Natural Herbal Approaches in the Management of Asthma: Therapeutic Potential, Mechanisms and Future Perspectives

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory respiratory disorder characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, reversible airflow obstruction and excessive mucus production. The increasing global prevalence of asthma has created a continuous demand for safer and more effective therapeutic strategies. Although conventional medications such as corticosteroids and bronchodilators remain the cornerstone of asthma management, prolonged use may be associated with adverse effects and incomplete symptom control in certain patients. Herbal medicine has gained considerable scientific attention because of its long history of traditional use and the presence of biologically active phytoconstituents with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, bronchodilator and immunomodulatory activities. Numerous medicinal plants including Ocimum sanctum, Curcuma longa, Adhatoda vasica, Nigella sativa and Glycyrrhiza glabra have demonstrated promising anti-asthmatic effects in experimental and clinical investigations. This review summarizes the pathophysiology of asthma, limitations of current therapies, therapeutic potential of medicinal plants, mechanisms of herbal action and future perspectives in herbal asthma management. The article highlights the importance of scientific validation, standardization and clinical evaluation of herbal formulations for their potential integration into modern healthcare systems.