What is this asthma-reducing herbal stuff?

February 27, 2009 3:56 PM

I'm looking for a strange medicinal herb which alleviates breathing problems from asthma, and sold at pharmacies circa 1970. Can you tell me what it could be? It came in a tin, like chewing tobacco. You opened it up and lighted the dried herb and it almost immediately made it possible to breath again. It had a sweet smell - not menthol-like, though. Sort of a dried-herb incense. Not terribly dissimilar to marijuana in appearance perhaps. It did not require a prescription, but you did ask the pharmacist for it. (I'm asking for a friend.) Anyone have a clue what this is?
posted by Dee Xtrovert to health & fitness (7 comments total)

Dee, I'm almost positive we've had this asked before. I can't find the link, though.
posted by Houstonian at 4:02 PM on February 27

To the rescue: Asthmadora.
posted by arimathea at 4:12 PM on February 27 [1 favorite has favorites]

Yes, that's the question I remembered!
posted by Houstonian at 4:15 PM on February 27

Hmmm, I wonder if that's what Vapineze, referenced here, was.
posted by chez shoes at 4:26 PM on February 27

I wonder if it was smudge, i.e. a bundle of dried sage and other herbs that people light and burn like incense. The smells seem similar. But you don't ingest the smudge bundle.

I tried this as a teenager when I couldn't get rid of a chronic cough. It didn't work.
posted by rmless at 4:50 PM on February 27

No idea if it's what you're referencing, but I know many people smoke Mullein or a mixture containing Mullein to combat asthma. It's supposed to be a pretty decent bronchial dilator from what I understand.
posted by piedmont at 5:13 PM on February 27

Thanks for the answers - it seems Asthmadora was it!
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 7:39 PM on February 27