The regular meds don't seem to work very well any more & are way too expensive. I'm on spiriva & Seravent.
Thanx again for the OSHA root. I hope the Bronkaid works for some of you.
All the best.......John
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Post by David on Jan 23, 2016 1:13:17 GMT -5
I might try the BronkAid tablets if I can find them. I use to use Ephedrine and it was a great bronchial dilator.
It gave me energy and I could breath better. Then the drug addicts started using it in the ingredients to make Crystal Meth and the State of Florida outlawed Ephedrine. Can't find it anywhere. 
The way I take all my herbs is I will use them for awhile then stop for awhile then start back again. It seems to work better for me that way.
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I also go on and off cumin as it keeps inflammation down. I will try to find the Osha plant as it s/b native here close to the Rockies & get back to you if I find anything.
